"These days, [Arnold] Schwarzenegger certainly
isn't shy about asking taxpayers for more, but it's hard to tell if he gets any joy out of it," writes Bill Ainsworth in the Union Tribune.
"The Republican governor has called for raising $4.5 billion in "fees" -- though most people consider them taxes -- to help finance his sweeping health care plan that would provide coverage for all Californians.
"It's a dramatic shift for a politician who made opposing new taxes a central theme of his campaign platform -- the plank he used to keep conservatives on board and to pound Angelides for supporting any tax increases at all.
"In an interview last week, Schwarzenegger defended his proposal as a "fee increase" rather than a tax, but he dismissed the argument as nearly irrelevant.
"'I want to spend very little time on that because it doesn't move us forward. What moves us forward is to solve the problem,' he said.
"So far, his approach seems to be working."
"In his health care plan, [Arnold Schwarzenegger]
proposes rewarding individuals who improve their diet, seek more exercise, quit smoking and drink less alcohol," writes the Bee's Kevin Yamamura.
"Individuals would receive health care discounts for undergoing assessments that determine potential health risks and suggest ways to modify behavior. Those patients would be re-evaluated every two years.
"The plan also would increase access to smoking cessation programs and alcohol treatment, if necessary. Those using public health plans, such as Medi-Cal, could receive gym memberships or weight loss counseling.
"Of course, the governor himself could be healthier, with or without crutches. Schwarzenegger smokes cigars regularly -- and has a well-known cigar tent at the Capitol.
"'
The governor is an adult and believes in individual choice,' said press secretary
Aaron McLear. 'He supports efforts to educate students about the harmful effects of tobacco and has expanded California's tough anti-tobacco laws.'"
Meanwhile, Steve Wiegand writes: "Yes, that was Assemblywoman
Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City -- she of the "ban-trans-fatsfrom-California-restaurants-and-school-cafeterias" legislation --
dining on pizza, nachos and chicken wings at a Natomas eatery last Sunday night.
"But before anyone throws stones at what looks like a glass house, Garcia offers up a plausible defense: She was feeding her "starving-college-student son."
"Trans fats are those deliciously devastating partially hydrogenated vegetable oils often used in preparing items in two of the main U.S. food groups: Fried stuff and doughnuts, cakes and pastries. Garcia's Assembly Bill 93 would give restaurants three years to switch to oils that are less likely to make arteries look like an L.A. freeway at 5 p.m.
"Garcia averred that her Monday lunch consisted of low-fat yogurt, water, an apple and three slices of light cheese.
"'
I don't want to be a fat-cat politician, like some people around here,' she said."
"Secretary of State
Debra Bowen is only halfway moved into her new office, with stacks of bubble-wrapped artwork and pictures still leaning against the walls. But after less than three weeks in office,
the state's top election official already is under fire," reports John Wildermuth in the Chron.
"Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders from both parties are pushing to move California's 2008 presidential primary to the first week in February in an effort to give the state more clout in selecting the nominees for president.
"The legislators can take weeks to move the measure through committees and debate the plan, but Bowen already is fielding calls from local election officials worried about the possibility of running three major elections in 2008, when they had only planned on paying for the expected June and November votes.
"'My former colleagues in the Legislature are making sure I don't have much time to settle in,' said Bowen, a 51-year-old Democrat who represented the Marina del Rey area of Los Angeles for 14 years as assemblywoman and state senator."
Dan Walters
questions the motivation for moving the presidential primary. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers seem bent on shifting California's presidential primary election next year from June to February, although their motives are a little unclear.
The public rationale they offer is that it would give California a greater role in selecting presidential candidates, forcing would-be occupants of the White House to pay more attention to its needs and to be less inclined to treat it only as a source of campaign financing.
An unspoken motive, however, is creating a venue for asking voters to reform the system of redrawing congressional and legislative boundaries, removing or reducing the role of the Legislature, and simultaneously modifying legislative term limits. Capitol insiders consider changing term limits for the 2008 elections an enticement for Democrats to accept redistricting reform.
California's voters and politicians have a sorry record of making decisions on short-term circumstances that have long-term, very negative consequences. This could be another, even if enhancing the state's presidential clout or reforming redistricting and term limits are not bad notions unto themselves."
George Skelton
argues for the February primary. "I don't buy the argument that the nation is better served by hog farmers in Iowa and cafe patrons in New Hampshire choosing our presidents. It's nice that they get to chat personally with the candidates, but I don't like them deciding for me.
"If nothing else, mix it up and rotate the kickoff states. Let Iowa and New Hampshire whine and pout.
"The current system is out of control. The national parties should muster some guts and create an orderly nominating process.
"By moving up to Feb. 5, California can pressure the parties into doing that -- and help itself in the meantime."
Assemblyman
Jim "Beall has proposed legislation to
allow people to pay at today's prices for tuition they will use far in the future, when prices are likely to be higher," reports Jim Sanders in the Bee.
"Contributors could throw a few bucks into such accounts at any time.
"The goal of Beall's bill, Assembly Bill 152, is to provide a hedge against inflation for middle-class students who do not qualify for financial aid but are squeezed by skyrocketing tuition.
"'For a huge number of families, these programs are a tremendous opportunity,' said
Jackie Williams, chairwoman of the College Savings Plans Network, a nonprofit group.
"The only concern I have is whether the state of California can afford it,' said Sen.
Jack Scott, an Altadena Democrat who chairs the Senate Education Committee. 'We'd need some very careful accounting.'"
And
live from the rumor mill, we have this from Rick Orlov. "When you go to the nation's capital, the No. 1 rumor mill of America, there is no way you can avoid being swept up in it.
Such was the case last week for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when he was asked about the latest speculation making the rounds in D.C.
That
rumor has it that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, stymied by the Constitution and unable to run for president because he was not born in the United States, has his sights set on being mayor of Los Angeles.
One little problem with this Beltway rumor. The next LA mayor's election is in 2009. If Villaraigosa wants to run for governor, he may not run for reelection. That would mean that Schwarzenegger, if he wants to be mayor, would either have to step down to run, or wait until 2013 to run against an incumbent.
