To Our Readers:

(Editor’s Note: In a stunning turnaround, last week’s rumor du jour of a budget vote on February 3 appears to be false. The chief correspondent of California’s Capitol has been chastised, furloughed and had a strongly worded letter placed in his employee file for circulating baseless fables.)

2.02.2009

Business Cutback on Contributions

The balance of power in the Legislature isn’t going to be affected much by the recent decision of the California Retailers Association to halt campaign contributions because of the recession.

Nor will the go-slow, keep-a-wary-eye-on-the-cash-register mode adopted by the California Chamber of Commerce, which worries the recession could sharply reduce the contributions it receives from its 17,00 members many of whom are mom-and-pop businesses. Read more »

1.30.2009

Guest Post: An “Interview” with B.T. Collins

AN INTERVIEW WITH B.T. COLLINS

On March 19, 1993, B.T. Collins died in a Sacramento hospital of a heart attack following a prolonged bout with a series of medical conditions. He was anything but the average 52-year old who died too young. B.T. was an exceptional person, as anyone who knew him will attest. Read more »

1.29.2009

Rumor du Jour: Budget Vote February 3

A budget vote February 3 is the latest rumor du jour rolling through the state Capitol.

Allegedly the spending reductions – and tax increases – have been agreed to and the focus of continuing budget talks is the shape of the so-called “economic stimulus” legal changes sought by Gov. Schwarzenegger and his GOP allies. Read more »

1.28.2009

Meg Whitman Sighting

9:50 a.m., Sacramento, January 28:

The former eBay CEO and GOP governor wanna-be was jay-walking on 10th St. between L & J Streets heading toward the California Teachers Association World Headquarters.

Not unlike the State Capitol, would one enter those doors voluntarily?

-30- Read more »

1.27.2009

Seems Like A Good Policy

“I want to be known by the ideas I keep, not the people I know.”

— Mason Williams, composer “Classical Gas,” writer, The Smothers Brother Comedy Hour

1.23.2009

Even More Inauguration Observations

From Justin Knighten of Lucas Public Affairs:

The re-occurring nightmare of blood-chilling weather, coat-check lines and traffic was worth the 10 minuets we stood 15 feet from President Obama and our nation’s First Lady at the Western Region Inaugural Ball. I had the opportunity to experience every moment of this grand trip, from gala to inauguration day, with a good friend – a state Capitol staffer. Read more »

1.22.2009

Who Says the Legislature Isn’t Doing Anything?

The sign next to the doors of Governor’s Schwarzenegger’s Capitol office and the graphic on his official State of California webpage are not only misuses of a minuscule amount of public funds for political purposes, they’re wildly inaccurate.

“Legislature’s Failure to Act” is bannered over a numerical tally of the days that have passed since the GOP governor called lawmakers into special session last November to address the state’s monstrous budget problems. Read more »

1.21.2009

Northern California Bias?

A lobbyist for a large Southern California interest opined recently that Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, stacked his recently announced committee assignments to favor Northern California.

That would appear to be the case looking at the composition of Senate Appropriations.

Although San Diegan Christine Kehoe is chair, six of the remaining eight Democrats on the 13-member committee represent Northern California districts. Read more »

1.21.2009

Old Dog, New Tricks

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks.

During his six years as President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate, John Burton’s Senate webpage was permanently “under construction.”

Now that he is a candidate – apparently successful – for chair of the California Democratic Party not only does Burton have a website he has a slick and interactive one. Read more »

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