California News Roundup - March 23, 2009

Mournful calm follows Oakland firestorm It was early Saturday afternoon, and Curtis Mixon was talking with his 26-year-old nephew. Lovelle Shawn Mixon had called on a cellphone from his newly purchased 1995 Buick as he drove through east Oakland.

Schwarzenegger lends voice to infrastructure chorus Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined other political leaders Sunday to push for increased federal spending on infrastructure projects as a way to stimulate the economy and said that "one has to look at" increasing the gasoline tax as a way to pay for such public works improvements.

Skelton: Capitol dysfunction is what makes special interests run "Sacramento is dysfunctional" has almost become a cliche. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger repeated it recently and sounded profound -- more profound than he probably intended.

for California's jobless Imagine the federal government offering California more than $2.5 billion to help its unemployed workers. You'd think that lawmakers would leap at the money, especially with the unemployment rate climbing to 10.5% in February. And yet when the Assembly took up a bill last week to make the state eligible for the aid, resistance from Republicans left the measure one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed for speedy passage. Proponents plan to bring a new version of ABX3 23 to the Assembly today, and lawmakers shouldn't hesitate to pass it.

CPS standards for hiring can be strict, or minimal In Kentucky, a state social worker was fired after being accused of driving a child while under the influence of drugs.

Proposed easing of concealed-weapons law draws fire What issue could unite a Republican lawmaker from Southern California and a 46-year-old lesbian from Natomas? Guns, of course.

Litter project hit by turmoil A popular state volunteer program that picks up litter on California highways is snarled in a tangle of bureaucratic goofs, a lengthy rules revision process, and a protracted legal battle between state officials and an anti-illegal immigrant group.

20-week extension for jobless benefits headed for a vote this week Richard Cadena, jobless for months, has a four-letter word for any California lawmaker unsure whether to pass or defeat legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits: pass.

Governor open to feds raising gas tax for projects The federal government has to look at raising the gasoline tax to pay for public works improvements, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a "Meet the Press" interview that aired Sunday.

The Buzz Off on spring break this week? Word of advice from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner: Don't party, drive, then land in court. A DUI or booze-related crash may cost you $13,500 – and a life, warn Poizner and the Auto Club of Southern California. They also cite a scary study: a 116 percent rise in alcohol-related deaths among college-aged women. Oh, and then there's L.A.'s rash of DUIs involving young female celebrities. (We had to check: Poizner has no DUIs.)

Walters: Taxable sales decline slams state, locals When California's voters slashed property taxes by passing Proposition 13 in 1978, cash-strapped local governments began looking for new ways to finance their operations.

Oakland police deaths: What went wrong? Killings of several police officers as happened in Oakland over the weekend are rare and significantly impact police training to prevent similar attacks from happening again.

Stark says he'll pay higher taxes Rep. Pete Stark was back in his East Bay district Saturday, just days after admitting that he has been taking a $3,853 tax break on his Maryland home by declaring it his primary residence.

With economy in a rut, is now the right time for state's global-warming law? Even before the recession hit, some California industries worried about the costs of complying with the state's landmark global-warming law. Now, with rising unemployment and a staggering economy, their worry has turned to fear.

No law allows sham pot sales So raids on suspect dispensaries can and should continue
'Federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws,” said President Obama a while back. 'Federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws,” said President Obama a while back. Pot's defenders heard that as welcome relief from federal raids on storefront dispensaries that supply “medical marijuana” to “qualified patients” and all comers with cash.

California News Roundup - February 3, 2009

State to stop imprisoning some illegal-immigration repeat offenders California corrections officials say the state will no longer spend the estimated $10 million a year it costs to lock up undocumented immigrants with prior convictions who reenter the country illegally after being deported.

The governor's gifts: Antiques, clothes, wines and cigars Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year received more than $32,000 in gifts, including a Mongolian shield, a bronze bust of a California condor, a replica of a high-speed train, antique dumbbells and lots of wine and cigars.

State's in a drought, but it's not the worst ever The warnings have been ominous this winter: California is headed into the worst drought in modern history. The water supply is drying up. Or, as one water association declared last week, "Things just keep getting worse and worse."

California delegation to try a bipartisan meeting In a story that has circulated around Capitol Hill for years, California's famously fractured delegation gathered for a rare bipartisan meeting and decided to send for pizza -- only to get into a fight over what toppings to order.

Assemblywoman Diane Harkey accepted $16,600 from firms borrowing from husband's company California Assemblywoman Diane Harkey accepted $16,600 in political contributions from real estate developers who had received loans from her husband's business, now under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Peter Schrag: California's broken budget The way the budget deal was reached in Sacramento, and what's in it, shows how bad the system has become.The latest refrain in Sacramento's inner wonkdom is that it's time to eliminate the "big five" system, under which the governor and the majority and minority party leaders in each house of the Legislature disappeared behind closed doors to cook up the state budget deal late last month.

GOP recruiter's pay, results questioned The head of an upstart group that aims to recruit California Republicans to run for statewide offices earned $900,000 in salary and benefits in the 2007-2008 election cycle, angering some Republicans who wondered Monday if the cash is being well-spent.

Field Poll shows early backing for budget items on ballot Likely voters in the May 19 special election initially support six ballot measures designed to complete the budget recently approved by lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a Field Poll released Tuesday.

California farms, cities warned they may lose access to state's creeks, rivers Thousands of California farms and cities have been warned that their permission to pump water from rivers and creeks could be cut back if the drought worsens.

The Buzz: Bass gave present to Parra, before the fall Premonition? Perhaps. Former Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, recently filed disclosure documents listing a $64 gift she received last year from Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, several months before such bad blood erupted between them that Parra was banished from the Capitol to an office across the street. Bass' earlier gift to Parra? A "Falling Slowly Orchid."

Dan Walters: California politicos try to fix election via ballot title When someone proposes an initiative ballot measure, the attorney general gives it an official title and summary. There's always been much political angst, as well as legal wrangling, over the wording of controversial issues.

Capitol Alert: Cal's uninsured motorist rate still highPosted by Dan WaltersTwo decades ago, it was estimated that as many as a third of California's motorists were driving without insurance, but a series of get-tough laws reduced the rate by more than half to 18 percent, according to a new nationwide survey by the Insurance Research Council.

Capitol Alert: California isn't toughest in imprisonment Criminal corrections - prisons, jails, parole and probation - have been California's fastest growing public expense in recent years with the state's correctional costs doubling in the last decade to about $10 billion a year.

Wet February helps water supply, but not enough The storms pounding the Bay Area and blanketing the Sierra Nevada with snow have brought California back from the brink of the worst drought in state history, but the drenching is not enough to assure adequate water supplies this summer, state water officials said Monday.

Opposition forms for state spending-cap Prop 1A A coalition of strange bedfellows already is getting together to fight against Proposition 1A, the state spending-cap proposal that is the long-sought centerpiece of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget-reform effort.

Sean Penn joins campaign for 'Harvey Milk Day' in California Fresh from his Oscar-winning portrayal of the iconic San Francisco gay rights leader, Sean Penn is joining in the call to create "Harvey Milk Day" in California.

Legislature backs fight against Prop. 8 Both houses of the state Legislature passed resolutions Monday endorsing the legal effort to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban, just days before the issue goes to the state Supreme Court. The resolutions passed along party lines, 18-14 in the Senate and 45-27 in the Assembly, with several members absent in both chambers.

Dissatisfied with state budget, voters envision bleak future, poll indicates Most California voters dislike last month's state budget package, with the frustration highest among people likely to vote on the May special election ballot measures integral to the $40 billion plan, a new poll shows.

California News Roundup - March 2, 2009

Concerns arise over fast-track deportation program Federal authorities are increasingly deporting illegal immigrants through a fast-track program that bypasses court hearings, an effort by the federal government to save money, reduce backlogs and clear detention beds.

George Skelton: New Assembly panel goes on a quiet hunt for Capitol waste If it works, it could mean the budget deficit had one positive aspect.From Sacramento -- In a small hideaway hearing room at California's Capitol, something unique happened last week. A new legislative committee convened with the single goal of making state government more efficient and less costly.

Delta cutbacks put Valley farm town on In the San Joaquin Valley, the most productive farmland on earth, panic is more abundant than the crops that usually blanket the ground.

Unions hold the wild card on proposed state spending cap Labor unions that blasted a state budget deal for its constitutional spending limit have gone quiet as the state gears up for a May 19 election asking voters to ratify the agreement.

The Buzz Close behind a legislative proposal to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana comes a proposal to tax meat. The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – PETA – is sponsoring billboards with a cow's photo and a slogan "Tax Pot (Roast)." PETA people say meat should be taxed at 10 cents a pound because eating it causes harm to health and the environment. And also to the animals whence the meat came.

Dan Walters: California's 40-year mental help pledge undone Before he became president pro tem of the Senate – thus gaining the thankless chore of dealing with the state's immense budget crisis – Darrell Steinberg was best known for a 2004 ballot measure that raised income taxes on the wealthy for local mental health services.

Deja new: Prop. 8 challenge reaches Calif. court One year and one day after the state Supreme Court entertained arguments on extending marriage to gay couples, many of the same lawyers will be back before the same seven justices Thursday arguing why California's voter-appproved ban on same-sex marriage should stand or fall.

Calif. Sup. Ct. arguments on Prop. 8, at a glance WHAT: The California Supreme Court will hold three hours of oral arguments from 9.am-noon Thursday on three lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8, the ballot measure that amended the state constitution to reinstate the ban on same-sex marriage the court threw out last year.

Richmond hopes to protect 5 miles of wetlands By Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff WriterThe north Richmond shoreline has seen its share of blasts and explosions - from the dynamite factory, shooting range, oil refinery and a century of political fireworks.

Air regulators show no letup in their war on emissions Even during this deep recession, California's air-quality regulators are on an accelerated schedule to adopt a series of global warming initiatives considered unmatched worldwide.

California should be reimbursed State Sen. John Benoit amusingly calls his Senate Bill 125 a "stimulus measure" - which it certainly would be for California if it accomplishes its objective.

California News Roundup - February 18, 2009

California budget negotiations hit a new snag As California's government continued its grinding downshift toward insolvency, efforts to close the state's nearly $42-billion budget gap hit a new snag late Tuesday as Republicans in the state Senate ousted their leader.

Legislature adjourns with no budget; governor prepares to lay off 10,000 With lawmakers still unable to deliver a budget after three days of intense negotiations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepared to lay off 10,000 government workers and his administration said it would halt the last 275 state-funded public works projects still in operation.

Cervical cancer vaccine gains acceptance in California The cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil is gaining widespread acceptance in California despite its newness and some controversy over its safety, UCLA researchers have found.

Insurers exceed state-issued rates for last-resort health coverage Two of California's largest insurers have been selling health coverage intended to be a safety net for the state's sick and jobless at premiums that exceed state-issued rates, in some cases by thousands of dollars a year.

California's budget held hostage His demands have merit, but Sen. Abel Maldonado can't put politics above what's good for California.It must be pretty heady, having people who never used to remember your name suddenly realize you're the most important person in the universe. It must be like being the lead character in one of those teen dramas about the mousy kid who (surprise) becomes the head cheerleader or the homecoming queen and dishes out comeuppance to the kids who used to make fun of her. What would you do if you suddenly had that power?

Q&A: Poizner explains views on California budget Steve Poizner made a fortune in Silicon Valley by developing global positioning receivers for cell phones. Now the state insurance commissioner is writing big checks in an exploratory bid to secure the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nomination.

California's Prop. 8 legal challenge harkens back to 1966 housing measure As Derald Granberg follows the legal challenge to Proposition 8 now before the California Supreme Court, he thinks back to 1966.

The BuzzSome lawmakers took Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's "bring your toothbrush" warning more seriously than others. Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, right, R-Redlands, an orthodontist, handed out a free toothbrushes and toothpaste to every member of the Assembly on Tuesday to ensure good hygiene – and good breath – during the standoff and any long-winded floor speeches.

SEIU employees may escape Schwarzenegger layoffs Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration began the process of laying off thousands of state workers on Tuesday, but there's a big loophole.

Agencies seek to preserve water behind Calif. dams With California's major reservoirs at woefully low levels, state and federal water agencies on Tuesday made a pitch to keep more water behind their dams this month.

Dan Walters: Budget deficit package not a full solutionThe political Sturm und Drang over billions of dollars in spending cuts, new taxes and borrowing to close a huge budget deficit masks the most important question: Would it resolve, even partially, California's chronic fiscal malaise?

Daniel Weintraub: GOP leaders can claim a win on budget California lawmakers were still debating the budget late Tuesday night, but Republicans should have declared victory a week ago.

Capitol Alert: Schwarzenegger, Steinberg to Capt. Sully: Help! Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who landed a plane on the Hudson River last month, was honored in the state Capitol today.

Capitol Alert: What the tax hikes would mean for you The Bee's Phillip Reese has created a handy tax calculator for you to roughly determine what the tax hikes being considered by the state Legislature would mean for your wallet.

Capitol Alert: Cox, Maldonado cancel fundraisers Both the key swing Republican budget votes in the state Senate -- Abel Maldonado and Dave Cox -- had fundraisers scheduled for today. Both canceled them.

Do GOP senators value no-tax vow more than their oath of office? For observers outside the Capitol bubble, California's free-fall toward the abyss must seem baffling.

Whitman makes first public pitch for governor Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, in her first public campaign appearance as a 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate, warned Tuesday that the state's top political job is "not a popularity contest" and said that California desperately needs an experienced business executive to rescue it from what she called the "insanity" of its current budget crisis.

Whitman opposes new taxes; seeks 2 million California jobs by Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, in her first public speech since announcing her intent to run for governor last week, on Tuesday said she opposes raising taxes to balance California's budget and would set a goal of creating 2 million jobs by 2015.

Industry tax break goes too farEven in hard times, California should be creating tax incentives for companies to add jobs and build plants in the state.

Pull the plug Bullet train's numbers don't add up – stillThese are giddy times for advocates of a state high-speed rail system linking Northern and Southern California. First, in November, voters approved Proposition 1A, providing $9.95 billion in public bond funds for the “bullet train,” a public-private partnership expected to end up costing $45 billion-plus. Then, in its $787 billion stimulus bill, Congress provided $8 billion more for high-speed rail projects. While most of the $8 billion is expected to go to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's pet project – a high-speed train linking Anaheim and Las Vegas – the state High Speed Rail Authority can expect $2 billion or so for its scheme.

Timm Herdt: The lost GOP victory speech Republicans could claim a win in state budgetAt this writing, it is still not clear whether California's fiscal train wreck will be averted any time soon. It all depends on whether a lone Republican senator decides to cast his lot for a bipartisan, $41 billion package that would balance the state's books through June 30, 2010.

Water on our mindIt's not easy persuading people to start conserving water, especially when heavy rain has been pelting the state for days, but that's the task facing local and state water officials.

Murrieta state Senator takes GOP helm Members of the state Senate GOP picked Riverside County Republican Dennis Hollingsworth as their new leader late Tuesday after days of growing opposition to the budget deal negotiated by their former leader.

California News Roundup - February 17, 2009

Legislature adjourns with no budget; governor prepares to lay off 10,000 With lawmakers still unable to deliver a budget after three days of intense negotiations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepared to lay off 10,000 government workers and his administration said it would halt the last 275 state-funded public works projects still in operation.

Stimulus would offer relief to California's jobless Tucked deep inside President Obama's $787-billion economic stimulus bill is a $2-billion lifeline for California's unemployed along with improvements to the state's bankrupt and broken system for paying benefits.

California lawmakers stymied for third day on budget Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg sent lawmakers home Monday after failing for the third consecutive day to muster an elusive final vote for the state budget package.

Day three ends without budget Lawmakers adjourned tonight until Tuesday after failing for the third consecutive day to muster an elusive final vote for the state budget package.

The Buzz Meg Whitman, the latest entrant in California's race to be the next governor, made an appearance last week on the "Today" show. Interviewer Matt Lauer pulled out a quote from The Bee's own Dan Walters, who suggested perhaps all of the gubernatorial hopefuls "should undergo mental evaluation for even thinking about governing California."

Highlights of plan to close Calif. budget deficit The Associated Press Here are key provisions of the proposal to close California's $42 billion budget deficit through June 2010:

Key votes for Calif. budget come with a price California's two-thirds requirement to pass budgets and tax increases makes every vote count.

Calif. lawmakers seek 1 vote to pass budget fix California lawmakers spent the President's Day holiday as they had Valentine's Day, locked in a frustrating search for one more vote to end the state's budget impasse.

Capitol Alert: Steinberg vows Tuesday lockdown Senate President Pro Darrell Steinberg announced on the Senate floor that the upper house will convene at 10 a.m. tomorrow to consider the tax-hike portion of the budget.

Capitol Alert: DeVore fails in push for Villines' ouster Rhe first GOP leadership challenge resulting from the budget negotiations came and went Saturday night as Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, moved unsuccessfully to unseat Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines.

Capitol Alert: Maldonado's long wish list Sen. Abel Maldonado has become a popular guy around the Capitol as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders on Monday continued to court him as the potential 27th Senate vote for the state budget. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg met with Maldonado once this afternoon to discuss his interest in providing the final vote.

Capitol Alert: Sacramento sheriff urges Cox to vote yes With the state Senate lacking one Republican vote to pass a budget deal, Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness has called Sen. Dave Cox of Fair Oaks to urge him to end the deadlock.

Capitol Alert: The Steinberg speech Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, had just a few words for Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Penn Valley, last night as the marathon budget session drew to an unsuccessful close. Watch the video here.

Laying off teachers is not inevitable Anyone with a pulse knows that the California jobs picture looks grim: 1.7 million Californians out of work, a 9.3 percent unemployment rate (which may soon climb to double digits), daily announcements of layoffs.

Meg Whitman's first hurdle - state's male GOP Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is Republican, and proud of it, but as she seeks center stage in her party's nomination for the 2010 governor's race, there is a potentially deadly problem lurking in the wings.

Any OKd budget plan faces battle at ballot box Regardless of when a new budget deal gets passed, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger still is going to need help from California's voters to close the state's $42 billion budget gap, and that help may not be easy to come by.

Obama adviser is a seasoned California voice Californian Nancy Sutley expects to have the ear of President Obama as his chief environmental adviser, reviving a White House office that lay virtually dormant during the Bush years.

State's remaining public works projects at risk California's top finance official warned state lawmakers Monday that without a budget agreement to fend off the state's cash crisis, he will begin halting the remaining 276 public works projects that had been allowed to continue despite the state's dwindling cash supply.

GOP risks branding itself as 'Party of No' Not only is the Republican Party at risk of branding itself as the "Party of No," it could take the blame for forcing the state off the economic cliff if GOP legislators remain unmoved by the state's fiscal crisis, observers say.

State colleges bear down on transfer shortage State education leaders are trying to overcome failures to improve the pathway from community colleges to public universities.

Must find a way to bridge the partisan divide IF EVER THE state and nation needed a reminder that we must climb out of the hole of partisanship and find common ground, look no further than the fight in Sacramento over the state budget and the battle in Washington over the stimulus package.

Other states lure Californians, businesses Government should ease, not increase the burdens on businesses and workers.California has a deserved anti-business reputation. Taxes, regulations and constant uncertainty about more of the same have undermined the loyalty of businesses and workers.

State allows disparity in maternity health coverage In California, many women who are planning families pay higher premiums with larger deductibles to secure optional maternity coverage.

California News Roundup - February 16, 2009

One vote shy, state budget still in limbo Ending a weekend marathon of tense negotiations, bleary-eyed state lawmakers late Sunday suspended their bid to plug California's $41-billion deficit but vowed to continue working today to halt the state's dizzying slide toward financial collapse.

George Skelton: California's GOP lawmakers should do the budget math The math seems pretty simple. But apparently it's too rigorous for many Republican politicians.

She ran EBay, can she run California? I may be projecting a bit here, but I wonder if a certain desperation among the electorate won't be Meg Whitman's biggest advantage in the forthcoming race for governor of California.

California lawmakers fail to pass budget deal California legislators tried and failed for a second day Sunday to close a $40 billion hole in the state's budget, still one Republican vote short of approving a package that contains $14.3 billion in tax increases.

Budget pressure puts unions on the spot The week before Thanksgiving, Folsom's city manager sat down with that city's union representatives and laid out a bleak future: Sales tax was dropping, the budget shortfall was growing and layoffs were likely.

Dan Walters: No end in sight on budget Even jaded veterans of the Capitol's often bizarre internal politics had never seen anything quite like the weekend marathon over the biggest package of spending, spending cuts and taxes ever to hit the building – a spectacle that's still playing itself out with no end in sight.

Prop. 8 fallout doesn't daunt Ice cream shop's owner Sunday morning after church, Alan Leatherby thinks about ice cream.


California's budget: one vote shy; legislators to return today Despite weeks of painful negotiations and a sleepless weekend of marathon arm-twisting, California lawmakers failed to fix the budget and will have to return to the Capitol today to try to push through a sweeping plan to pull the state from the brink of insolvency.

Maldonado: The man in the middle of the budget debate Abel Maldonado, a moderate Republican lawmaker known for his quiet demeanor, took his seat in the chamber of the California Senate late Saturday, threatening to oppose the tax increases pushed by Democrats to solve the state's $40 billion budget deficit.


California's health policies ranked 46th State's cure for the problem is to do more of what caused it in the first place. Often government tries to fix what's wrong by imposing more of what caused the problem in the first place. Nowhere is this more apparent than health care.
state's push toward renewable energy can succeed.

California New Roundup - February 13, 2009

Stimulus deal could mean $26 billion for California The $789-billion economic stimulus bill headed toward congressional approval is expected to pour $26 billion into California -- building roads, upgrading schools and launching other projects intended to create or save jobs.

Nation's schools would get $106 billion from federal economic stimulus package The massive federal economic stimulus package hammered out by Congress this week contains about $106 billion earmarked for education, an unprecedented expansion of federal spending into the nation's schools. District officials throughout California, bracing for another round of painful state budget cuts, were grateful for a new infusion of funds.

College opportunities for state residents ebb California's historic leadership in higher education is in decline, with the state failing to provide a new generation of low-income, heavily Latino and immigrant students with the college prospects their parents and grandparents enjoyed, according to a study released Thursday.

California needs this imperfect budget Sacramento's budget plan makes painful choices, but rejecting it would risk financial meltdown.There is plenty in the state budget deal, soon to face a vote in the Legislature, to make lawmakers, interest groups and Californians in general feel queasy. Just when the safety net for seniors and the working poor is most needed, this budget slashes it. Just when everyone agrees it's time to kick the borrowing habit, this budget borrows from funds voters earmarked exclusively for particular programs. Just when Californians could use some extra cash to tide them through tough times, this budget raises taxes.

California budget critics turn up pressure on "This is war!" declares a powerful Los Angeles radio station.

California, SEIU near deal likely to deduct two holidays Union negotiators and the Schwarzenegger administration worked furiously Thursday to close contract talks before lawmakers vote on a state budget package that calls for $1.4 billion in savings from state employees' pay and benefits.

Dan Walters: 'Big 5' process keeps public in darkThere are two distinct – although obviously connected – aspects to the agreement that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders forged on closing the state's whopping budget deficit.

What state takes, feds may give back Schools, transit, prisons – it seems as if California has been caught in a crossfire in recent days, coming and going between state budget decisions and the workings of the federal government. The state's porous budget condition, marked by a $40 billion deficit, has prompted big cuts in schools and transportation – holes that California officials hope will be at least partially filled by the big federal stimulus package President Barack Obama is expected to sign.

Appeals panel hears arguments over court's power in prison health reform A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Thursday in San Francisco on whether a lower court judge has gone too far with his demands that California fund health care reform in its prisons.

The BuzzGay rights and labor leaders want former President Bill Clinton to cancel a speech at a San Diego hotel owned by a financial supporter of Proposition 8, the Associated Press reports. But Clinton is likely cross the picket line, said spokesman Matt McKenna, because he wants to honor the commitment he made to the International Franchise Association. McKenna noted that Clinton recorded a telephone message that went to millions of California households asking voters to defeat the anti-gay marriage measure.

Capitol Alert: White House: California to gain 396,000 jobs under stimulus plan A lot of numbers are flying around in Washington these days as reporters, lobbyists and everyone else tries to figure out what the gigantic $789 billion stimulus plan will mean for individual states.

State's woes may blunt $789 billion stimulus What Washington does with one hand, California may reverse with the other, as the two governments work at cross-purposes in fighting a recession that has left 1.7 million Californians unemployed, a 9.3 percent unemployment rate and worse on the way.

State eyes $10 billion in stimulus for budget Matthew Yi,Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Sacramento BureauCalifornia state budget officials hope to use as much as $10 billion from the looming federal stimulus package to avoid borrowing money to offset the state's gaping $42 billion deficit.
Meg Whitman makes case on how she's different California gubernatorial candidate and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, formally opening what may be the toughest bid of her long career, insisted she is offering a skill set and product that are very different from those of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a parade of other wealthy political novices who have run for the state's highest office.

How stimulus could boost green technology Bottom line: The stimulus bill's tight focus on alternative energy could help California in two big ways.

Something for everyone to hate There is only one word that can be used to describe the budget deal that emerged in the State Capitol this week: Painful.

The stimulus: What's in it for Silicon Valley's tech economy? The sweeping $789 billion stimulus bill headed for a vote in Congress is expected to create thousands of clean-tech jobs in Silicon Valley, gin up new business for many of the region's tech companies and put hundreds of dollars in the pockets of most residents.

Doubts grow about California budget deal Interest groups at both ends of the political spectrum reacted with anger Thursday to the emerging plan to close the state's massive budget deficit, and doubts began to mount about whether it had enough support in the Legislature to survive a planned vote this weekend.

Pass the state budget and share the pain The Chinese say this is the year of the ox. No wonder everybody will be gored by the state budget. It's foolish to expect anything less when fixing a $40 billion deficit.

Proposed state budget adds another layer of tax It's gonna hurt. That, in essence, was the message Thursday from a wide range of government officials, welfare advocates, taxpayers and other experts about the tentative state budget deal reached in Sacramento.

Schwarzenegger applauds progress in budget talks Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday said progress was being made in negotiations to close California's $42 billion budget gap and that he was hoping for a legislative vote this week.

Clinton won't cancel talk at boycotted hotel Despite pressure from supporters of same-sex marriage and organized labor, former President Bill Clinton will speak as planned at a San Diego hotel whose owner gave money to help pass Proposition 8.

County pins economic hopes on expected rebound in housing market The economic stimulus package could be what is needed to stanch a massive loss of jobs and allow the housing market a chance to turn around — provided it works.

Reports that state budget deal is near may be premature Even as the Assembly scheduled a rare Saturday session for a possible vote on a deal to close California's $40 budget shortfall, there were indications in the Capitol on Thursday that speculation over a possible agreement may be premature.

Lawmakers live well in tough times State legislators would have us believe that they have been working their fingers to the bone since discovering the enormous cash hole in the current budget last fall. They would like us to think that there has been nothing more on their minds than coming up with a solution to the $42 billion budget deficit.

Lawmakers fight to keep deal moving and to muster votes for passage A fragile package of spending cuts and higher taxes to bridge a mammoth state budget shortfall held together Thursday as legislative leaders made plans to try to push through the tentative deal over the weekend.

Inland ready to spend stimulus Tens of thousands of jobs would be created or saved throughout Inland Southern California by a federal stimulus plan aimed at easing deep economic woes, but officials are uncertain when and how that help will arrive.

California News Roundup - February 12, 2009

Schwarzenegger, legislative leaders settle on budget framework Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders are planning to scale back the state's investment in schools, higher education, public transportation and other programs -- while imposing several temporary tax increases -- to close the $42-billion budget gap projected by the middle of next year.

Tentative bipartisan budget plan The blueprint for a state budget deal includes:

Half-done coastal project symbolizes California budget paralysis The Caterpillar front-loader sits parked in the dirt, empty, next to small mountains of untouched crushed asphalt. Across Pacific Coast Highway at the edge of Laguna Beach, glassy green-blue waves slide onto the sand next to a chain-link fence and orange plastic webbing. Work has stopped on the long-planned transformation of the former El Morro Village mobile home neighborhood into a beachfront state park with priceless ocean views. Like thousands of other state-funded projects, workers were called off the job and plans frozen as the governor and Legislature struggle to resolve the budget mess.

George Skelton: California tax hikes long overdue The taxes should have been raised a year ago. Make that years. The bite would have been a lot smaller. Maybe just a nibble.

The shame of California's prisons A panel of judges had to come up with a plan because, once again, lawmakers failed the state.Now that a panel of three federal judges is calling for California to cut its prison population by as much as a third, effectively ruling that our dysfunctional state government is incapable of overseeing the prison system, it makes us wonder what other legislative duties could be delegated to the judiciary. Redistricting? Schools? The budget process? It wouldn't exactly be democratic, but it would beat the anarchy in Sacramento.

Governor, key legislators reach deficit-fixing accord Legislative leaders and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have reached a tentative deal to close the state's projected $40 billion budget gap on the backs of virtually every Californian, from taxpayers to state workers to welfare recipients, according to sources close to the negotiations.

Big job boost for California seen President Barack Obama says the best way to judge his economic stimulus plan in the next two years will be whether it creates or saves 3 million to 4 million jobs.

CalPERS seeks bids for hefty HMO contract The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the state's largest purchaser of health insurance, is seeking bids for a lucrative HMO contract for nearly a third of the state's 1.3 million public employees, retirees and their families.

Correa might be the party pooper As Senate Democrats huddled Monday for a late-night briefing on the budget negotiations, one Democratic senator was missing: Lou Correa.

The State Worker: Furloughs boost governor's muscle at bargaining table Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made grim history twice in the last week. First, he started state worker furloughs on Friday, then four days later warned he might lay off 10,000 of those with the least service time.

Wildlife fund loan could cost state millions in federal money State officials have been warned that California could lose millions in federal funds if they shift revenues out of the Department of Fish and Game to ease the state budget crisis.

State workers would lose two holidays under tentative budget deal State workers would permanently lose two state holidays and face continuing furloughs each month through June 2010 under a tentative budget deal struck by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders, according to a source close to negotiations.

Strong sector of state economy starts to slide California's exports were one of the last pillars of the state's economy, holding up long after construction, finance, retail and other sectors crumbled.

Highlights of most recent Calif. budget proposal Here is some of the language that emerged Wednesday as lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sought to forge a compromise on the state's budget deficit. Democrats want to bring a budget package to a vote on Friday.

Attorney general plots potential run for governor Attorney General Jerry Brown isn't an official candidate for governor - but he's sure thinking a lot about it.

Capitol Alert: Correa faces crossroads in budget crunchPosted by Shane GoldmacherAs Senate Democrats huddled Monday for a late-night briefing on the budget negotiations, one Democratic senator was missing: Lou Correa.

Capitol Alert: Rep. Hilda Solis approved by Senate committee Los Angeles Rep. Hilda Solis, who is President Barack Obama's pick as labor secretary, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Maldonado: Budget agreement will be 'easy vote 'no' ' Sen. Abel Maldonado, who is widely seen as the most moderate Republican in the state Senate, exited a two-hour briefing on the budget pact and said he would cast an "easy vote 'no.' "

Capitol Alert: Cogdill: Budget pact 'as good as I could get' Emerging from a nearly 2-hour closed-door meeting of Senate Republicans on Wednesday, Senate GOP leader Dave Codgill gave the strongest public word yet that a budget deal has been struck -- but the Modesto Republican still wasn't guaranteeing GOP support.

Compromise on budget looks fair Here comes the moment of truth. Democratic and Republican legislative leaders have struck a tentative deal to close California's $40 billion budget shortfall.

State officials work on final items in budget Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders worked Wednesday to put the finishing touches on a budget deal that would close a record-setting $42 billion gap with spending cuts, new taxes and borrowing from Wall Street.

Inmate raped by cellmates can sue prison guards The state Supreme Court allowed a transgender former prison inmate on Wednesday to proceed with a lawsuit accusing prison guards of failing to protect her from being raped and beaten by her cellmates.

Teachers launch effort to save small classes For more than a decade, the rule through third grade in most California classrooms has been one teacher — and no more than 20 students.

Taxes for sure, maybe a spending capBudget deal includes blackmailing voters into disapproving a ceiling on spending

State lawmakers to push animal From family pets to farm livestock, state lawmakers are crafting a broad and aggressive animal welfare agenda this year.

Funding cut may end work corps A new, $17 million facility along Wright Road that would provide modest dormitories and classrooms for the 65 young men and women of the California Conservation Corps' Camarillo Center has been eight years in the making and should be ready to occupy in a matter of months.

Brown: Prison oversight wrong Attorney General Jerry Brown said Wednesday that the state needs to break free of federal court oversight of its troubled prison system.

State's developmentally disabled costs rise nearly 400% State spending on services for developmentally disabled residents has nearly quadrupled in a decade, but now the governor and Republican lawmakers say the costs must be reduced as the state confronts a $40 billion budget shortfall.

Toss the scriptA tax break for film and television production is like one of those unstoppable horror movie monsters that keeps returning to life. Even a $40 billion state budget shortfall cannot put a stake through the heart of this special-interest giveaway.

California News Roundup - February 11, 2009

California budget talks marked by secrecy Under the gilded dome of the state Capitol, the Cone of Silence has descended. A veil has been drawn. Secrecy has prevailed as the wizards have labored behind the green curtain to find a way out of California's $42-billion budget hole.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Whitman outlines stands A day after launching her campaign for governor, former EBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman on Tuesday unveiled a sharply conservative approach to California's fiscal crisis and offered a fusillade of positions on other issues that are likely to complicate her run for office in 2010.

Governor threatens to lay off 10,000 state workers As legislative leaders Tuesday moved toward a deal that could wipe out the state's $42-billion deficit with temporary tax hikes on retail sales, cars, gasoline and personal income, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger threatened to lay off as many as 10,000 state employees if a new budget is not passed this week.

Anthem Blue Cross agrees to take back clients, pay $1-million fine Anthem Blue Cross, the state's largest for-profit health insurer, has agreed to pay a $1-million fine and offer new coverage -- no questions asked -- to 2,330 people it dropped after they submitted bills for expensive medical care.

Smaller grape harvest could help state's winemakers Mother Nature gave California's winemakers a break last fall.

Budget proposal raises income, sales, gas taxes, and car fees Californians' pocketbooks would be hit in at least four ways under a wide-ranging budget proposal that is being pushed toward a floor vote within days in the Senate and Assembly.

Court to hear California prison health care showdown California prison health care has already grabbed front-page headlines this week, but the issue will be front-and-center again on a separate matter before different judges.

Cut community college recreation classes, California legislative analysts The Mardi Gras Lanes bowling alley on Madison Avenue is alive on Friday mornings, buzzing with the energy of more than 40 college students. They sing along to old-school hip-hop, munch on pretzels and onion rings and slap high-fives after each strike.

Calif. inmate release prompts public safety Unless California gets a reprieve from the U.S. Supreme Court, it will have to free roughly a third of its prison inmates within the next few years.

Schwarzenegger: Layoffs coming if no budget soon Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration warned Tuesday that it will start the process of laying off thousands of state workers if the governor and legislative leaders do not reach a budget deal by Friday.

Dan Walters: Corporate tax sweetener to seal deal? In terms of complexity and longevity, few state Capitol conflicts surpass the decades-long struggle over how California taxes multistate and multinational corporations.

Daniel Weintraub: Governor has a shot at spending reform If every crisis provides an opportunity, then Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a chance this month to shape his legacy. Depending on how California's budget mess is resolved, the actor-turned-governor will be remembered either as a man who was overmatched by the office and the state's polarized politics or as a leader who bridged a partisan divide to help bring the state back from the brink of insolvency.
Capitol Alert: Solis makes gains but isn't out of the woods Politico.com reported today that the nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis as labor secretary won't be derailed by Republicans over her husband's tax problems.

Capitol Alert: State's revenues continue decline The state's tax revenues in January continued to run well below those of a year earlier, Controller John Chiang reported today, but were slightly higher than last year's budget forecasts.

Capitol Alert: Don Henley rocks a donation to Jerry Brown Don Hennley, the singer who co-founded the Eagles, donated $13,000 to Attorney General Jerry Brown last Friday, according to new campaign filings.

Capitol Alert: Dutton can't support 'billions in new taxes but no budget reform' Sen. Bob Dutton, the Republican vice chairman of the budget committee, has penned an op-ed in the San Bernardino Sun today about his stance on the budget.

Prisons: Settle, don't appealThe wholly predictable outcome to California's refusal to address prison overcrowding has occurred.

John Chiang: California crisis by the numbers - 12, 5, 30, 2, 732, 5.5, 121 No, these are not lottery picks or a plot-twisting code on the TV show "Lost." But they do tell a story of how the Golden State - once revered for its pioneering leadership - is now so desperate that it no longer pays its bills, or cares for the sick and elderly. These numbers also indicate what kind of California - one that offers opportunity or shackles us with debt - is on the horizon.

Out of space, out of excuses, out of time California cannot say it was not warned. Back in July 2005, long before the state was dealing with furloughs, IOUs and budget shortfalls in the tens of billions, U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson warned that conditions in the state's overcrowded prisons were reaching dangerous proportions. Seven months later, finding that one inmate "dies needlessly" every week, Henderson placed the medical-care system of California prisons in the hands of a federal receiver.

Gov's plan to kill CCC draws fire Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to scrap the California Conservation Corps is coming under fire from four former governors and other critics who say it would be a mistake to kill the popular jobs and skills training program in the midst of a deepening recession.

Governor's plan to tax green fees has golfers in rough Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't making any friends on the golf course these days. In fact, his proposal to tax green fees, among other things, is being received like a slice into the rough.

California News Roundup - February 6, 2009

Scores of California state offices won't be open today Scores of state offices will be closed today as more than 200,000 workers take their first unpaid day off in response to California's deepening fiscal crisis.

Rulings on gay couples' benefits question Defense of Marriage Act Brad Levenson and Tony Sears spent Thursday fielding congratulatory calls from gay rights supporters around the nation for their success in getting a federal judge to call into question the legality of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

UC regents ease admission rules to expand applicant pool A much-debated plan by the University of California to expand its freshman applicant pool and reduce the tests required for admission won final approval Thursday from the Board of Regents.

California's at rock bottom If California wants its share of federal largesse, Sacramento had better get its act together, fast.California is now the Wile E. Coyote of states. Our governor and lawmakers have dickered and dawdled all of us off a cliff, but we're trying desperately to resist the realization that there is no ground beneath us. Our legs are pumping and our eyes are on Obama administration stimulus packages and bailout money on the far, sunny slope, and we might just reach them if we don't acknowledge that the bridge is out, or that we've run off the road, or that our Acme wings have failed. Once we notice that we're hanging in midair, we'll fall.

Workers under elected state officials won't abide by furloughs today Despite Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's order for state workers to take today off without pay, one group will be showing up for work, just like always.

Experts spell out California counties' budget Counties threatened revolt against the state this week after state Controller John Chiang said he would delay payments to counties for mandated programs.

Delta drought response could pit fish against fish It's come to this. A drought approaching epic status in California may force the state to choose one imperiled species of fish over another.

Regents change UC admission requirements University of California regents Thursday approved new admission requirements intended to improve access for low-income students as well as a policy bolstering UC's commitment to financial aid.

Sacramento activist offers strategy for curbing illegal immigration If there is one issue he's close to, Arnoldo Torres says, it's immigration.

Dan Walters: Budget analyst says state can't evade reality By purest happenstance, Mac Taylor became the Legislature's budget analyst last year just as the state was plummeting into the fiscal abyss of multibillion-dollar deficits, a credit rating that's lowest in the nation, payment deferrals because of cash shortages – and no political plans, or perhaps even will, to arrest the plunge.

Capitol Alert: Schwarzenegger names new Energy Commission chair Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named Karen Douglas the new chair of the California Energy Commission on Thursday.

Capitol Alert: Solis nomination hearing postponed A confirmation hearing for Rep. Hilda Solis, a Los Angeles-area Democrat nominated as President Barack Obama's labor secretary, was postponed Thursday.

Capitol Alert: Fabian Núñez files for state Senate Former Speaker Fabian Núñez, who termed out of the state Assembly last fall, has filed paperwork to make a Sacramento comeback as a state senator.

Capitol Alert: Steinberg: Budget vote next week, as talks 'coming to a close' Senate President Darrell Steinberg said Thursday that both houses of the Legislature are planning a budget vote sometime next week, though the Democratic leader was careful to say no final agreement had been reached.

Agencies seek to preserve water in Calif lakes State and federal water managers Thursday asked for permission to keep more water in California's reservoirs this month so there will be enough cold water for salmon later in the year.

Status of some Calif offices once furloughs begin The Associated Press Many California government offices are scheduled to close Friday under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's order requiring most employees to take two unpaid days off a month. Most agencies are planning to close the first and third Fridays of each month.

Budget secrecy is no public service Ever since Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor, this early advocate of sunshine has relied on darkness to close a budget deal.

Twin Rivers' plight: Bad, but manageable With a budget stalemate and uncertain economy, local school districts face the daunting task of huge midyear cuts – even though teachers already have been hired and books bought.

State's eventual rebound could be quick The pace of job layoffs in the California economy has been much quicker in the past 18 months than in previous state economic downturns – the result of technology, globalization and the breakdown of the employer-employee relationship that reigned through much of California's post-World War II period. In turn, though, the pace of job hires likely will be far quicker than most commentators are projecting when the economy turns.

Budget gap endangers valued school programs Parents in San Ramon fear their program for gifted students will vanish. Oakland residents want to save adult education. And teachers across the state are demanding that lawmakers preserve small class sizes they say kids need.

UC regents OK admissions overhaul A lot more young people will have a shot at getting into the University of California under new eligibility rules, approved by the UC Board of Regents today, that represent the most sweeping changes in admission standards in almost 50 years.

Union: Confusion reigns as California braces for government shutdown today With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's historic furlough of more than 200,000 state employees set to begin today, a major labor union warned that the state is ill-prepared to handle the work stoppage.

California farmers struggle with impending Farmer Lax Iyers is standing on the side of a country road that splits his almond orchard into two different worlds — one abloom, the other in danger of choking in a cloud of dust.

Make it easier for K-12 school districts to pass a parcel tax If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature are intent on slashing funding for K-12 schools, the least they can do is to make it easier for local districts to raise money on their own. The obvious way is to give them a fairer chance to pass a parcel tax.

Jerry Brown urged to probe Republican vote-trading allegations Labor and environmental groups have asked California Attorney General Jerry Brown to investigate whether Republican state lawmakers are engaging in illegal vote trading during budget talks.

Contra Costa concerned over state budget issues the state decides to further defer payments to California counties, Contra Costa's programs and services would be jeopardized, according to the county administrator.

Campaign-donor law remains intact Gay and lesbian rights activists — and the rest of California — dodged a bullet last week when a federal judge threw out a lawsuit that would have kept secret the names of those who donated to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign.

Will next budget phase be better? Governor, legislative leaders drop their secretive negotiations as state-worker furloughs beginThe public gets its first up-close exposure to the state's budget woes today as thousands of government workers take the day off without pay to save a few bucks. If you visit the DMV, for instance, the door will be closed. Nevertheless, we suspect most people won't notice much difference in their lives.

California agencies scramble to meet Friday State agencies were scrambling Thursday to implement the first employee furloughs in California history, ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to save money in the face of a massive budget crisis.

UC pension system faces economic realityContribution-free days ending; benefits eyedBy James P. Sweeney SAN FRANCISCO — For 20 years, the University of California pension system seemed to be a Wall Street wonder, building assets and paying billions in benefits without any contributions from the university or its employees.

U-T Editorial: Furlough truths State can handle this reduction and moreToday is the first furlough day for state workers, part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to ease California's fiscal crisis by shuttering most state offices on two weekdays a month.

Credible casinos? Leaving casinos in charge of policing the integrity of their operations offers a faulty safeguard against corruption. Gambling ventures, which have ready access to mountains of cash, require outside scrutiny to ensure honesty. But California tribal casinos now lack that oversight, a void that tribes and state gambling regulators need to fill.

Fiscal justice?San Bernardino County should not be paying extra benefits to state employees when the county faces a $60 million budget shortfall. The county needs any savings it can find, and padding the income of state judges no longer makes policy or financial sense.