Democrats in California's congressional delegation
are in open revolt against the federal tax-cut deal, reflecting direct opposition to President
Obama. Lisa Mascaro and Richard Simon have the story in the
L.A. Times.
"During an angry and emotional meeting of their caucus,
Democratic lawmakers voted overwhelmingly against bringing
the Obama package to the floor without substantial
modification. "Just say no!" many shouted in the Democratic
caucus meeting.
"Though the voice vote amounted to a recommendation
to party leaders, it marked the first major challenge
to Obama from his party in Congress as he navigates
in a new political reality by negotiating with Republicans,
who will have the majority in the House and greater
numbers in the Senate in the new Congress."
Another uproar is being heard among some of the nation's
Indian tribes, who don't like U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's plan
to bar casinos in urban areas,
From John Simerman in the Contra Costa Times: "A staunch opponent of Indian casinos in the Bay Area,
Feinstein wields formidable power as chairwoman of
an appropriations subcommittee that holds the purse
strings for the Department of Interior, which oversees
Indian land issues. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
D-Nevada reportedly backs her proposed legislation, while
many tribal leaders and advocates attack it as a harsh
broadside against "Indian Country."
"She has her eye on the Bay Area, but (her plan) would grotesquely and adversely affect many tribes
across the country," said Judith Shapiro, a Washington
attorney who represents several tribes with a stake
in the outcome. "There's a lot of power in play right
now."
Meanwhile, in the courts, the state will crack down on any number of student fees at public
schools, under the terms of a settlement that has yet to be formally approved.
From Maureen Magee at the San Diego Union-Tribune: "California will crack down on myriad illegal school
fees charged to students taking part in such programs
as art, athletics, band, cheer and gym if a landmark
lawsuit settlement announced Thursday is approved."
"The agreement hinges on
court approval and legislation that would require a
standard complaint process
for students, annual audits of such fees, fines for
districts for charging them
illegally, and resolution for families within 30 days of any illegal charges."
In the continuing saga of California's high-speed rail projects, the state will get up to $624 million more -- money that will come in handy. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee has the story.
"The U.S. Department of Transportation is taking nearly
$1.2 billion in high-speed rail funds away from Ohio and Wisconsin and giving
most of it to California."
"California will get up to $616 million of the forfeited money, significantly increasing
federal backing for the state's ambitious high-speed train plans. Thursday's announcement brings to
more than $3.5 billion the federal funds earmarked for high-speed rail in the state."
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is going mano-a-mano with the principal teachers' union in L.A, the Times' Patrick McDonnell and David Zahniser report.
"With a hard-hitting speech that branded the city's teachers union
as an unyielding obstruction to education reforms,
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa set the stage this week for a new battle over control
of the troubled Los Angeles Unified School District,
the nation's second-largest."
"In a Sacramento address to state leaders, Villaraigosa — himself a longtime teachers union employee before
launching a career in public office — declared that education in Los Angeles stands at "a
critical crossroads," and he assailed United Teachers
Los Angeles for resisting change."
And finally, we turn to our bulging "Notes from the Bureaucracy" file to see the case of Amber Yust, who's sex-change has caught the eye of a DMV clerk.
"A transgender woman says a California Department of
Motor Vehicles clerk used a state database to mail
her a personal letter at home condemning her sex change.
"San Francisco resident Amber Yust says she received
the letter four days after she went to apply for a
new driver’s license in October. The letter called her gender
change “a very evil decision” and identifies the writer as the person who processed
Yust’s application."
"Yust has taken the first step toward suing the DMV
for invading her privacy and violating her civil rights.
She filed a claim Wednesday seeking damages."
She may get enough to pay for another operation....
