Classic Chappie

While walking precincts for Ken Maddy of Fresno in Maddy’s uphill bid for the Assembly in 1970, then Assemblyman Bill Campbell of Hacienda Heights was told by fellow GOP Assemblyman Gene Chappie of Cool that he thought Maddy could pull it off.

“What gives you that idea, Gene-o?” Campbell said.

“Some guy just drove by and gave me half the V-for-Victory sign.”    Read more »

More

Black Wednesday

“Let there be jihad and our swords run with blood. We shall all eat lamb in paradise!” 

That’s pretty much Item One on next Wednesday morning’s agenda if, as widely predicted, the term limits initiative crashes and burns, smothering the political lives of the Assembly Speaker and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.     Read more »

More

Ross Johnson

Ross Johnson’s 26 year legislative career began in 1978 – the same year Proposition 13 was approved. He was the leader of both the Assembly Republicans and the Senate Republicans, the first person in state history to be a leader in both houses.

But now, Johnson, who turns 69 in September, has put aside partisan politics.    Read more »

More

Why is ABX1 1 Still Alive?

Health coverage is just like other kinds of insurance – it’s only available when you don’t need it. When you do, it’s nowhere near as helpful as you paid it to be. 

Last year was the year of Health Care and Water in the White Sepulcher known as our state Capitol.    Read more »

More

Health Care, Health Care

The big deal this week is the January 23 hearing of the Senate Health Committee on Governor Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s overhaul of California’s health care system.

Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, chair of the 11- member committee, opposes the legislation. All the Republicans on the committee are expected to vote, “no” although Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria has broken ranks with his team in the past at the governor’s behest.    Read more »

More

Dede Alpert

During her 14 years as a state lawmaker, Dede Alpert tried to tackle two of California’s most vexing problems – improving public education and legalizing ferret ownership.

California’s public schools are improving, in part thanks to landmark bills Alpert carried as an Assemblywoman to integrate phonics, spelling and math skills into school curriculum and improve assessment of academic performance.    Read more »

More

What’s the Big Deal About a Teensy $14.5 Billion Shortfall?

Stop all this hand wringing and whining about California’s budget shortfall.

 A hole of $14.5 billion. Whoopty-do.

 Why is there all this rending of garments and teeth gnashing over such a pretty puny problem.

 Much ado about nada. Fitch, knock off the downer rating watch stuff and come in from the ledge.     Read more »

More

Senate Republicans Block Schwarzenegger appointee over illegal immigration vote

Republican opposition to financial aid to children of illegal immigrants cost Kay Albiani her seat on the California Community Colleges Board of Governors Monday.

 A long-time Elk Grove educator, Albiani voted along with the rest of the board of governors to endorse legislation that would allow fee waivers and student loans for the children of illegal immigrants.    Read more »

More

Jerry Waldie – Former Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate

Jerry Waldie was elected to the state Assembly in 1958 – a liberal Democrat swept into a Republican-leaning East Bay district by Pat Brown’s big coattails.

The Legislature met only one year for seven months and three the next to put together a budget. Lawmakers were paid around $500 for their trouble.    Read more »

More

Budget Schmudget

There isn’t going to be a whole lot of reporting here on the governor’s budget proposal until it starts being dissected by the Legislature, a process that will stretch out for – just a shot in the dark – at least six months. 

The governor said in his speech he was submitting his $101 billion general fund spending blueprint to the Legislature whose responsibility is to muck with it.    Read more »

More