Communists in the Classroom

BETTER RED THAN DEAD?

Democrats at the Capitol will be fanning the flames of controversy this week by introducing a bill allowing Communits to teach in California public schools. Senate Bill  1322 (see below)

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1301-1350/sb_1322_bill_20080324_amended_sen_v98.html

by Senator Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach would change California law which currently requires school employees to be fired for being a member of the Communist Party. That law has been on the books since the Cold War and Lowenthal has been quoted as saying Communists “are not a danger to our liberty, and the courts have uniformly said that.”

FIGHT BACK,  FIGHT AHEAD

Conservative groups are gearing up for a big fight before the Senate Education Committee this Wednesday.  Karen England of Capitol Resource Institute told me in an interview today, “We don’t want to promote Communism in schools. His bill does that.” “We’ve got kids,” she added, “who can’t even pass the high school exit exam and now he wants to bring communists into the classroom.” England says her group will be protesting the bill on Wednesday by bringing a Romanian immigrant who was imprisoned by Communists in Romania for exercising free speech. She says, “Instead of promoting Communism in our schools, lawmakers should be focused on actually teaching students to read, write and think for themselves.”

Lowenthal could not be reached today due to the Cesar Chavez holiday, but we’ll be anxious to get his comments.

WHY NOW?

Democrats have been leading the charge against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed  budget cuts for education…and their protests seemed to resonate with the public. So why would party leaders tolerate this major distraction that sets them up to be criticized as Communist sympathizers? We’ll find out this week.

LIZ HILL WANTS MORE TEE TIME

LEG ANALYST ANNOUNCES REASONS FOR RESIGNATION

Liz Hill was under no pressure to resign, but said today she is stepping down voluntarily after 22 years as the state’s Legislative Analyst. Hill told me by phone today “I’ve never had a golf handicap and it is probably time to get one.” Hill says she will leave her “dream job” later this year, after evaluating California’s budget nightmare for more than two decades.

WIDELY RESPECTED

Plenty of praise today from legislators who clearly admired her non-partisan approach to public policy analysis. Senate President Don Perata of Oakland issued a statement saying he “will sorely miss her thoughtful analysis and sound advice.” Perata added, “Her dedication to examining the policies – not the politics – of issues was remarkable.”

Hill, who recently offered her own budget plan that included closing tax loopholes to raise revenues, said it was simply time for a new chapter in her life to begin. Her husband retired five years ago and at age 58 she indicated she would like to do some traveling overseas. No word yet on who her successor might be. It’s up to the Legislature to begin the search and ultimately hire a new analyst after Hill leaves in the fall.

BIG RESIGNATION TODAY

LEG ANALYST LIZ HILL TO RESIGN

For 22 years, she has been the steady ship in a sea of chaos surrounding the Capitol, but today the state’s Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill is holding a press conference to announce her resignation at the end of the legislative session. Liz Hill is only the 4th person to hold the title of Legislative Analyst in the office’s 67 year history and she is widely respected by both Democrats and Republicans for her even keeled approach to reviewing the state budget.

HIGH PRAISE FROM NUNEZ

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez of Los Angeles issued a statement today, saying Hill’s “thoughtful, non-partisan stewardship of the Legislative Analysts’s Office is an example of public service at its best. “

Hill recently took the unusual step of offering an alternative budget plan for legislators to ponder…one that would close many tax loopholes to stem the tide of red ink in California’s $16 billion deficit. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Hill’s plan included many ideas worth considering (such as closing the $21 million yacht tax loophole) and that lawmakers should take a closer look.

WESTLY EYES RUN FOR GOVERNOR

BAY AREA CANDIDATES DOMINATE
Steve Westly is chomping at the bit to be California’s next Governor. The former State Controller and Menlo Park businessman is gearing up to make a run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2010, after an unsuccessful campaign in 2006. Westly lost the Democratic primary that year to former Treasurer Phil Angelides, who ultimately was crushed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Westly told me he believes he’s one of only three people who can win in 2010 – the other two he says are Attorney General Jerry Brown of Oakland and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, a Republican from Los Gatos.

IN HIS OWN WORDS
At first Westly was a bit coy about making a formal declaration saying, “Well first my son’s tee ball team is undefeated and I’m coaching the team and we want to keep it that way.” Then he added, “But I’m keeping my options open, I will come back to Sacramento in the future. I will continue to say involved in California politics.”

There’s little doubt amongst political insiders that Westly has his eye on the prize. Right now Westly is working with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in trying to generate nearly 700,000 valid signatures for a November ballot measure that would create an independent commission to draw up legislative districts. Redistricting reform may not be sexy, but it keeps Westly in the limelight. Westly says he’s also the California co-chair for Obama for President. And no doubt he’s hoping those ventures will help him capture the media attention he needs to mount another run for Governor.

Most insiders see Jerry Brown as the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nod in 2010, while Poizner is considered to be the heavyweight in the GOP.

FUEL TAX FEE?

JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH IT’S A GAS, GAS, GAS

At nearly $4 a gallon, Bay Area motorists are already paying among the highest prices in the nation for gasoline….and it’s very possible they could be paying even more.

Several Bay Area Democrats have sponsored a bill that could ultimately raise gas prices by as much a 10 cents a gallon more for the next 25 years.

Jared Hoffman (D), San Rafael Assemblyman is the principal author of the bill (AB 2744) that would authorize the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to impose the fee on each gallon of fuel you buy. The extra fee must be approved by the voters in 9 Bay Area counties.

FIGHTING GLOBAL WARMING

So who wants to pay more for gasoline? Jared Huffman thinks Bay Area motorists will approve the fee, once they realize the money goes to combat global warming. In a telephone interview today, Hoffman told me, “Nearly 70% of Bay Area commuters drive to work alone.” The benefits of higher gas fees says Hoffman, would be to reduce traffic congestion and to increase public transit options, as well as promoting walking and bicycling. The measure is likely to pass through the Democrat-controlled legislature, since it requires only a majority vote, but faces a potential roadblock in Governor Schwarzenegger, and ultimately Bay Area voters who may balk at paying even higher prices at the pump.