Could Be Marijuana That Determines the November Election

The wild card in November’s election is marijuana.

How much more money Meg Whitman spends on her gubernatorial campaign is significant but the kind of voters drawn to the polls by Proposition 19, which legalizes marijuana and allows localities to tax and regulate it, may be the determining factor.

Asked at the state Democratic Party convention in April how Democrats can re-energize President Obama voters from 2008, Party Chair John Burton replied: “Pot.” Read more »

6.29.2010

June Taxes $200 Million Above Estimates, No Budget Near

June tax collections appear to be roughly $200 million over estimates as California reaches the end of the month with no budget in sight for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

The higher than expected revenue eases slightly the state’s cash shortfall of $17.9 billion. But agreement on how the rest of the cash hole is filled remains elusive. Read more »

6.28.2010

Asbestos Risks Drive Bid To Dump California’s State Rock

Normally, lawmakers carry legislation to add something to California’s list of “official state” symbols.

But in an unusual twist, a Los Angeles state senator wants to remove an item.

Not the dogface butterfly, California’s official state insect. Not the Golden State’s official song, “I Love You California,” words by Los Angeles merchant F.B. Read more »

6.28.2010

Bumper Sticker — “Snowmen Against Global Warming”

6.25.2010

June Tax Receipts Still Falling Short of Revenue Projections

With five days left in the month, state tax receipts for June are $211 million short of revenue projections.

In his revised budget released in May, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated more than $5.5 billion in income tax revenue and $2.1 billion in bank and corporation tax payments for June.

If June payments come in above estimates, the state’s $17.9 billion budget hole shrinks. Read more »

6.25.2010

Going from a Circus to an Amusement Park…

A Day at the Disneyland® Resort with Assemblyman Curt Hagman

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

Join Assemblyman Curt Hagman and his family for a fun-filled day at Southern California’s premier destination.

Come for lunch at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa, enjoy a day at the Disneyland® Resort with VIP experiences and you can even choose to stay the night at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa

$1,500 Family Package

Includes 4 lunch tickets and 4 Disneyland® Resort Tickets

$3,900 Deluxe Package

Includes 4 lunch tickets, 4 Disneyland® Resort Tickets and a one night stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa

Guest rooms need to be reserved by July 15th

*Additional Lunch & Disneyland® Resort Tickets can be purchased*

Space is limited so RSVP early. Read more »

6.24.2010

Here’s What Voters WIll Be Facing on the November 2 Ballot

June 24 is the last day for the Secretary of State to determine if an initiative qualifies for the November ballot.

Any initiative qualifying after that date appears on a subsequent statewide ballot. Under normal circumstances, June 2012.

On the final day, an initiative backed by the California Teachers Association to repeal three tax breaks approved as part of the 2009 budget qualified as did a measure lowering the approval needed for a budget from two-thirds to simple majority, one to eliminate the 14-member redistricting commission approved by voters in November 2008 and another initiative sponsored by the state Chamber of Commerce increasing the vote required for “levies and charges” to two-thirds. Read more »

6.24.2010

Magnanimous In Victory? No, But Compare the Spending Ratio

6.24.2010

A Guest Post from Assemblyman Wes Chesbro of Eureka

Today, June 23, my Sacramento office has taken one step closer to reflecting the diversity of California and the communities I represent. We’ve hired, full-time, our WE Include intern, Jayleen Johnson.

The WE Include program was created by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to better integrate individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities into professional work environments, where they learn skills and forge friendships. Read more »

6.23.2010

From Inside “The More Things Change File,” What’s the Year?

“In XXXX, the state faced a multibillion-dollar budget problem.

Initially responding to … (a) proposal to transfer authority over some mental health and health programs to counties, the Legislature considered aa number of options to simultaneously reduce the state’s budget shortfall and improve the workings of state-county programs.”

-30- Read more »

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