Democrats and Republicans in the Capitol appear to
be engaged in a game of chicken over the state budget,
with each side resorting to ever-more dire consequences as they woo voters for a June
special election.
First, from the Bee's Kevin Yamamura: "Steinberg's caucus has asked the nonpartisan Legislative
Analyst's Office to specify what additional cuts would
be needed if the taxes
fell through."
"I think that will begin to frame the discussion
about why it would be unacceptable for the people of
California to cut $25
billion," Steinberg said. "And at a minimum, they ought
to have the
choice. … I think it's important that there be some impartial
analysis about
what the choices are when it comes to an additional
$12.5 billion in
cuts."
Second, from the LAT's George Skelton: "The state truly has reached the desperation
stage. If Brown's proposal to extend the income, sales
and car tax increases is
rejected, the only fallback -- short of more self-destructive borrowing --
would be shorter school years, even higher tuition,
elimination of state
welfare, crippling of healthcare and the release of
many thousands of
prisoners. Plus fewer fire crews, closed parks and
a halt to highway repairs.
For starters."
"All that said, "check-ins" with the voters are what regular elections are
about. The way our republican system of democracy was
set up by the framers of both the U.S. and California
constitutions, the people elect representatives to
make decisions about spending and taxes."
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is settling in his office, which is just across the hall in the Capitol from
Jerry Brown's -- the office Newsom really wanted.
From Capitol Weekly's Jennifer Chaussee: "But while Newsom didn’t quite hit it right on the mark,
he certainly didn’t land too far from the target. But will Newsom have
time to
shine in the spotlight of state politics as a lieutenant
governor? For decades,
Capitol insiders contend the job is mostly "get up,
read the paper, see if
the governor is dead; if not, go back to sleep."
“That’s an act of God,” Newsom said of the possibility of having a few moments
as acting governor during Gov. Brown’s tenure. And in the mean time, what is a lieutenant
governor to do? For the polished and
telegenic Newsom, there is a lot to do."
It's baaack: Legislation to put California's renewable energy standard
at 33 percent, this time introduced by Democratic leaders and their
allies. Capitol Weekly's Greg Lucas takes a look.
"In Brown’s final debate during the campaign with GOP
rival Meg Whitman, he touted his plan to expand renewable
energy use and create
500,000 “green” jobs, noting that such jobs are the fastest growing
segment of
the state’s economy.
Given the growth rate of the state economy over the
past few years, it’s hard not to grow faster."
"Whitman told Brown that she was interested in the
other “97 percent of the jobs
in the economy and not just the 3 percent green jobs.” She has a point."
All eyes are on the budget, but meanwhile the clock is ticking on union contracts
with the state, reports the Bee's Jon Ortiz.
"We're now halfway there. There's been no formal
bargaining, but informal talks have been quite productive
with at least a
couple of units. Deals are finished at the bargaining
table, but they start
with private talks at high levels behind closed doors."
"The administration wants to get the six agreements
done
because Brown is counting on negotiating labor concessions
equal to a $308
million savings for next year's budget. Getting those
deals done quickly would
settle a politically charged issue, state worker pay, before the July 1 start of the next
budget year."
And now from our "Sorry, Wrong Number" file comes the tale of serial killer Charles Manson's
cell phone. Somehow, despite all the security at Corcoran
State Prison, he managed to get yet another phone and
get in touch people here and abroad..
" Charles Manson was
caught for a second time with a smuggled cell phone.
A source at the
California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told KCRA
TV in Sacramento the
phone was discovered in Manson's cell at Corcoran State Prison on Jan. 6."
"Manson was issued a rules violation for possession
of a
contraband cell phone, according to the prison. The
penalty for the first
violation cost him 30 days credit for time served…"
"The first time Manson was found with a phone he
allegedly used it to make calls and send text messages
around the world."
