Schwarzenegger Names Kim Belshe and His Chief of Staff, Susan Kennedy, to the California Health Benefit Exchange

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Kimberly Belshé and Susan Kennedy to the California Health Benefit Exchange.

“We are once again taking first-in-the-nation action with the California Health Benefit Exchange,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Both Kim and Susan are tremendous leaders that know how to get things done. With their deep understanding of health care, public policy and hands-on attitude, I know they will help build an exchange that will create a competitive marketplace, improve quality of care and reduce health care costs for California consumers.”    Read more »

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Changes Will Be Coming January 1 with the New Occupant

After the first of the year, the governor’s office will look different.

Gone will be the fake gold letters spelling Arnold Schwarzenegger glued above the word “Governor” carved into the marble lintel.

Gone too will be the stnchion with the sign saying “Governor Arnold Schwarzengger” to the right of the California flag.    Read more »

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Schwarzenegger Names David Crane to UC Board of Regents

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of David Crane to the University of California Board of Regents.

“David’s contributions during his time in my administration have shown his commitment to doing everything he can to make California great,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Serving as a member of the Board of Regents, I know that David will devote the energy, tenacity and creativity needed to keep the University of California the finest public university system in the world.”    Read more »

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What Places in California Are Named After Saint Onophrius?

San Onofre State Beach, through which soon-to-be-leaving Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to run a six-lane toll road and San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant both get their name from Saint Onophrius.

Onophrius, Humphrey in English, supposedly lived as a hermit in the Egyptian desert for 70 years, dying around 400 AD. The power plant opened 1,568 years after the saint’s death

The story of the life of Onophrius comes down the ages through an account by Paphnutius the Ascetic who also became a saint.    Read more »

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Supreme Court Won’t Expedite Sale of 11 State Buildings

This item by David Siders of the Sacramento Bee was posted on December 28, 2010:

The California Supreme Court rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s request to lift a stay blocking the sale of state office properties until after he leaves office next week, likely sinking the deal.

Gov.-elect Jerry Brown has been critical of the transaction and, as the state attorney general, declined to defend it in court.    Read more »

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An Early Prediction on What the New Year Will “Likely” Bring

(Editor’s Note: California’s Capitol tries to gather information from a fairly large pool of sources. What follows is a prediction that seems to encapsulate what a number of knowledgeable people have said is likely to happen next year – “likely” being the operative word. The only certainty for 2011 is, to paraphrase the Betty Davis admonition, “Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”    Read more »

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This Just In…Be Sure to Mark the Calendar

(Editor’s Note: “All the people at this party they’ve got a lot of style. They’ve got stamps of many countries; they’ve got passport smiles. Some are friendly. Some are cutting. Some are watching it from the wings. Some are standing in the center, giving to get something.” Joni Mitchell, first verse of  “People’s Parties.”)    Read more »

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Can’t Judge a Book By Its Cover But the Other Two Are True

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From the Ecclesiastes 1:9 File…

“Major state responsibilities, such as education and criminal justice, require a long planning horizon and a greater level of stability.

“The current budgetary timetable does not provide sufficient time for program review, evaluation and change nor does it allow for long-term planning.

“With a two-year budget, the Legislature will be able to spend more time evaluating program outcomes and effectiveness.    Read more »

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Trying to Find California’s Virtual Constitutional Convention

Thought the idea of a state constitutional convention was abandoned earlier this year for lack of money?

Think again.

There’s just a few more days left in the one-month ratification period for the reCon, e-Con, short for the reConstitutional e-Convention.

The e-convention is part of reThinkCali.com, which was created by the New America Foundation.    Read more »

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