Gossip and politics often overlap -- this is California, after all -- but the disclosure that former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child by a member of his household staff takes both to new heights. Arnold has apologized to his wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver, who moved out of their Brentwood mansion with the kids a few weeks ago. This soap opera is about the only thing that could knock the state budget out as lead story.
From the LATimes' Mark Barabak and Victoria Kim: "Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his
wife, Maria Shriver, separated after she learned he
had fathered a child more than a decade ago — before his first run for office —
with a longtime member of their household staff."
"Shriver moved out of the family's Brentwood mansion earlier this year, after
Schwarzenegger acknowledged the paternity. The staff member worked for the
family for 20 years, retiring in January."
"After leaving the governor's office I told my wife
about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger said
Monday night in a statement issued to The Times in response to questions.
"I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among
my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for
the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family.
I am truly sorry...."
"A spokesman for the former first lady said she had no comment."
Meanwhile, back in the Capitol, Gov. Brown unveiled his revised budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year. The big surprise wasn't in the spending it was in the tax revenues, which are coming in sharply higher than expected.
From John Howard in Capitol Weekly: "Improving by fits and starts, the state’s economy is the
subtext of the Brown administration’s recast budget, bringing in an estimated
$6.6 billion more than expected through the middle of 2012 and pushing the
projected shortfall to below $10 billion, just over a third of the projection
in January."
"Less than half that surprise cash is in hand yet, but the
expectation of budget writers is that it’s coming -- a significant flow but not
enough to erase the deficit or prevent long-planned, deep cuts.
"Gov. Brown said he won’t seek taxes without voter approval,
including an income-tax surcharge."
"New income taxes, which appeared likely only weeks ago,
are being put on hold for at least a year. His proposal to abolish enterprise
zones also was halted, at least temporarily, because of opposition in the
Capitol. Brown acknowledged that “we didn’t have the votes.”
The governor's budget also includes some sweeteners for business, notes the LAT's Marc Lifsher.
"The governor, who wants lawmakers to ask voters to extend
a series of taxes that would generate $10.8 billion, changed his mind about
eliminating a program that gave employers tax credits for creating jobs in
designated enterprise zones."
"He also is offering manufacturers a sales tax exemption
on purchases of new equipment and is beefing up a historically
under-utilized tax credit for small business owners, according to the revised
budget plan released Monday."
"The modified enterprise zone proposal would provide a
$5,000 tax credit to employers for each new, full-time worker hired. Credits
would not be given for people added to the payroll to replace previously laid
off employees."
Brown's road to peeling off Republican votes for his spending plan -- which may involve a November ballot referendum -- isn't getting any easier. He still needs backing from at least four GOP lawmakiers, in addition to his support from Democrats.
From the OC Register's Brian Joseph: "Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled a revised plan for balancing
the state's budget on Monday, and once again it rests on a contentious tax
package that will require at least four Republican votes in the Legislature.
Brown proposed virtually the same thing when he introduced his original plan in
January, but after weeks of negotiations he never found the GOP votes. Now,
with the budget deadline approaching and tax revenues rising,
his search may be even harder."
"In November, Brown was elected to his third term as
governor with the promise that he had the wisdom and political know-how to fix
the state's budget problems. On his campaign website, he touted his "deep
knowledge about how government functions and how politicians operate" and
said "I know how to break political log jams." After his
inauguration, he got right to work, proposing to balance the budget with a
five-year extension of temporary taxes enacted under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
in 2009. Sticking with his campaign promise of "no new taxes without voter
approval," Brown proposed that the extension be placed on the ballot so
voters could decide."
An appeals court judge in Sacramento has ruled that the county has to publicly disclose the public pensions and benefits of 8,500 workers -- a decision that could affect counties across the states. The LAT's Catherine Saillant has the story.
"Some of
California's largest counties — including Los Angeles — could be forced to
reveal the names and retirement benefits of tens of thousands of public
employees under an appeals court ruling."
"The ruling, issued last week by the 3rd District Court of Appeal, marks the
first time an appeals court has ordered the pension information released and
came despite arguments from county officials and labor unions that it would
violate the privacy of local government employees across the state."
"Advocates contend the public has a right to know what it's paying and
should have the ability to investigate whether individual workers are engaging
in such practices as salary spiking to fatten their retirement pay."
"In the wake of the ruling, Ventura County's retirement board agreed
Monday to release the names and pension benefits of county retirees there."
The saga of the pipeline explosion continues: It appears that PG&E spent $183 million less than it was authorized to over a decade for replacement.
From the Bay Citizen's John Upton: "Pacific Gas & Electric spent $183 million less than
it was authorized to spend on pipeline replacement between 1987 and 1999, the
California Public Utilities Commission confirmed Monday, in
response to a query from Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough)."
"According to the San Francisco
Chronicle, the CPUC told Speier it doesn't know what happened to the
money."
"PG&E's spending on pipeline replacement has been
sharply criticized since a pipeline exploded beneath a San Bruno neighborhood
last fall, killing eight people."
"It is tragic that it took a disaster that killed
eight people to bring to light the ramifications of $183 million in
under-spending," Speier said in a statement
Monday. "I would also note that the CPUC struggled more than
two months to obtain the information I requested, in part, because it had to
depend on PG&E for document retrieval."
And finally, we look into our bulging "Dumb Crooks" file to peruse the case of an alleged drug-dealing couple who got robbed -- and then reported the theft to police. And then got arrested. And then got tagged for child endangerment. Whew.
"After flagging down a police officer to report they had
been robbed, a Cleves couple was in handcuffs."
"Amy and Steve Springer drove with their three children to McKeone Avenue with
plans to buy drugs. They then sought out a police officer saying they were
robbed at gunpoint."
Police then say they found four Percocet pills in a plastic bag after searching
the couple. Amy Springer admitted the pills were hers, and was arrested and
charged with possesssion of drugs, and three counts of child endangering."
And you thought you had a bad day....
