Tuesday, January 13, 2009

California News Roundup - January 13, 2009

Schwarzenegger running out of time to control his legacy-With two years left in his term, the California governor is leading a state that is worse off than when he took office. But nationally, his ideas have attracted the spotlight.By Michael Rothfeld Reporting from Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made the rounds of national television news shows in recent months, met with President-elect Barack Obama and convened conferences, discussing the world economic crisis, the pitfalls of partisanship and the virtues of clean energy.

State closes restitution centers for white-collar prisoners- Group homes allowed nonviolent offenders to work, contribute to their detention costs and pay back their victims. The program cost too much, the state said, and participants are now back in prison.By Patrick McGreevy Reporting from Sacramento -- The program seemed a model of corrections reform in tight fiscal times: The mostly white-collar criminals who were enrolled saved taxpayers money by living in group homes instead of in state prison and held jobs that helped cover rent and restitution to victims.

Schwarzenegger proposes major Cal Grant cuts- California's main financial aid program for college students may stop covering rises in tuition. Meanwhile, UC and Cal State officials are gearing up for 10% fee increases.By Gale Holland Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing major cuts in Cal Grants, the state's main financial aid program for college students. The most significant change would involve abandoning the state's commitment to cover any rise in tuition for grant recipients, and it comes as officials at both the University of California and California State University are gearing up for 10% fee increases in response to the yawning state budget gap.

Peter Schrag : California's kamikazes- The state Republicans are close to crashing, and it appears as if they are determined not to go down alone.It's been more than a year since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger warned his fellow California Republicans that "we're dying at the box office. We're not filling the seats." But the consequences of the GOP's self-isolating ethnic and ideological narrowness are even more frightening today than they were then. With each passing day, Republicans look ever more like a suicidal cult than a political party.

California's top elected Democrats reject furlough plan- All six of California's elected statewide Democrats are refusing to implement Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to furlough state workers for two unpaid days each month.

Program critics claim abuse, want to seize funds- San Diego County used some of its money to provide belly-dancing classes for pregnant women.

The Buzz: Machado named to insurance board- Latest appointment news: Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has named recently termed-out Sen. Mike Machado, pictured at right, to a seat on the board of directors of the State Compensation Insurance Fund. The Linden Democrat will earn $50,000 per year plus travel expenses. State Fund, a semi-public agency, provides workers compensation insurance to California employers.

Senate honors memory of the 'Rose Man'- "Rose Man" got his due today from the California Senate.

Steinberg appoints Machado to State -President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg named recently termed-out Sen. Mike Machado to a seat on the board of directors of the State Compensation Insurance Fund on Monday.

All sex offenders now sport ankle GPS - Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today that California has now fitted each of the state's 6,622 paroled sex offenders wtih an ankle bracelet that transmits their location via GPS.

Prop. 8 backers ask to shield campaign -The sponsors of the November ballot measure that outlawed same-sex marriage in California want a judge to seal selected documents and issue a gag order in their lawsuit challenging the state's campaign finance reporting rules.

Calif. panel warns stem cell agency board - A California ethics panel has chided a member of the state's stem cell agency board for trying to influence funding for a La Jolla research institute he leads.

Budget crisis overshadows Schwarzenegger -Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be hard-pressed to find good news for his State of the State address on Thursday as he continues his search for a budget compromise with state lawmakers before California runs out of cash in a few weeks.

Dan Walters: Bob Monagan's death recalls a different California era- There was a time, a few decades ago, when "Valley Republican" had a special meaning in the state Capitol.

CTA: Watchdogs for schools? Or...- As the largest dues-paying organization of public employees in the state, the California Teachers Association arguably is the most powerful of interests at the state Capitol. And it has become more powerful since the advent of legislative term limits.

Assembly retirements teach a corrosive lesson - As regular state workers braced for unpaid two-day-a-month furloughs, top staffers in the state Assembly walked away from their jobs last month with richer pensions that are likely to cost taxpayers a bundle.

Cash-strapped California may halt road projects - The budget standoff in Sacramento threatens to force work crews to shut down construction on road projects already under way across California, including four new carpool lanes in the Bay Area.

A neglected revenue source for California - marijuana - Only if you lived in a cave could you avoid news about California's dire financial situation. The governor and legislators still disagree about what to do, but all of the proposals aimed at closing the state's $42 billion budget gap are painful and politically unpopular. One obvious way to take a big chunk out of the deficit - without closing schools or putting the sick and elderly out on the streets - hasn't even been discussed. Tax marijuana.

Yeager appointed to California Air Resources - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager to the California Air Resources Board. Yeager, 56, of San Jose, has served as a county supervisor since December 2006.

Stimulus bill touted as relief to save state transportation -Most of America sees President-elect Barack Obama's proposed stimulus bill as a way to create jobs with new public projects, but California may need the bill to save road projects in danger of being halted because of the state's budget stalemate.

No Budget: Day - It's been 69 days since the governor called the first special session of the Legislature to address the state's projected $42 billion budget shortfall.

Californians take rusted dreams elsewhere - Mike Reilly spent his lifetime chasing the California dream. This year he's going to look for it in Colorado.

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