"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
will propose a major rollback of the state's welfare system this week, including a cutoff of aid to tens of thousands of children whose parents do not meet minimum work requirements or are in the country illegally, administration officials said Sunday," reports Evan Halper in the Times.
"The proposed $465-million reduction in California's welfare budget came two days after the governor promised that his second term would feature "post-partisan" cooperation.
It was met immediately with resistance from Democrats, who expressed bewilderment that the governor would attempt to cut welfare aid to children in the same week his administration is expected to move forward with a plan to expand health insurance to many of the same children.
'
It's ironic that the governor is proposing healthcare for poor kids while taking away their breakfasts,' state Senate leader
Don Perata (D-Oakland) said of the cuts, which would affect more than 40,000 families. "Even Republican Gov. [Pete] Wilson, at the time he negotiated welfare reform, agreed that children should not suffer for the behavior of their parents.'"
The governor is expected to unveil his health care package today at a Capitol press conference, flanked by legislators and major stakeholders in the health care debate.
"Health insurers in California
refuse to sell individual coverage to people simply because of their occupations or use of certain medicines, according to documents obtained by The Times," reports the LAT's Lisa Girion.
"Entire categories of workers � including roofers, pro athletes, dockworkers, migrant workers and firefighters� are turned down for insurance even if they are in good health and can afford coverage, according to the confidential underwriting guidelines of four health plans.
Although Blue Cross of California, the state's top seller of individual policies, does not exclude applicants based on occupation, three others do: Blue Shield of California, PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. and Health Net Inc. Actuarially speaking, they say, certain workers pose too big a risk.
'This is something that has been actuarially determined to keep insurance affordable for a very, very broad range of people,' said
David Olson, a spokesman for Woodland Hills-based Health Net.
But at a time when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers are seeking ways to expand coverage to many of the 6.6 million uninsured Californians, consumer advocates said such policies were too restrictive.
'This isn't cherry picking; this is ignoring whole orchards of people,' said
Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights."
George Skelton is upset that the governor
hasn't been more forthcoming with the details of his skiing accident. "Schwarzenegger, 59, had been skiing with ski instructor pal
Adi Erber. The governor was standing still, Erber told Nicholas, when his ski pole caught on a ski. He tripped over it and fell. The governor, in pain, was hauled down the mountain in a rescue team's toboggan.
"But the gov's office never would confirm that info. And Erber also soon clammed up.
And what's wrong with divulging such benign tidbits?
'The governor was on a personal vacation with his family. He is entitled to privacy like everyone else,' says
Adam Mendelsohn, Schwarzenegger's communications chief.
...[W]hen a politician and his advisors get tight-lipped, I start thinking: cover-up. Was he up on that slope with someone he shouldn't have been? Was he drunk? Was he trying to sneak on the lift without paying?"
Meanwhile, Matier and Ross write about
how inauguration planners accommodated a crutches-bound governor. "The biggest challenge for the producers was the swearing in itself, as Arnold didn't want to take the oath on crutches.
Their solution: A waist-high pillar draped with a cloth was placed in the middle of the stage, with the Bible on top. Schwarzenegger was able to press down on the Bible with enough force to steady himself. Wife
Maria Shriver was there as well, steadying him from the other side.
And how strong was the pillar?
'Strong enough to have kept the whole building upright,' Brown said."
"
John Garamendi began his new career as lieutenant governor Sunday by paying tribute to the small Mother Lode town where he grew up and comparing the environmental destruction of the Gold Rush to new threats of global climate change," writes the Bee's Peter Hecht.
After being sworn in by California Supreme Court Chief Justice
Ronald M. George, Garamendi vowed to serve as
an activist lieutenant governor who will push for programs to reduce California's reliance on fossil fuels that are blamed for global warming.
A big Roundup congratulations to Mr. Garamendi for winning our
Oxymoron of the Day Award by using the phrase "activist lieutenant governor" with a straight face. But we digress...
'The California that all of us want to envision for the future depends on our deciding today to reverse the environmental trajectory on which we have placed our planet,' Garamendi said.
'Just as the miners of the 19th century gnawed at the land and destroyed it, the flawed energy policies of America and other advanced national economies threaten to create 'An Inconvenient Truth,' ' he said, referring to former Vice President
Al Gore's documentary about global warming."
And, with Garamendi's swearing in,
Cruz Bustamante's political career
likely came to an end. The Bee's E.J. Schultz writes "He smiled and clapped as he watched his successor's ceremony in Sacramento, but Bustamante gave little indication of his next move -- except to say that it probably won't involve running for office.
'I think partisan office is pretty much done now,' he said in an interview. '
I'm out of this activity. There are some folks who are suggesting maybe a nonpartisan office. But you know I'm not at this point looking at anything more than spending a lot more time with my family and finding employment that will allow me to do that.'
When pressed for details, Bustamante, a 54-year-old Democrat, said only that, 'I'm making a lot of inquiries and I'm hopeful in the next 30 days I'll be able to do something.'"
Speaking of former constitutional officers, the Bee's Steve Weigand writes '
Chuck Quackenbush is now
working as a sheriff's deputy in Lee County, Fla. down in the southwest corner of the state. In a longish piece last week in the Fort Myers News-Press, the Quackster said he was content in his new calling.
'
Here's the difference between police work and politics,' he was quoted as saying. 'If I call out for assistance now, six units roll without question. When you need help in politics, they leave you face down in the mud."
Especially after an earthquake."
The LAT's Catherine Saillant
profiles OC Republican consultant Mike Schroeder. "Schroeder, 50, revels in his reputation as the enforcer of Orange County Republican politics, acquaintances and party insiders say. It's a role that stretches back at least a decade to the days when Schroeder was climbing in the party ranks, eventually serving as the state chairman.
Working with candidates, often as an unpaid advisor, he has shaped many successful campaigns, formulating broad strategies as well as thinking out every detail. And for the last decade, he has been the power broker Orange County candidates must appeal to if they want the Republican Party's blessing — and the big-business campaign contributions that come with it, Cunningham and others say. Schroeder can also be ruthless when crossed, say those who have stepped outside the party leadership's good graces.
His supporters say that Schroeder's critics resent his success. '
If you are on the other side, you're not going to be pleased with people who are effective,' said
Doug Boyd, treasurer of the Los Angeles Lincoln Club and a 19-year acquaintance of Schroeder's. 'Mike is effective.'
Despite his many political victories, Schroeder has deeply divided the Orange County GOP leadership, many Republicans say.
Detractors say Schroeder leads a small cadre of party officials who effectively control who runs for office in Republican-dominated Orange County, shutting out credible and respected candidates who aren't in lock-step with his wing of the party."
Has
Maria found her new man? The Merc's Kate Folmar reports on a
Nick Velasquez sighting late last week. "When last we left Democratic spinmeister Nick Velasquez, he was working the gubernatorial campaign of Controller
Steve Westly. Post-June, he joined the camp of L.A. District Attorney
Rocky Delgadillo.
So why, we wondered, was he hovering protectively around First Lady
Maria Shriver, First Mum
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, First Dudes Christopher and Patrick Schwarzenegger and First Consigliere
Daniel Zingale at the "Leading the Green Dream" inaugural kickoff this afternoon?
Hmmmm. Didn't Shriver's last press secretary,
Ryan Jimenez, leave recently? Thinking, thinking....
It had us stumped until Velasquez was spotted running at full speed (in a dashing gray pinstripe suit, one should add) down 12th Street south of the Capitol.
About five minutes later, he re-emerged. Large black coffee in one hand. Wad of napkins, Sweet N' Lows and Equals in the other. For the first lady."
Congrats on the new gig, Nick!
