A POSSIBLE BREAK IN BUDGET STALEMATE?

ASSEMBLY DEM SUPPORTS GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PLAN:

Cathleen Galgiani, an Assembly Democrat from Tracy, is creating shockwaves today around the Capitol. She is the first legislator, to the best of my knowledge, who is now publicly endorsing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s compromise budget plan.  Galgiani is saying today, “I have decided to break ranks with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues. I am rejecting both sides’ budget proposals and will vote for the taxpayers.”

The Governor’s plan calls for a temporary sales tax increase and in a written statement, Galgiani says, “A short-term 3-year increase of 1 cent in the sales tax along with cuts in expenditures will get California out of this fiscal mess. This short-term increase will be followed by a long-term permanent reduction in sales taxes – a quarter cent below today’s sales tax rate.”

The Governor’s office is of course delighted to see the first sign of movement. Press Secretary Aaron McLear told me today, “The Assemblywoman is right — both Republicans and Democrats should step across the partisan divide to end this budget impasse. That is why the Governor is urging compromise to end the stalemate.”

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED?

Did Cathleen Galgiani upset her colleagues by breaking ranks with the Democrats?  Take a look at the updated statement issued by Galgiani’s office late today, “Let me make it clear. I would support the Governor’s budget proposal if it reached the floor of the Assembly.  However,  I remain confident that my Democratic colleagues will craft a budget in the next few days, and I will continue to stand with them to protect education and the taxpayers.”

Sounds like Galgiani  ruffled some feathers by showing  too much independence in trying to break the stalemate on her own.  Assembly Democrats have now been locked in a stalemate with Republicans for 73 days.

REEPS READY TO PLAY HOOKIE

SOME GOP LAWMAKERS TO SKIP TOWN FOR ST. PAUL

California is now 64 days without a budget, but Senator Abel Maldonado (R) Santa Maria is still planning to fly to Minnesota after the Senate ends its session tonight in Sacramento.  As we first reported last week, the McCain campaign asked Maldonado to deliver a nationwide television speech to the GOP convention on Wednesday,  September 3. You can see the speech on TV around 5:45pm California time Wednesday evening.

In an interview last week, Maldonado told me, “I plan on giving a good speech for Senator McCain. Obviously it’s important. It’s great to be able to go to a convention, number one and number two to be asked by obviously a nominee of a party.”

But in the tense political climate around the Capitol, critics charge that leaving Sacramento for a political convention simply reinforces the perception that politicians are more interested in advancing their own agendas ahead of the people they serve.

ONE ASSEMBLYMEMBER ALREADY THERE

I’ve been receiving good information from my sources in Minnesota that at least one Republican Assemblyman is already in St. Paul for the convention and I received confirmation today from the office of Assemblyman Van Tran (R) Costa Mesa. The Assembly has been in recess Monday and Tuesday, but Van Tran apparently plans to stay put for the final two days of the convention on Wednesday and Thursday.

Van Tran’s office sent me a written statement saying, “Serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention is a responsibility I take seriously.”

But what about his responsibilities to reach a budget deal? Well in his written statement, Van Tran says, “I am following developments in Sacramento closely and trust in Republican Leader Mike Villines to negotiate a budget compromise that is fair for California…I am in regular contact with both the leader’s office and my office and am ready to return to Sacramento at any time.”

But now that California lawmakers have set the record for the latest date ever for a budget agreement, you can bet that Van Tran and other Republicans will be criticized for leaving town…just as Assembly Democrats Fabian Nunez of  Los Angeles, Lori Saldana of San Diego,  Dave Jones of Sacramento  and Budget Chair John Laird of Santa Cruz were blasted last week when they abandoned the Capitol and took off for Denver.

PALIN GENERATES BUZZ AT CAPITOL

POLITICAL UNKNOWN IS TALK OF THE TOWN

Female lawmakers from both parties reacted positively today to the surprise selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate.  Republican Assemblywoman Mimi Walters of Laguna Niguel told me today the election dynamics are changing, “I think those Hillary Clinton supporters have been looking for a candidate that they can really connect with and I believe that she will be that candidate and I’m very excited.”

Republican Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia of Cathedral City was excited too saying, “She’s a young Governor, she’s already demonstrated leadership. She’s not part of the old guard, she’s not part of old Washington. She’s certainly had some personal challenges. I think she will appeal to working moms and soccer moms and career professionals all across the board.”

And Audra Strickland (R), Camarillo Assemblywoman was gushing with praise for Palin, saying “I’m very impressed with what I know about her, a working mom with five kids and doing the job that she does. Her focus on renewable energy and how to bring about the energy needs for the state of Alaska as well as the country.”

Even some Democrats had positive things to say. In my interview today with  Lori Saldana (D) San Diego, the chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus said, “I think it will spark not only Hillary supporters,  I think it will spark a lot of interest in the people who think that it’s important for women to have leadership positions in national politics.”

But no matter whether the Obama-Biden ticket or John McCain and Sarah Palin win in November, this will be a historic election. Saldana put it this way, “We think women will get involved, more women will pay attention to this election. I think it will bring forth conversations about family, about finances.” Then she added, “Sarah Palin, you know she has a child with disabilities. And here with the state budget we’re discussing cutbacks to exactly those kind of families, people trying to raise children with Downs, with Autism, it’s very interesting how these national conversations have a very direct impact on California conversations also.”

CAT FIGHT AT THE CAPITOL

FUR FLIES OVER MEASURE TO SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET

Timmy and Lassie are coming to the Capitol on Wednesday, along with dozens of other pet lovers to demonstrate their opposition to a yet another new bill requiring pets to be spayed or neutered.

AB 1634 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D), Van Nuys would allow animal control officers to issue citations to pet owners–$50 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second, and mandatory spay or neuter for the third.

Officers won’t be knocking on doors to enforce the law, but can check out your pet while in the course of investigating complaints. Critics contend pesky neighbors can file complaints against people they don’t like to get them in trouble.

Supporters counter that Timmy and Lassie have been hired to be there to help kill the bill. We’ll profile the nasty dog/cat fight in the battle to reduce overcrowding in pet shelters.

 

 

GOV MAKES NBA BET

Riding Kobe to Victory: Will the Lakers beat the Celtics in the NBA finals? Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks so…in fact he’s betting on it. California’s Governor is making a friendly wager with his cross-country rival, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. Schwarzenegger is so confident that Kobe, Lamar and Luke will beat up the Celts, he’s expecting to receive 17 pounds of clam chowder from the Bay State, which he will then donate to a charity of his choosing.

But if the Lakers should lose, Schwarzenegger will provide a shipment of California-grown fruit, vegetables, nuts, cheese and wine to Governor Patrick’s favorite charity. 

“The Lakers in five.”  Aaron McLear told me today. But when I reminded Governor Schwarzenegger’s press secretary the Lakers are down 1-0 and would have to win four in a row for that to come true he replied, “Unlike John Kerry, I’m not gonna flip flop. When I make a prediction, I stick with it.”

Game two is Sunday night.

 

CA WANTS TO PROPOSITION YOU

FOUR MEASURES ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

Secretary of State Debra Bowen made it official today, announcing that at least four measures have now qualified for the November ballot. The newest one requires a waiting period and parental notification before an underage teenager can have an abortion.  This proposition would prohibit teens under 18 from getting an abortion until 48 hours after a physician notifies the girl’s parents or legal guardian. The parental notification measure received nearly 700,000 valid signatures to make the ballot…and is very similar to another proposition that failed at the ballot just two years ago.

The other three items we’ll be voting on include a high-speed rail bond, a measure on the treatment of farm animals and a children’s hospital bond.

LAWMAKERS VOTE TO PROTECT THEIR PAYCHECKS

DON’T CUT MY SALARY: State Senators just voted down a constitutional amendment that would have prevented them from getting a pay raise whenever there’s a budget deficit. The final tally was three to one, with only Senate President Don Perata (D) Oakland, voting in favor of the measure that could have opened the door to possible pay cuts – not only for lawmakers – but also for Constitutional officers…everyone from the Governor on down.  Although Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger does not take a pay check, future Governors could have seen a change in the $212, 179 salary.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Abel Maldonado (R), Santa Maria was clearly peeved when I talked to him just moments ago, telling me, “I don’t think it’s right,” then adding, “In three weeks we’re cutting everybody and everybody else gets a raise.” Last year, the Legislature received a 2.75% increase with most members making a base salary of  $116,208, while Assembly and Senate leaders make even more.

Those voting to preserve their salaries were Democrats Gilbert Cedillo and Alex Padilla, both of Los Angeles. Republican Senator Jim Battin of La Quinta also voted no, while Republican Bob Dutton of Rancho Cucamonga took the easy way out and decided not to vote on the matter.

 

BAY AREA POWER

TORRICO TAPPED AS MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER

Newly sworn in Assembly Speaker Karen Bass may be from Los Angeles, but she’s tapped Assemblyman Alberto Torrico of Newark to be her Majority Floor Leader to help drum up votes from Democrats on the Assembly floor. Torrico’s job will be to streamline legislation and make sure Democrats vote for key bills that are important to the new leadership.

Torrico is in his second term in the Assembly and represents portions of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.  He is the son of immigrants from Bolivia and his mother is of Japanese heritage. He is the first Assemblymember to belong to both the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and the Latino Caucus.

CHICKEN WARS

ACTIVISTS SCRAMBLE OVER EGGS

It’s coming to the ballot in California this November, but the battle for votes has already begun. Animal rights activists intend to release a video in Sacramento on Tuesday, showing “hidden camera footage revealing shocking animal abuse.” The footage was shot by an undercover activist who worked at a California chicken farm for several months, according to Nathan Runkle of Mercy for Animals.

The activists have identified the farm as Gamperle Enterprises in Merced County, which they say is a supplier to NuCal Foods – one of the largest distributors of eggs in the Western U.S.  All this to advance a ballot measure Californians will be voting on this fall that would essentially ban farms from keeping chickens in cages and promoting instead, free range chickens.

However free range chickens actually suffer more injuries than those in cages–according to traditional chicken farmers are scratching back. And they say the price of eggs will go sky high if the measure is approved by voters. We’ll get a preview tomorrow of what the fighting is all about.

DEADBEATS DELIVERED ONLINE

TOP 250 TAX CHEATS REVEALED

The Franchise Tax Board came out with a list today you don’t want to be on.  It’s the top 250 tax debtors in California – the deadbeats who owe more than $123 million in unpaid income taxes.  California law requires the state to post a list of names on the Internet of anyone owing more than $100,000  in back taxes. Topping the list this year is something called Pinehill Investment of Rye, New York, which owes $6.1 million, according to the FTB.

Second on the list is another New Yorker – Michael S. Fitzsimmons, who owes $4.4 million, says the FTB.  A San Franciscan is 4th on the list – Xin Mian Pan.  State records indicate he’s behind by $2.8 million on his taxes.

NO JUICE FOR THE JUICE

O.J. Simpson is on the list again, as he has been for every year since 1999. State officials have thrown a yellow flag against him for being delinquent on $1.5 million worth of back taxes, according to the latest list. California’s practice of playing the Shame Game to get deadbeats to pay up seems to be working…State Controller John Chiang says the Franchise Tax Board received approximately $4.2 million in payments since January, from taxpayers trying desperately to keep their names off the list.

To see the entire list of the Top 250 Income Tax Debts….click here..

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/txdlnqnt.shtml