Capitol Weekly looks at
who killed health care, and why.
"Most senators cited fiscal concerns in their decision not to support the bill. But it was clear Tuesday that
neither the speaker nor the governor truly believed that the fiscal analysis was the true reason health care failed in the Senate.
"
In fact, both Núñez and Schwarzenegger seemed to indicate that the LAO report was being used as political cover for senators who voted against the bill.
"'I can tell you as a Democrat, I’ve looked at LAO reports,' said Núñez. '
What we like to do is we pick the stuff we like, that’s advantageous to us, and the things that are not, we sort of ignore and brush aside.'"
We'll remember that one around May Revise time, Mr. Speaker...
"Núñez said he did not want to 'point fingers at any one person' over his bill’s demise. But there was plenty of blame in the subtext. He took issue with Perata’s analysis that the health care bill was not truly bipartisan, and he took some shots at the way
Sheila Kuehl, the chairwoman of the committee that killed the bill, conducted her committee hearing.
"'If you’re going to have disagreements, they ought to be over the facts,' said Núñez. '
We did not have a hearing, not for one minute, on the facts of this bill. That debate was not about the facts.'
And some Senators are eager to pick up the health care ball.
"'I think it is very important that the Senate articulate alternatives,' said [Sen.
Darrell] Steinberg. 'The lead alternatives are children’s health care, transparency, and beginning to phase in coverage for uninsured adults.'"
Robert Ross, head of the California Endowment, pleads with stakeholders to
maintain momentum on health care.
"So as a former practicing physician, what is my suggested prescription for our leaders? Take those areas of agreement between business, labor, doctors, health providers, and consumer advocates and pass a package that would significantly improve California’s health care system. Such a package would
create insurance market reforms; it would extend coverage to California’s 800,000 uninsured kids and give our state the distinction of ensuring that all of our children have health insurance; and, it would provide funding for health reform while continuing to support California’s hospitals."
Speaking of support, the governor is ready to back Sen.
John McCain. "In a marriage of political mavericks, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
is expected to endorse John McCain's presidential candidacy Thursday as the Arizona senator works to fasten his grip on the GOP nomination," report Mark Barabak and Evan Halper in the Times.
So, that's why they were winking at each other during last night's debate...
"News of the governor's backing -- a reversal of his neutrality pledge less than two weeks ago -- comes as McCain also won the support today of former rival
Rudolph W. Giuliani. The New York City mayor quit the race at a Simi Valley news conference, where he hailed McCain as a friend and "American hero."
"'John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States,' Giuliani said as McCain stood silently next to him.
"Schwarzenegger is expected to announce his support for McCain at an event Thursday in Los Angeles, according to associates of both men.
"'
Gov. Schwarzenegger is an exceptional governor, and Sen. McCain is honored by his decision to endorse,' McCain strategist
Steve Schmidt said Wednesday night."
It should be noted that Mitt Romney didn't exactly play nice when he ran against the guv's Uncle Teddy in Massachusetts. Maybe that has just a tinsy-winsy bit to do with the timing of the endorsement...
"Incumbent Democratic lawmakers
have donated or raised nearly $1.4 million for the Proposition 93 campaign, fueling accusations that the measure to alter term limits is a power grab," writes Jim Sanders in the Bee.
"Fourteen Democratic Assembly members and three senators contributed money in their own name, while numerous others gave to special committees used by colleagues to solicit funds for the effort, records show.
"The two largest legislative contributors are Senate President Pro Tem
Don Perata, $350,000, and Assembly Speaker
Fabian Núñez, $300,000. The measure would give them an extra four years and six years in office, respectively.
"No on 93 is led by state Insurance Commissioner
Steve Poizner, who has given $2.5 million of his personal fortune. Other top donors to the $7 million campaign are California Correctional Peace Officers Association, $2 million, and U.S. Term Limits, $1.5 million."
While the state GOP has given $100k against the measure, GOP lawmakers haven't given to either side.
"GOP strategist
Dan Schnur said Republican legislators have mixed feelings.
"'
On one hand, they're against career politicians,' he said. 'On the other hand, they wouldn't mind sticking around Sacramento for a few more years. So the best option is just to keep their head down.'"
The Chron's John Wildermuth looks at
an oft-overlooked consequence of Prop. 93 -- the possible end of several hot campaigns across the state.
"An exciting Peninsula primary race and plenty of other potential political battles around the Bay Area could vanish like so many puffs of smoke if California voters approve Proposition 93, the plan to revise the state's term-limit rules, in next week's election.
"Would-be legislators already lining up to replace termed-out politicians - who include Oakland state Sen.
Don Perata, Mountain View Assemblywoman
Sally Lieber, Berkeley Assemblywoman
Loni Hancock and South San Francisco Assemblyman
Gene Mullin - could quickly fold their campaigns if voters open the way for those veteran officeholders to stay in the Legislature past this year.
"'If Prop. 93 passes and Gene (Mullin) decides to seek another term, I'll support him and not run,' said
Jerry Hill, a San Mateo County supervisor who is now signed up to run for the Peninsula Assembly seat. 'He's a good friend who's done a good job.'
"In Berkeley, four Democrats are set to run for Hancock's seat, while Hancock herself is one of three Democrats, along with former legislators
Wilma Chan and
Johan Klehs, in line to battle for Perata's seat.
"But if Prop. 93 passes, Hancock will be able to spend up to three more terms in the Assembly, while Perata could run for a final four-year Senate term.
"'The dynamics of everything will change dramatically after Feb. 5,' said
Roger Salazar, a veteran Democratic consultant. 'Nobody knows what's going to happen with Prop. 93, but it will either set the incumbents up for easy (re-election) runs or open up a real scramble to the June 3 primary.'"
CW's Jessica Meyers takes a look at
how the new gaming deals on the February ballot may affect non-gaming tribes.
"
Rick Laiwa fears his 1,000-member tribe will lose the $1.1 million it receives annually from gaming tribes if voters agree to back Propositions 94 to 97 on Feb. 5. The measures would allow four Southern California tribes to expand their casinos, add up to 17,000 slot machines, and steer more of the revenue to the state.
"The Manchester-Point Arena Indians are caught in the fracas among gaming tribes with growing political clout in Sacramento, casino owners who fear competition, and a state government scrambling for even small chunks of extra money. Laiwa, who spends the week working construction in Redwood City three hours south, does not see his people represented on the slick television ads both the Yes and No sides have aired relentlessly in recent weeks."
"Neither does Jeanne Logan, a 67-year-old grandmother who lives on the reservation with her family. “Big people are pushing money around,' she said. 'They get everything, and we get nothing.'”
Meanwhile,
Doug Ose has decided that the term limits pledge he upheld when he gave up his seat was not a lifetime one, meaning
Rico won't have an easy dance in the primary for
John Doolittle's seat.
The Bee's David Whitney
reports: "Ose held the Sacramento area's 3rd Congressional District seat from 1999 until 2005, when he retired to keep a promise to serve no more than three terms. He would face a primary in which former state Sen. Rico Oller, R-San Andreas, and national security consultant
Eric Egland have already announced.
"An Ose-Oller matchup would likely dominate the Republican primary battle. Both have large bases of support, Ose from six years in the House and Oller from state legislative experience in much of Doolittle's 4th Congressional District.
"Concerned about potential harm to the lending industry, legislative Republicans on Wednesday
killed a proposed bill that Senate Democrats argued would have provided some relief to homeowners hit by the unprecedented mortgage crisis," reports Steve Geissinger in the Merc News.
"
SB 926, by Senate leader
Don Perata, D-Oakland, would have required lenders to give more notice to borrowers of a potential change in rates, talk with homeowners about loan-restructuring options and give property owners additional time to move from a foreclosed property. It also fines lenders $1,000 a day if they fail to maintain their foreclosed properties.
"The bill was rejected on a 26-14 party line vote, with Sen.
Abel Maldonado, R-San Luis Obispo, casting the only Republican vote in favor of the measure. One more vote was needed to meet the two-thirds majority for an "urgency" measure, which would have allowed its provisions to go into effect immediately."
"A laptop
computer containing psychological screenings of 441 applicants for California peace officer jobs was stolen in Mexico this month, State Personnel Board officials said Wednesday," reports Clint Swett in the Bee.
"The computer, owned by a psychologist doing contract work for the state, had "raw data" from interviews with applicants for jobs with the California Highway Patrol, the state Department of Corrections and other agencies, said Personnel Board spokeswoman
Sherry Evans.
"She said the completed psychological evaluations had previously been erased from the machine and that no other personal or financial information such as Social Security numbers was stored on the computer.
"'These were basically answers to questions asked by the psychologist during the evaluation,' Evans said. 'It's basically questions like: 'Have you ever been depressed?'"
"All applicants for state peace officer jobs are required to undergo psychological screening."
Finally, eyebrows are being raised over a pro-Proposition 93 mailer sent out featuring
Gloria Negrete McLeod and several other Latino caucus members.
The Press-Enterprise's Jim Miller
reports: "'Whoever sent that out didn’t have permission from the caucus. I purposely have not taken a stand,' said Negrete McLeod, who represents much of urban San Bernardino County.
"The mailer's origins are unclear. A group called 'Vote Matters' is listed as its source. The last campaign filing by a group of that name shows contributions from the wood industry and carpenters union. Yet the mailer lacks the group's campaign-finance identification number, which is required on all mailers.
"The address on the mailer is the same as a Berkeley pub."That will come as little surprise to anyone who's actually seen the quality of the mailer.
