Capitol Weekly reports that Sen.
Don Perata has
called for the resignation of the man he appointed to the coastal commission just two months ago. "In a letter obtained by Capitol Weekly, Perata, D-Oakland,
demanded that Aldinger resign his post immediately.
"'As you are aware, it has recently come to the attention of the Senate Rules Committee that
you were untruthful on your application for the Coastal Commission,' Perata, the chairman of the Rules Committee, wrote in the Aug. 8 letter. 'As a written follow-up to our repeated communication over the past two weeks, I ask for your immediate resignation from the Coastal Commission,' Perata wrote."
Aldinger refused immediate comment, but promised to fax a statement to Capitol Weekly by 9 a.m. this morning.
Developing...Robert Salladay and Peter Nicholas look into the
network of nonprofit organizations organized to raise money for the governor, which pay the governor's rent, support his travels abroad, and pay certain events costs.
"'This is an end run around the campaign finance laws,' said
Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington. 'It does away with the contribution limits and it avoids disclosure, and it's a way for the special interests who are supporting him to buy access and buy influence.'"
"
Rob Stutzman, the governor's communications director, said Schwarzenegger has asked the nonprofits directly helping him — such as the foundation paying his rent — to disclose their donors. In any case, he said the governor pays little attention to who donates to the nonprofits.""
"'He just never bothers himself with it,' Stutzman said."
Just like we never bother to pay attention to who picks up our impressive bar tab.
"Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. Sen.
Dianne Feinstein joined forces Tuesday to urge Congress to ban human cloning in all 50 states at the same time it protects California's multibillion-dollar stem cell research initiative."
From our
You Know it's a Slow News Week When Files, the Speaker's trip to Mexico this week seems to be the hot political story. "'I didn't realize
the attitude in Mexico toward Gov. Schwarzenegger is bad, very bad,' Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said . 'When I talk to people from Mexico, high-ranking officials from Mexico, it is
pretty clear that they feel put off by Gov. Schwarzenegger.'"
The Chron also has the story, and asks
whether this trip is a publicity stunt aimed at embarrassing the governor. "'In no way is this trip an effort to undermine the governor's relationship with Mexico,' said Núñez. "We do know the relationship has deteriorated, we have to be honest about that. My hope is to strengthen it. ...
My hope is that I can help build a bridge for the governor ultimately to go down there and mend ties.'"
Not that we're questioning his motivations, of course.
Before the Speaker's little field trip, he will meet with the guv and legislative leaders in
a Big 5 meeting to discuss "end of session issues.." Usually, Big 5's are reserved for budget time, or when there's some sort of mega-deal on the table. Could the governor be preparing to pull another rabbit out of his hat?
Could the mayor of San Jose be running for statewide office?
Ron Gonzales talks about his future with the San Jose Mercury News. "'I'm trying to make sure I finish out very strong,' said Gonzales, who is termed out after 2006 and whose administration has been peppered with scandal. 'But at some point
I have to make a decision whether I want to run for statewide office or go back to the private sector where I came from.''
Speaking of elected officials, a
Burbank councilwoman was officially charged with child endangerment and cocaine possession yesterday.
Stacey Jo Murphy "was arrested July 13 at her Lima Street home, where police found
three guns and 900 rounds of ammunition in her garage and
cocaine in her bedroom. Murphy was booked on suspicion of child endangerment because loaded guns were accessible to her 12-year-old son, police said. She was arrested as part of a larger federal case against the Vineland Boys street gang."
Peter Schrag takes a look, and a shot at,
the governor's solar initiative. "The million solar roofs bill: Is it moonshine? Raising questions about solar energy programs in these parts is likely to be as popular as challenging crop support in Kansas or federal ethanol mandates in Iowa.
"But the subsidies that California ratepayers will be asked to pay for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Million Solar Roofs Bill,
SB 1, which already has steamed through the state Senate and is now before the Assembly, may turn out to be just as economically dubious, regardless of how politically correct it is."
The "
You Don't Speak For Me, Cindy" tour swings through California as activists on both sides of the Iraq War clashed in the hometown of
Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a fallen soldier who has become a lighting rod in the Iraq discussion. "Some caravan members called the anti-war protesters communists and said they were 'aiding and abetting the enemy.' Those comments enraged Sheehan supporter
Dee Ann Heath, who said she has two sons serving in Iraq and another preparing to leave. 'I don't support the war, but I support my sons,' she said. 'I simply want them to come home.'"
And like any good newscast, we end with a bit of feel-good animal news. What do you do when you
accidentally purchase 700 live chickens? That was the question facing a new property owner in Vacaville who apparently didn't realize that 700 hens came with her new property. But poultry enthusiasts, fear not. The AP reports: "More than 700 aging chickens have been
plucked from the jaws of death" thanks to the local humane society. "Rescuers hope to find good homes for the birds, which are past their egg-laying prime."
