Well, at least we know now that the governor is going to be calling a special election. With the vacancy of a congressional seat in Orange County, it falls to Gov. Schwarzenegger to call a special election to fill the vacancy sometime this year. The LA Times breaks down
the queue of candidates for Chris Cox's seat."Those in the race are state Senate Republican leader
Dick Ackerman of Irvine and former Assemblywoman
Marilyn C. Brewer of Newport Beach.
Among others considering a bid were former Rep.
James Rogan (R-Glendale), who led the House prosecution in President Clinton's impeachment trial in 2000, and North Tustin millionaire businessman
Mark Chapin Johnson."
Of course, now that Ackerman has his eyes on another job, there may well be a race underway to replace him as Senate Republican Leader.
John Campbell, Dave Cox, George Runner and
Jim Battin are all possibilities. Will there be a move before Big 5 meetings begin?
In "
If At First You Don't Succeed News, the Assembly
rejected a bill legalizing gay marriage for the second time in as many days. "The issue was so emotionally charged that Assemblyman
Alberto Torrico, D-Newark,
broke down and cried Wednesday night while embracing gay state Sen.
Carole Migden, after opting not to support the bill."
"Ultimately, Torrico switched gears and voted yes on AB 19, partly because of a Scriptural passage in which Jesus appears to discuss separation between church and state, he said."
The Chronicle's John Hubbell
saw poetry in the Assembly's second consecutive marathon session. "As the green linoleum hallway outside the state Assembly chamber was filled with the tasseled loafers and high heels of lobbyists, as the idealism of spring was yielding to the pragmatism of summer." But his flowery prose is unlikely to make
Mark Leno feel any better this morning.
In other news, Assembly Democrats narrowly approved a bill that would
take away the famous gubernatorial smoking tent. "The Assembly voted 41-32, with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's fellow Republicans opposed, to dismantle the famed cigar-smoking tent in the courtyard outside the governor's Capitol office.
What's the name of the guy who sings with that band?
Tom someone and the Heartbreakers? Moving on...
Legislative Democrats aren't the only ones calling for new taxes. "Caltrans Director
Will Kempton strongly urged those among a full house at Travis Federal Credit Union headquarters in Vacaville to convince the Solano community to
approve a half-cent sales tax measure for transportation. If such a tax were approved, Solano would become a self help'' county, thereby matching state funding programs to remedy the escalating gridlock at the Interstate 80 and I-680 interchange, as well as in other areas."
Damned special interests...
Poway 8th Grader
Anurag Kashyap won the 78th annual National Scripps Spelling Bee to win $30,000 in cash, scholarships and books.
Lord knows, the Roundup could use you, Anurag.
