Tuesday, February 3, 2009

California News Roundup - February 3, 2009

California's community colleges near the breaking point Facing yawning budget gaps, California's public universities are shifting thousands of applicants into a community college system already swamped by newly unemployed adults and students priced out of other schools.


Bay Area health union seeks vote on membership California's labor battle over who will represent tens of thousands of hospital workers will apparently be determined in voting booths at dozens of hospitals and nursing homes around the state.


Same-sex insanity A California Assembly bill takes the wrong path on its goal toward equal property tax benefits.It's not that AB 103 by Assemblyman Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) overreaches in its effort to extend a marriage benefit to same-sex couples. It's that it reaches in the wrong direction.

Political contributions drop off amid recession The current recession is wrapping its tightfisted hands around its latest victim: political fundraising.


The Buzz: GOP A-list headed for state's convention Undeterred by Barack Obama winning the biggest Democratic victory in California since FDR, Republican Party A-listers will descend on Sacramento for their Feb. 20-22 state convention. Possible 2010 gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner will join attendees including former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and conservative author/pundit William Bennett.


GOP official seeks to censure those who vote to raise A top GOP official has submitted a resolution for the Republican Party's convention later this month to formally censure any Republican who votes for new or higher taxes in a state budget deal.


Water watchers cast a wary Water experts are having a hard time finding the right words to describe what lies ahead, after recording a dismally dry January in California.


L.A. mayor's star on the rise again as higher office beckons Barely a year ago, Antonio Villaraigosa's political star seemed anything but luminous.


Dan Walters: 'Big 5' process seems to be near a climax The so-called "Big 5" process has often been used to forge a final state budget deal – the governor and four legislative leaders privately ironing out details that will secure enough votes in the Legislature.


Whitman, Poizner ring donor registers in 2008 Two Silicon Valley tycoons who are expected to face off in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary had the political cash registers ringing in 2008, according to year-end major campaign donor statements.


Capitol Alert: Bass: GOP values 'followership more than Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, responded to the potential threat of a censure for GOP lawmakers who would vote to increase taxes to solve the state's budget crunch.

Capitol Alert: GOP A-list to descend on Sacramento Barack Obama may have just racked up the biggest Democratic election victory margin in California since FDR. But that isn't stopping Republican Party A-listers from descending on Sacramento for this month's California Republican Party Spring Convention.


Steinberg backs Price in SD 26 Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg announced his endorsement of Assemblyman Curren Price for state Senate on Monday.


Donors pumped $83M into Prop. 8 race Donors gave more than $83 million to support or oppose the ballot initiative that abolished same-sex marriage in California, according to campaign disclosure reports made public Monday.


Calif, FTC say drug makers withheld generics California Attorney General Jerry Brown and the Federal Trade Commission are suing four pharmaceutical companies they say conspired to keep generic versions of testosterone from being sold.


CTA takes low road with its ads A recent editorial directed to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislators on these pages bore the headline, "It's a crisis; act like it's a crisis."


Private money could save public projects "California Dreamin' ," a hugely popular song from 1965 by the Mamas and the Papas, evoked hypnotic images of our golden state among America's youth. Aside from California's physical beauty and wonderful weather, our transportation, education and water systems were also world-renowned.

Calls to alter how California government works With the state drowning in red ink and the Legislature facing a seemingly endless gridlock, political reformers and business officials want to call a state constitutional convention to redraw the way government works in California.

Jerry Brown leads the fund-raising pack in 2010 race for California governor While the election to choose California's next governor remains a political eternity away — balloting begins in the spring of 2010 — a Silicon Valley-based candidate hoped to send a clear message Monday about how badly he wants the job.

California residents need to start conserving water now THE MESSAGE from state water officials is clear: Start conserving now. Don't wait.

States offer asylum to fleeing businesses California is losing jobs to states that cut taxes to attract business, even in difficult times.Even as California lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger jockey for enough votes to impose even higher taxes and even more regulations on businesses, other states increasingly are offering tax breaks and incentives to lure those companies away.

Calif budget talks resume as state delays Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders resumed closed-door talks Monday in an effort to close California's $42 billion budget gap, with employee furloughs just days away and taxpayer refunds already on hold.

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