Bad Budget News Ahead, Fiscal Year Short $1 Billion

SACRAMENTO, October 9 — For the first three months of the fiscal year, total state general fund revenue was nearly $1.1 billion below the estimates used in the recently amended 2009-10 budget, State Controller John Chiang reported today in his monthly accounting of California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in September. Read more »

10.09.2009

Republicans Are Socialists — At Least With Water

Republicans are socialists.

At least when it comes to water.

Uncharitable Democrats would likely call their Republican colleagues shameful hypocrites since, given some of the legislative proposals offered by the majority party, socialism isn’t as nasty a sobriquet as it might be to a GOP lawmaker.

But that’s what the Republicans are — socialists. Read more »

10.09.2009

“Thursday — The New Friday!”

— State worker-suggested promotional campaign for Friday furloughs. Read more »

10.08.2009

Self-Imposed Hospital Fee to Benefit Kids, Medi-Cal

Continuing one of the oddest bill signing months ever, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has so far only publicly announced his action on three of some 700 bills sent him by the Legislature before they adjourned for the year September 11.

The GOP governor has until midnight October 11 to act – about 81 hours from 4:00 PM October 8. Read more »

10.07.2009

Bill to Help Small Business Loan Guarantee Program

Supporters of California’s Small Business Loan Guarantee Program hope that on October 12, when the state senate next meets, Republican senators will relax their pledge not to vote for any two-thirds majority bills and approve a measure allowing the program to continue guaranteeing loans.

Backers of the bill, SB 66, include ethnic chambers of commerce and bankers. Read more »

10.06.2009

To Sleep, Perchance to Drink, in Senate Session

The Senate will reconvene in special session on October 12, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, announced October 6.

The upper house could also meet October 13 and October 14 at the call of pro tem, Steinberg’s announcement said.

Special sessions are called for a purpose. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called one to consider the tax law changes recommended by the Commission on the 21st Century Economy, for example. Read more »

10.05.2009

Six Days to Deadline and Still Just Three Bills Signed

As of 3:30 PM, October 5 – with six days left to act on more than 650 pieces of legislation, there was no public announcement of bill signings by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Since lawmakers adjourned for the year September 11, the GOP governor has issued three press releases announcing his signature on three measures, one of them budget-related. Read more »

10.02.2009

Clock is Ticking for Governor to Act on Legislation

The California Legislature adjourned for 2009 on September 11. The governor has until October 11 — 30 days — to act on the 700-odd measures that were sent to him.

As of the afternoon of October 2, with nine days left to deal with the bills before him, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has publicly announced the signing of three. Read more »

10.02.2009

Works for Me

“Whenever you feel humiliated or belittled in life, adopt a posture of amused disdain.“

— Maureen Dowd

10.01.2009

Viewing the Treasures of California’s State Archives

October celebrates California’s State Archives. As part of the celebration, reporters were allowed into areas of the archives closed to the public, including a vault containing the most significant treasures.

Among the treasures are English copies of California’s 1849 constitution and its 1879 constitution which was signficantly revised after a constitutional convention that concluded the same year. Read more »

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