American River Student Council votes to support Prop. 8

8 in favor, 3 opposed and 3 abstaining; that was the final vote today as the American River College Student Council voted to endorse Proposition 8; the state constitutional amendment that will preserve the definition of marriage as an institution between a man and a woman.

The September 30th afternoon meeting drew a crowd of nearly 200 students who were about evenly split in their support or opposition to the Proposition 8 resolution. Chanting, yelling, clapping and calls for order by the President, were commonplace as students from No on 8 side expressed their views to the Council. Some shouted "NO on 8" from the podium. Others interrupted supporters of Prop.8 as they spoke by yelling insults and profane language.

After an hour and a half of student comment, the Council voted to pass the resolution with just over the 2/3rd majority vote required, drawing applause from students.

Student Representative Jorge Riley spoke in favor of passing the Resolution, stating that he would vote to uphold the majority's will, while Council member Tim Richey expressed his disgust with the Council's support for Prop 8 by emphatically stating his "NO" vote.

A student-publicized, anti-marriage rally against Prop 8 was held prior to the meeting and students were allowed to bring signs reading "No on 8" inside the meeting as well. Other students held signs reading "marriage still = 1 man +1 woman" and "Yes on Prop 8." Two campus police officers were called in to attempt to the keep the peace; several students were requested to leave the building and were escorted outside by the administration as No on 8 advocates cursed and yelled at their opponents.

Members of the ARC Student Council made a brave stand and I commend them.

Video of the full meeting will be made available at http://americanrivernews.blogspot.com/

In 2004 Maxine Waters said Fannie & Freddie weren't broken

As Democrats continue to try and hang the financial crisis around the neck of John McCain, their own words are coming back to haunt them.



Republicans are the ones who have pushed to reign in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, while Democrats continually fight any regulation.

I am not saying the Republicans are completely free of blame. The fact is, they were in charge in 2001 when this issue first popped up, all the way until 2005. And no legislation was ever passed providing the sort of oversight they knew was needed.

But it is clear from this video and other media reports that Democrats have been the ones preventing the reforms that could have prevented this crisis. I just think it's sad thata the MSM is letting them get away with such hypocracy.

California News Roundup - September 30, 2008

Field Poll: Voters who've heard of Proposition 3 tend to favor it -- California voters who have heard about Proposition 3 on the Nov. 4 ballot are mostly in favor of it, according to a new Field Poll. But the possible problem for supporters of the measure is that few voters have heard of it. The initiative seeks voter approval of $980 million in bonds to pay for renovation, expansion and new equipment at eight private and five University of California Children's Hospitals.


Schwarzenegger signs chemical regulation overhaul -- California will crack down on hazardous chemicals in consumer products under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The two-bill package requires the state to assume more responsibility by 2011 for identifying, analyzing and regulating such chemicals. Schwarzenegger touted the measures as the "most comprehensive Green Chemistry program ever established."


Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes oil spill bills, signs others -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger late Monday vetoed three landmark bills drafted after last year's San Francisco Bay oil spill that would have required quicker response to oil spills and increased a fee to help fund oil spill oversight.


Governor vetoes DVC-prompted grade bill -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill prompted by the Diablo Valley College scandal that would have required the state's 110 community colleges to consider a model grade-changing policy.


State Grange ponders ballot measure on lawmakers' pay -- Frustrated at the Legislature's annual inability to pass a state budget on time, the California Grange – the state's oldest agricultural fraternal group – is pondering an initiative that would not only block lawmakers from being paid when a budget is late, but fine them for it, too.


Prop. 2: Caging of farm animals under debate -- Happy chickens equal happy consumers, say proponents of Proposition 2, a November ballot measure that calls for the humane treatment of farm animals. The initiative, proposed by the Humane Society of the United States, would ban farmers from raising egg-producing poultry, veal calves and pregnant pigs in small cages and crates by 2015.


Schwarzenegger signs law regulating wave pools -- Wave pools in California must adhere to strict safety requirements before allowing children to play in the popular water attractions under legislation signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over the weekend. Beginning Jan. 1, wave pool operators will be required to provide life vests free of charge to children shorter than 42 inches, non-swimmers and anyone who requests one; all children under 42 inches must wear a vest.


Dan Walters: Vetoes send message, drive wedge -- Senate Bill 1237 was one of hundreds of routine measures that make some incremental change in law and sail through the legislative process without a hitch. SB 1237, carried by Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, would have made some minor and mostly technical changes in the Subdivision Map Act that governs how land parcels are split up into building lots.


Gay marriage: Both sides unleash Prop. 8 TV ads -- Racheting up a media barrage that will spill into millions of California living rooms, proponents of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage broadcast their first TV ads Monday, charging that permanent legalization could endanger religious freedom or change schools' curriculum, charges whose veracity were challenged by legal experts.


Atheist sues California prison officials over drug treatment program -- A Shasta County atheist sued top state corrections officials Monday, claiming that his constitutional rights were violated when he was returned to prison after objecting to participation in a program with religious overtones as a condition of parole.


Statewide immigration raids result in 1,157 arrests -- Federal agents target those who ignored deportation orders or returned to the U.S. illegally. More than 400 are arrested in the Los Angeles area.


California drivers cut gasoline usage 7.5% in June -- California drivers used 7.5 percent less gasoline in June compared with the same month in 2007, the state Board of Equalization said Monday. BOE said consumption in June was 1.214 billion gallons, nearly 100 million gallons less than what motorists used in June 2007.


New law will require California chain restaurants to display calorie counts -- Schwarzenegger plans to sign that bill Tuesday. He has approved a toll lane plan for the 10 and 110 freeways and a bill that could help East L.A. and Rowland Heights attain cityhood.

Democrats fought McCain's efforts to address pending finaincial crisis

The following was sent out by the California Republican Party. I figured that I woud pass it on to my readers, unfiltered.

Democrats Attack McCain Even Though They Blocked Reform Efforts He Sought To Help Fix The Financial Markets

Obama's Congressional Allies Have Been Attacking Sen. John McCain For Engaging In Negotiations On Legislation To Stabilize Financial Markets:


"In Interviews After The Meeting, Obama Pointed A Finger At His Rival For The Faltering Talks..." (Michael D. Shear and Jonathan Weisman, "Debate Still In Limbo As Democrats Blame McCain For Interrupting Process," The Washington Post, 9/26/08)


Obama Suggested The Negotiations Were Damaged By Presidential Politics. "Obama suggested the talks were damaged by politics. 'When you start injecting presidential politics into delicate negotiations you can actually create more problems rather than less,' Obama said on CNN." (Alison Vekshin and James Rowley, "House Republicans Undercut Bush On Rescue, Slow Talks," Bloomberg News, 9/26/08)



But McCain Has Led Efforts To Reform Financial Markets:



The Washington Post: "[W]hen It Comes To Regulating Financial Institutions And Corporate Misconduct, Mr. McCain's Record Is More In Keeping With His Current Rhetoric." (Editorial, "'Always For Less Regulation?'" The Washington Post, 9/19/08)



John McCain Urged Action More Than Two Years Ago, Co-Sponsoring Legislation To Reform Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Warning: "If Congress Does Not Act, American Taxpayers Will Continue To Be Exposed To The Enormous Risk That Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Pose To The Housing Market, The Overall Financial System, And The Economy As A Whole." McCain: "I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole." (Office Of U.S. Senator John McCain, "McCain Statement On Co-Sponsorship Of The Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act Of 2005," Press Release, 5/26/06)



In 2002, McCain Called For Greater Oversight Of Financial Markets Following Accounting Scandals. "In the aftermath of the Enron collapse and other accounting scandals, he was a leader, with Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), in pushing to require that companies treat stock options granted to employees as expenses on their balance sheets. 'I have long opposed unnecessary regulation of business activity, mindful that the heavy hand of government can discourage innovation,' he wrote in a July 2002 op-ed in the New York Times. 'But in the current climate only a restoration of the system of checks and balances that once protected the American investor -- and that has seriously deteriorated over the past 10 years -- can restore the confidence that makes financial markets work.'" (Editorial, "'Always For Less Regulation?'" The Washington Post, 9/19/08)



McCain Led The Charge To Remove Former SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt. "Mr. McCain was an early voice calling for the resignation of Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt, charging that he 'seems to prefer industry self-policing to necessary lawmaking. Government's demands for corporate accountability are only credible if government executives are held accountable as well.'" (Editorial, "'Always For Less Regulation?'" The Washington Post, 9/19/08)



And Obama Ally Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) Blocked Multiple Attempts At Reforming Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Spanning Back To 1992:



"[Frank's] Record Is Close To Perfect As A Stalwart Opponent Of Reforming The Two Companies, Going Back More Than A Decade. The First Concerted Push To Rein In Fan And Fred In Congress Came As Far Back As 1992, And Mr. Frank Was Right There, Standing Athwart. But Things Really Picked Up This Decade, And Barney Was There At Every Turn." (Editorial, "Fannie Mae's Patron Saint," The Wall Street Journal, 9/10/08)



"Two Years Later, Mr. Frank Was At It Again. 'I Do Not Regard Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac As Problems,' He Said In Response To Another Reform Push. And Then: 'I Regard Them As Great Assets.'" (Editorial, "Fannie Mae's Patron Saint," The Wall Street Journal, 9/10/08)



"A Month Later, Freddie Mac's Multibillion-Dollar Accounting Scandal Broke Into The Open. But Mr. Frank Was Sanguine. 'I Do Not Think We Are Facing Any Kind Of A Crisis,' He Said At The Time." (Editorial, "Fannie Mae's Patron Saint," The Wall Street Journal, 9/10/08)



"Three Months Later He Repeated The Claim That Fannie And Freddie Posed No 'Threat To The Treasury.' Even Suggesting That Heresy, He Added, Could Become 'A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.'" (Editorial, "Fannie Mae's Patron Saint," The Wall Street Journal, 9/10/08)



"In April 2004, Fannie Announced A Multibillion-Dollar Financial 'Misstatement' Of Its Own. Mr. Frank Was Back For The Defense. Fannie And Freddie Posed No Risk To Taxpayers, He Said, Adding That 'I Think Wall Street Will Get Over It' If The Two Collapsed." (Editorial, "Fannie Mae's Patron Saint," The Wall Street Journal, 9/10/08)



Obama Ally Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) Led Efforts To Block Reform Of Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac, After Receiving A Sweetheart Deal On Loans For His Own Houses:



Obama Joined Sen. Dodd - Both Top Recipients Of Fannie And Freddie Contributions - In Opposing Reform Measures And Weakening Existing Regulations. "During this period, Sen. Richard Shelby led a small group of legislators favoring reform, including fellow Republican Sens. John Sununu, Chuck Hagel and Elizabeth Dole. Meanwhile, Dodd -- who along with Democratic Sens. John Kerry, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were the top four recipients of Fannie and Freddie campaign contributions from 1988 to 2008 -- actively opposed such measures and further weakened existing regulation." (Al Hubbard and Noam Neusner, Op-Ed, "Where Was Sen. Dodd?" The Washington Post, 9/12/08)



Dodd Called On The Regulator For Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac To Lift Portfolio Caps. "Both Schumer and Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., the chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, have called on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regulator to lift the portfolio caps. They argue that allowing the two firms to buy more mortgages, at least temporarily, would inject much needed liquidity into the market and calm the financial markets." (Michael R. Crittenden, "Schumer Will Seek To Lift Cap On Mortgage Portfolios Of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac," Congressional Quarterly Today, 8/16/07)



In 2003, Dodd, Chairman Of The Senate Banking Committee, Received Preferential Loans From Countrywide Financial On His Two Homes Which Saved Him $75,000. "Senators Christopher Dodd, Democrat from Connecticut and chairman of the Banking Committee, and Kent Conrad, Democrat from North Dakota, chairman of the Budget Committee and a member of the Finance Committee, refinanced properties through Countrywide's 'V.I.P.' program in 2003 and 2004, according to company documents and emails and a former employee familiar with the loans. ... Senator Dodd received two loans in 2003 through Countrywide's V.I.P. program. He borrowed $506,000 to refinance his Washington townhouse, and $275,042 to refinance a home in East Haddam, Connecticut. Countrywide wai ved three-eighths of a point, or about $2,000, on the first loan, and one-fourth of a point, about $700, on the second, according to internal documents. Both loans were for 30 years, with the first five years at a fixed rate. The interest rate on the loans, originally pegged at 4.875%, was reduced to 4.25% on the Washington home and 4.5% on the Connecticut property by the time the loans were funded. The lower rates save the senator about $58,000 on his Washington residence over the life of the loan, and $17,000 on the Connecticut home." (Daniel Golden, "Countrywide's Many 'Friends,'" Portfolio, 6/12/08)



Obama Ally Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Has Been A "Leading Voice For [Financial] Deregulation," Led Efforts To Block Reform Of Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac, And Was Instrumental In The Collapse Of Bank IndyMac:



Until The Current Financial Crisis, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) "Had Been A Leading Voice For Deregulation," Supporting Repeal Of Great-Depression Era Regulations, Re-Examining Corporate Oversight Laws, And Opposing Reducing Taxpayer Risks Associated With Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac. "Until the current credit crisis, Mr. Schumer had been a leading voice for deregulation: He ha s championed the repeal of a Great Depression-era law that prohibited commercial banks from underwriting securities; he has written an opinion piece calling for the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to be 're-examined,' and he has opposed a bill that sought to reduce taxpayer risk in the event of a housing market slowdown by requiring Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to sell their entire investment portfolios of about $1.5 trillion worth of mortgage assets." (Joseph Goldstein, "Pro-Deregulation Schumer Scores Bush For Lack of Regulation," The New York Sun, 9/22/08)



Schumer Called On The Regulator For Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac To Lift Portfolio Caps. "Both Schumer and Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., the chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, have called on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regulator to lift the portfolio caps. They argue that allowing the two firms to buy more mortgages, at least temporarily, would inject much needed liquidity into the market and calm the financial markets." (Michael R. Crittenden, "Schumer Will Seek To Lift Cap On Mortgage Portfolios Of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac," Congressional Quarterly Today, 8/16/07)

California News Roundup - September 25, 2008

Poll: Same-sex marriage ban not wooing voters -- Opponents of a ban on same-sex marriage have the upper hand in a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, but the numbers also suggest that the third time may be a charm for Proposition 4, which requires notification of a parent or relative before a minor can receive an abortion.


Obama retains lead over McCain among state's voters, poll finds -- The selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee has excited GOP voters in California, but her addition to the ticket has not changed any minds, a Public Policy Institute of California poll released today finds.


Fee increases slip into state budget -- The no-new-taxes budget signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week includes at least two new fees the average Californian will pay. Drivers will be tapped for an additional $11 when they register their car or motorcycle starting Dec. 1. That will raise about $300 million for California Highway Patrol programs this fiscal year.


Deal stalls on California prisons -- Once again, progress has stalled in the efforts to fashion a fix for California's overcrowded prisons. In last week's budget negotiations, lawmakers failed to free up money set aside last year for prisons. They also did not act to approve $8 billion in other bonds for 10,000 long-term health care beds for old, infirm and mentally ill inmates.


Budget blockage cost credit union $52,000 -- The Golden 1 Credit Union lost about $52,000 in "opportunity costs" during California's budget impasse, company President and CEO Terry Halleck said. The figure represents what the credit union would have earned had it invested money that it loaned at zero interest to 1,100 state workers – legislative staff and others – who by law weren't paid until a budget was in place. This year's legislative standoff was a record 85 days.


Reforms needed to avoid repeat of budget fiasco, Panetta says -- After three months of "recrimination, passing the buck, gridlock, delays and sniping at one another," California can't afford another budget fiasco, said a leading Democrat who insisted an overhaul of government is the only way out of the constant crises plaguing the state Capitol. Leon Panetta, co-chairman of California Forward, a nonprofit bipartisan government reform group, urged political leaders to make 2009 the "year of reform."


T. Boone Pickens backs Proposition 10, from which he would profit -- The oil billionaire wants California to invest $5 billion in rebates to help promote use of natural gas in vehicles, though few consumers could benefit.


Pastors plan to defy IRS ban on political speech -- Setting the stage for a collision of religion and politics, Christian ministers from California and 21 other states will use their pulpits Sunday to deliver political sermons or endorse presidential candidates -- defying a federal ban on campaigning by nonprofit groups.


Philip Morris sues San Francisco over tobacco sales ban -- Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest tobacco company, filed suit in federal court Wednesday, arguing the city of San Francisco has unconstitutionally banned pharmacies from selling tobacco products.


Madera school board election nullified before the vote -- A judge in Central California has taken the unusual step of tossing out, in advance, the results of an upcoming school board election after finding that it violated the terms of the California Voting Rights Act.


Kevin Johnson, St. HOPE suspended from receiving federal funds -- In a rare move, mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson and at least part of his St. HOPE organization have been barred from receiving federal money until an investigation into the use of funds for its volunteer program is completed.

Portrayal Of Obama As Elitist Hailed As Step Forward For African Americans (Funny Video)

Portrayal Of Obama As Elitist Hailed As Step Forward For African Americans

California News Roundup - September 22, 2008

Budget problems expected again next summer -- Even as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a spending bill this week to end the state's record-long budget impasse, officials say a crisis of equal magnitude looms next year because of the weakened economy, uncertainties about the use of future lottery revenue and political gridlock among state legislators.


George Skelton: Blame all the players for the gimmicky budget -- Republicans and Democrats wreaked havoc across the state in the protracted negotiations. Democratic state Treasurer Bill Lockyer likens the budgeting process to 'banana republic financing.'


Democrats take aim at budget vote margin -- Frustrated by the longest budget impasse in California history, Democratic leaders are planning another ballot measure to end the two-thirds vote requirement in the Legislature to pass a state budget. Voters, by a 2-to-1 margin, defeated a similar effort in 2004 that would have also lowered the vote threshold to raise taxes from two-thirds to 55 percent.


State Prop. 3 would fund children's hospitals -- Voters will decide on Nov. 4 whether to pay for the construction and remodeling of children's hospitals through a new state bond. Proposition 3 would authorize $980 million in bonds, to be repaid from the state's general fund, to allow the hospitals to expand, improve facilities and purchase medical equipment.


Controversy surrounds sweeping 'safe neighborhoods' measure on November ballot -- California's police and prosecutors are asking voters for a guaranteed $965 million from the state each year and a slew of tough new penalties, but an unlikely figure is championing their anti-crime "Safe Neighborhoods Act" on the November ballot. The man who paid to put Proposition 6 before the voters now faces a possible 340 years in prison in a pair of indictments that accuse him of backdating stock options, supplying meth and cocaine to friends and prostitutes, and spiking colleagues' drinks with Ecstasy.


Ad Watch: Large utilities finance anti-7 coalition -- A No-on-Prop. 7 coalition is airing a television ad saying the November state ballot measure actually would undermine its stated objective of expanding renewable energy sources as solutions to global warming.


Dan Walters: Prison system mess isn't getting better -- The state's budget imbroglio had many casualties, and a big one was doing something about the festering mess we call a prison system. We have more than 170,000 inmates in cells designed for scarcely half that number, inmate health care is so bad that a federal judge has seized control, his receiver is demanding $8 billion from a state that's already hemorrhaging red ink, other judges are threatening to take over other aspects of the system, and the prison guards union is mounting a recall campaign against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger because of long-stalled contract negotiations.


California prison guards' resolve is tested by Schwarzenegger -- A few steps from the slot machines and blackjack tables here, Mike Jimenez asked for a final show of support from the men and women who had just placed their bets on him to fight on as leader of California's once feared, still proud prison guards union.


Gray Davis: Recall's no way to govern -- Take it from the man who's been there: Former Gov. Gray Davis. If the recall threat against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger succeeds, forget about seeing any bold leadership from any future governor of the state.


Palin energizes California Republicans -- Post-convention swing state polls are tipping toward Sen. John McCain, the TV pundits are waxing about "The Palin Factor," and Sen. Barack Obama's California supporters are freaking out about a race Democrats were uncommonly confident about only a month ago.


UC president leans toward new rules for admission -- Even Mark Yudof, the former law school dean and accomplished higher education leader now guiding the University of California, confessed that he was a bit befuddled at first by a proposal to rewrite the UC's freshmen admissions rules. But Yudof told the UC Board of Regents last week that, after spending many hours studying the plan, he believes it is “headed in the right direction” and he is prepared to endorse it.


California's new 8th-grade algebra rule gets some poor marks -- The new state policy of requiring algebra in the eighth grade will set up unprepared students for failure while holding back others with solid math skills, a new report has concluded. These predictions, based on national data, come in the wake of an algebra mandate that the state Board of Education, under pressure from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, adopted in July.


CSU introducing online degrees -- When classes start at Cal State East Bay this week, they'll include dozens of students who will never need to set foot on campus. For the first time, students in a handful of programs will be able to complete master's degrees or the final two years of their bachelor's degrees online. No commuting, no dining halls, no searching for parking spaces.


Gay-marriage foes protest outside Kevin Johnson's church -- A church group from El Dorado County and a controversial minister from Los Angeles on Sunday protested outside mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson's church, saying he should be cast out of his congregation for opposing Proposition 8, the initiative to ban gay marriage.

California News Roundup - September 17, 2008

Poll: Palin no lure to California independents -- GOP presidential candidate John McCain is getting stronger support among California Republicans for his pick of VP candidate Sarah Palin, but he is not gaining ground on Democrat Barack Obama among the fast-growing armies of independent and decline-to-state voters in the state, according to a new Field Poll.


Governor to veto state budget -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised Tuesday he will veto a state budget that state lawmakers had approved hours earlier, saying the plan is flawed and would create an even worse fiscal crisis for California next year.


Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger finally finds some backbone -- Arnold Schwarzenegger has talked a good game about ending "crazy deficit spending" for five years, but he's been curiously unwilling to confront the Legislature over the state's hopelessly tangled budget.


Dan Weintraub: Budget veto will send a strong message -- When he vetoes the new state budget approved by the Legislature in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will reclaim the high ground on the issue that propelled him into the Governor's Office five years ago but has bedeviled him ever since: the state's badly broken finances.


2008 Ballot Watch: Proposition 12: Veterans Bond Act of 2008 -- For the 27th time since 1922, California voters will be asked to authorize bonds for a program that makes low-interest home loans to California veterans. Proponents say the Cal-Vet program has helped some 420,000 California veterans stretching back to World War I.


30% of San Francisco juvenile offenders actually adults -- Nearly 30 percent of the felony offenders San Francisco juvenile justice officials have reported to federal immigration authorities since the city stopped shielding youths from deportation have turned out to be adults, authorities say. The city's Juvenile Probation Department has referred 58 offenders to federal authorities since Mayor Gavin Newsom announced July 2 that the city no longer would protect youths from deportation under San Francisco's sanctuary law.


Hundreds of adult illegals also got sanctuary -- It turns out that San Francisco wasn't shielding just juvenile illegal immigrants from deportation if they committed crimes - City Hall officials have discovered that there are 372 convicted adult felons on probation in the city who weren't reported to the feds.


California tuition break for illegal immigrants can be challenged -- Appellate court rules that a lawsuit over the granting of in-state college fees can go forward.


House pursuing probe of SEIU local in L.A., panel chairman says -- After Republican charge of stalling, George Miller says his committee is simply taking care not to interfere with criminal investigation.

California News Roundup - September 15, 2008

California lawmakers reach compromise on budget -- The proposed state spending plan involves no new taxes. Votes on the plan are scheduled for Monday. Legislative leaders announced Sunday that they had reached an agreement.


Editorial: Mileage-based premiums -- Here's a sensible idea: Your auto insurance premium is based on how much you drive. In a better world, insurance companies would be free to offer such products to satisfy customers, but in the regulated insurance world in California, such proposals need government vetting.


California is too tough to run, analysts say-- The state controller says California's payroll computer program is so antiquated it would take six months to reconfigure it to change workers' pay.


Political winds buffet California ballot measures on energy-- Two of the world's richest men bankroll alternative-energy initiatives on the November ballot. Each is opposed by some of the very champions of those alternatives.


The Buzz: Prop. 8 could create quagmire, Feinstein says-- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who called San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's brief legalization of gay marriage in 2004 'too much, too fast, too soon,' has announced her position on Proposition 8: She's opposed. Feinstein said the measure to ban gay ...


Dan Walters: As booze bills show, nothing really changes-- No legislative session would be complete without at least one bill granting an exemption to the state's quaintly named 'tied-house law' on liquor sales. This year is no exception, once again illustrating the fundamentally unchanging nature of ...


Editorial: Beware a budget made in the dark-- All of a sudden, lawmakers are in a rush. They've had 11 weeks to pass a budget. Now they are preparing to slam one through as soon as this evening.


Surprise twist in casino rules-- When representatives of about 50 Indian tribes gathered with state regulators recently, everyone in the room knew that nearly all of the tribes were about to vote against a set of casino security standards sought by the state.

California News Roundup - September 12, 2008

Palin asks Schwarzenegger to veto fees aimed at cutting pollution at California ports -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for vice president, has urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto a fee on cargo containers going through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, setting off a wave of criticism from California environmentalists. Palin's letter to Schwarzenegger is dated Aug. 28 -- one day before presidential candidate and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced that he had picked her as his running mate.


Last stand on same-sex marriage? -- The stakes of the ballot drive to forbid same-sex marriage reach far beyond California's geographic and political borders in what has emerged as another chapter in America's culture wars. Christian groups, wealthy benefactors and self-styled pro-family groups from all over the nation are watching closely — and weighing in with money. Gay rights groups and wealthy individuals are countering with their own cash from across the country.


Budget stalemate unlikely to affect legislators -- California's 120 lawmakers have set a record -- but none of them is proud. It's never taken this long to pass a state budget. Ever. Yet even as the impasse stretches into a third month, there will be few, if any, political consequences for the 38 Democrats and 22 Republicans seeking re-election in November, experts say.


Legislature's approval rating at a record low -- Snarled in a record-long budget dispute that shows no sign of ending soon, California's Legislature is facing its lowest approval rating ever, according to a new Field Poll. More than 4 out of 5 voters also believe the state's $17.2 billion budget gap is a serious problem, the poll showed.


Dan Walters: GOP's inland empire may be vanishing -- If you were to examine a 1958 political map of California, it would look much different from today's version. You'd find, for example, that Republicans were doing pretty well in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950s. Caspar Weinberger, later Ronald Reagan's secretary of defense, was then a state assemblyman from San Francisco. Today scarcely a Republican is holding office in the region.


California education secretary quitting -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's fourth education secretary in five years resigned on Wednesday, saying he was ready to start "a different chapter of my life." David Long, the former superintendent of schools in Riverside County whom Schwarzenegger touted as having "the most unbelievable experience" last March, lasted 18 months on the job.


Bay Area struggles to meet new smog standard -- Bay Area air violated stricter new federal health standards for smog on 11 days this year, suggesting the region is headed toward a failing grade in meeting the nation's new yardstick for clean air. As a result, clean air regulators predict, the nine-county region will be forced to come up with new and expanded ways to cut air pollution — including the tough task of getting people to drive less.

Kevin Johnson caves on marriage

Today, former NBA point guard and Sacramento mayoral candidate, Kevin Johnson showed what I have been saying for months. (See Should Republicans vote for Kevin Johnson?) As much as he wants to portray himself as a new style political leader, when the pressure is on, he will cave on what he knows to be right.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting:

Kevin Johnson opposes same-sex marriage ban

By Ryan Lillis - rlillis@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am
PDT Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson will announce today that he opposes a Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage - even though his personal belief is that marriage is "between a man and a woman."

According to a statement issued Tuesday by his campaign, Johnson opposes Proposition 8 "because it would write discrimination into the state constitution."

The press release said Johnson shares views with Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who oppose a ban on gay marriage in California but personally believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Proposition 8 would reverse a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Mayor Heather Fargo said Tuesday that Johnson made "a good move to oppose Prop. 8."

"Now we just need to convince him that marriage between gay people is in fact a good thing," Fargo said.

She said she has opposed Proposition 8 "since it has been drafted and will continue to campaign against it." The mayor has conducted four marriage ceremonies between same-sex couples since they were legalized in June.

Fargo has been endorsed by the Sacramento Stonewall Democrats, which is the region's largest Democraticorganization, and is campaigning to shoot down Proposition 8.

The organization's president, Ed Bennett, said he was pleased Johnson was voicing his opposition to the proposed ban, but that his group would continue to support Fargo.

"She's been against Prop. 8 since the beginning and her opinion
has always been voiced," Bennett said. "She left no doubt from the very beginning."

Back during the primary, Johnson created a quite a stir when he stated during a televised debate that he believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. This statement had many supporters of marriage thinking that they finally had a democrat that they could get behind. Well, that didn't last long.

Shortly after the State Supreme Court voted to undermine the voters of California and legalize same-sex marriage, Johnson's campaign staff was quick post a statement on his campaign website stating that he fully supported the decision and would be an advocate for the LGTB community. This statement prompted criticism from some faith community leaders who supported him because of his previous statement in defense of marriage, prompting the campaign to moderate the statement. And now the statement has been changed again, removing all references to same-sex marriage.

Kevin Johnson taken the coward's way out by trying to be on both sides of the issue. He says the he personally believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. But he opposes an initiative that would make sure that this is the case in California.

This causes me to wonder what other of his personal views will not be reflected in his administration?

He says he does not believe in raising taxes and wants to cut the size of government. But will he stand up to the public employee unions who will pressure him to expand the size of government and raise taxes? He says that he believes in economic development and promoting jobs. But what will happen when the environmentalists start clamoring to limit development? History of his story tells uu that he will cave.

Vote for Kevin Johnson if you wish. But don't be fooled into thinking that you are voting for anything other than a Democrat who is afraid to stand up for what he claims to believe.

At least Heather Fargo isn't afraid to stand for what she believes.

Assembly Debates GOP Budget Proposal (Video)

Yesturday, the California State Assembly debated the Senate Republican Budget proposal which balances the state budget without raising taxes. And as expected, Republicans are accussed of every evil under the sun from hating puppies to causing global warming to bringing about amagedon.

Click Here to watch the debate. (Fastforward an hour and 33 minutes to where the discussion actually starts.)

California News Roundup - September 10, 2008

Prison guards union chief in leadership fight -- The state prison guards union is launching its recall drive against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger just as its head honcho is facing some big problems of his own. The two-term president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, Mike Jimenez, is being challenged by six opponents as he seeks re-election at the union's convention in Las Vegas on Sept. 18.

Union hands Schwarzenegger recall petition -- A politically powerful prison guards union that has been at odds with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday handed the governor a petition of intent to recall him. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association's petition accuses the governor of "catastrophic leadership failings" that have left the state in worse fiscal shape than when he swept into office five years ago after voters recalled then-Gov. Gray Davis.


Dan Weintraub: Recall drive could be a disaster for guards -- When a ragtag band of conservative Republican activists first served notice on then-Gov. Gray Davis that they intended to recall him from office in the spring of 2003, the Democratic chief executive didn't take them seriously. But a few months later, with the help of money from a millionaire Southern California congressman, the recall effort had qualified for the ballot. By November, Davis was gone.


Schwarzenegger shares candid views on Palin, state GOP with Der Spiegel -- In a wide-ranging interview with the German newsweekly, he says he has 'almost no contact' with Republican leaders and says the Alaska governor is 'feisty.' He praises Obama's campaign.


Assembly, like Senate, rejects GOP's budget plan -- Lawmakers turned down another state budget plan Tuesday, then blocked a stopgap measure to fund programs while the political debate drags on. As California's state budget impasse enters its record-breaking 72nd day, Republican lawmakers have repeatedly called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrats to approve emergency funding for some programs for which money ran out July 1.


State looks at antitrust in Google-Yahoo deal -- California Attorney General Jerry Brown's office is reviewing documents related to an advertising partnership announced in June by Google and Yahoo, the No. 1 and No. 2 search engines on the Web, in preparation for a possible investigation of the deal.


90.2% in class of '08 pass exit tests -- Nine out of 10 high school seniors passed the California High School Exit Exam by the time their class graduated this past spring, according to data released Tuesday by the state.


Half San Francisco kindergartners not ready for school -- Every year, San Francisco teacher Ann Marin watches wide-eyed kindergartners stream into classrooms on the first day of school. Only about half are ready for the academic and social rigors they'll face that first year.


Ousted state student aid board reinstated -- California's director of finance has reinstated the EdFund board of directors, reversing a California Student Aid Commission decision to oust the board of the nonprofit agency that guarantees student loans. In a two-page letter to the commission, Finance Director Mike Genest said Friday that any action that may affect the value of the EdFund portfolio needs to be cleared by him first.


Kevin Johnson opposes same-sex marriage ban -- Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson will announce today that he opposes a Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage – even though his personal belief is that marriage is "between a man and a woman." According to a statement issued Tuesday by his campaign, Johnson opposes Proposition 8 "because it would write discrimination into the state constitution."

California News Roundup - September 9, 2008

Calling it 'inhumane,' Democrats defeat GOP state budget plan -- Calling it "inhumane," Democrats defeated a Republican state budget proposal that would have made deeper cuts in health and human services and borrowed against future lottery revenue. The 21-13 party-line vote – 14 votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed for a budget in the 40-member Senate – was expected. It leaves California without a spending plan a record 71 days into the fiscal year.


Dan Walters: Budget drills underscore dysfunction -- Unable to crack a months-long partisan stalemate on closing the state's whopping budget deficit, the Legislature is falling back on a time-dishonored practice of conducting "drills" – exercises that are, like Jerry Seinfeld's TV program, "shows about nothing."


Prison guards move to recall Schwarzenegger -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, swept into office five years ago when then-Gov. Gray Davis was recalled during another state fiscal crisis, became the target Monday of a recall effort by the state's powerful prison guards' union. The well-funded California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which has clashed with the actor-turned-governor in the past, completed a "petition of intent" to recall Schwarzenegger, charging that his "catastrophic leadership failings" have left the state in far worse shape than before his election.


Same-sex marriage may be key issue in November -- With same-sex marriage bans on the ballot in three high-profile states in November, presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama could find themselves stuck in a fight they'd rather avoid. California, Arizona and Florida will ask voters to approve constitutional amendments limiting marriage to a man and woman, and the high-priced election clash over the issue could help decide who becomes the nation's next president.


The Buzz: Schwarzenegger has no regrets about missing convention -- In an interview published Sunday with the German mag Der Spiegel, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he didn't miss going to the GOP national convention because it lacked "bipartisanship." He compared the "hard core" who run the national party to California's GOP leaders: "I have almost no contact with them – none. Because they're just so out there." That should help round up those GOP votes for his budget proposal …


Board of Education sued over eighth-grade algebra testing -- A controversial decision that requires all California eighth-graders to be tested in algebra has started a court fight between groups representing local schools and the State Board of Education. Two organizations that advocate for hundreds of school districts and thousands of school officials are suing the board over its July 9 vote to require eighth-grade algebra tests.


$10 billion bond for high-speed rail sought -- Even in a state known for dreaming big, the idea's a doozy: a train so swift that it could speed from San Diego to San Francisco in a little less than four hours. The idea of building a high-speed rail network in California has been debated, studied, ridiculed, celebrated and studied again for more than a decade.


Daly gets grief about San Francisco anti-smoking plan -- There's been a lot of talk lately about "playing to your base," and for a while it looked like Supervisor Chris Daly was about to alienate one of his own: tenants in the Tenderloin. Daly said his far-reaching anti-smoking proposal, which is up for a vote at the Board of Supervisors today, is intended to snuff out secondhand smoke by banning smoking in places like farmers' markets, restaurant patios, taxicabs, and lines for the ATM and movies.

Governor’s “Compromise Budget” has no legislative support

Tomorrow, the California Assembly will be voting on Governor Schwarzenegger’s “Compromise Budget”. The interesting part is that there is no support on either side of the aisle in either house for his proposal.

As of the introduction of amendments today, the proposal did not even have a legislative author; thus making it the first ever piece of un-authored legislation ever to be introduced in the California Assembly.

And to add insult to injury, the Governor’s bi-partisan compromise may go down 79-0. That would be embarrassing for the administration.

In an attempt to win over some support, Schwarzenegger will be meeting with Assembly Republicans prior to tomorrow’s vote. But I would not expect much if I were him, since a similar meeting he held with the GOP Senators last week not only failed to produce any new support for his plan; but may have actually driven some Republicans to further distance themselves from the governor’s position.

DeLuz Brothers & Support the Platform coming to the Capitol Hour!

Tuesday, September 9th & Wednesday, September 10th I will be sitting in for Eric Hogue during The Capitol Hour 12 noon to 1 pm.

Tuesday will feature the ongoing family feud of The DeLuz Brothers - That's my liberal brother David & myself. We will be breaking down the party conventions, the VP choices and much more. You don't want to miss the fireworks!

Wednesday will be Support The Platform Day on the Capitol Hour. We will be inviting Sacramento area canidates to call in and declare their support for the GOP Platform (ALL Of IT!) and share with us how we can get involved in helping them. Special invited guests include: Sen. Tom McClintock, GOP nominee for CD 4 & Mayor Abram Wilson, Republican nominee for AD 15.


Details Below:

When: Tuesday & Wednesday, September 9th & 10th
Station: KTKZ 1380AM

Live Audio Steaming at http://www.ktkz.com/ (for those of you out of the Sacramento Region)

TIME: 12 noon-1 pm (PST)

Call in Numbers: (916) 923-3300 or 1(800) 923-1380

California News Roundup - September 8, 2008

How would they close a budget deal? -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has tried to cut state worker pay to the federal minimum wage until a state budget is done. He's tried laying off more than 10,000 part-time and temporary state workers. He's tried calling on voters to demand action from their legislators. He's tried calling for bipartisan cooperation. He's tried suggesting that lawmakers are cowards. He's tried abandoning his determination not to raise taxes. He's tried threatening to veto all bills.


George Skelton: Allow a majority budget vote -- on't blame Democrats for the record-long budget stalemate that is forcing the state to stiff private suppliers, community colleges and healthcare centers for the poor. They've tried to compromise, agreeing to cut programs for schools, welfare families and the impoverished aged, blind and disabled. They're even willing to accept some of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget "reforms."


Dan Walters: Health battle still raging on final day -- When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious, but deeply flawed, scheme to provide health insurance to millions of Californians died in the state Senate early this year, it reignited the Capitol's perennial political war over who should get what care and who should pay for it. No other political issue directly affects more people, is more complex, or generates more emotion, for obvious reasons. And no other segment of the California economy involves so much money, upward of $200 billion a year, more than 10 percent of the state's economic output.


Budget mess may mean another ballot -- Another election? California voters, who will head to the polls in November for the third time this year, could be asked to cast ballots again early next year as part of a deal to break the record-long budget stalemate. A special election would cost taxpayers up to $100 million at a time when lawmakers are considering cuts to state services and tax hikes.


Orange County donors give $1.6 million for ban on gay marriage -- Local Proposition 8 supporters contribute 30 times more than opponents.


Illegal immigrants who return after deportation commit more crimes, study finds -- In L.A. County, 75% of inmates who reenter the U.S. engage in more criminal activity within a year. The rate is less for illegal immigrants who have never been ordered to leave.


Study finds California can cut farm water use -- By growing less thirsty crops and investing in more efficient irrigation technology, California farmers could save billions of gallons of water each year - the equivalent of three dams to 20 dams, according to a controversial new report by an influential water policy think tank. In a study to be released today, researchers at Oakland's Pacific Institute say that before Californians take on costly new dam and reservoir projects, state and federal policymakers need to build on existing methods for reducing agricultural water use.