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1.20.2011
It Takes A Lot of Money to Run for Senate, Ask Fiona Ma

It Takes A Lot of Money to Run for Senate, Ask Fiona Ma

(This is Assemblywoman Ma’s final term. Under the terms of Propositon 34, California’s campaign finance law, she must declare for another office to continue raising money. She may or may not run for the Senate depending on how the current occupant, Leland Yee, does in his expected 2011 quest for San Francisco mayor.    Read more »

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1.19.2011

Looking for Something Really Special To Do Valentine’s Day?

Why not consider lunch with Sen. Elaine Alquist, a Santa Clara Democrat, in the Governor’s Room at the Sutter Club?

Tres romantique.

The invitation says she is running for Secretary of State in 2014, which might be true.

Under the state’s campaign finance laws, a termed-out lawmaker can only raise money in their final term if they are running for higher office.    Read more »

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1.14.2011
Probing Queries from Little Hoover Commissioners? Just Wait

Probing Queries from Little Hoover Commissioners? Just Wait

Virginia Ellis, the former Sacramento bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times from 2001 through 2008, was appointed January 14  by Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, to the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy.

A gifted and tenacious investigative reporter, Ellis, now retired, is best known for her dogged coverage of former state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush.    Read more »

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1.14.2011
To Quote the Solons of the Roman Empire: “Carpe Per Diem”

To Quote the Solons of the Roman Empire: “Carpe Per Diem”

Normally, the Assembly and the Senate hold their second and final session of each week on Thursday mornings and lawmakers disperse to their districts.

An exception was January 14, a Friday, when both houses scheduled 9:00 am floor sessions.

It was not because of a heavy workload of legislation that required swift action.    Read more »

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1.13.2011

Here’s an Archaic Word That Could See Use at the Capitol

Mockingstock — “A butt for merriment”    Read more »

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1.13.2011
It’s Budget Time For Lawmakers Too, Except Only Different

It’s Budget Time For Lawmakers Too, Except Only Different

On January 10, Gov. Jerry Brown introduced his $119.4 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

On January 10, several dozen lawmakers took the first step in creating the budgets for their fiscal year, which begins immediately.

In what is almost the first act of any consequence in the new year, those legislators sent 40 missives urging lobbyists and interest groups to “save the date” for fundraisers they have scheduled from as early as January 19 to December 1 when Assemblyman Marty Block, a San Diego Democrat, is hosting a “spa event” at Arden Hills Country Club in Sacramento.    Read more »

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1.12.2011
Some “Unrealistic Expectations” Present in Brown’s Budget

Some “Unrealistic Expectations” Present in Brown’s Budget

Gov. Jerry Brown said he wouldn’t use the “gimmicks, tricks and unrealistic expectations,” that have marked recently enacted spending plans.

His budget plan would contain “no more smoke and mirrors,” he said in his January 3 inaugural address.

But while the Legislative Analyst’s initial review of Brown’s budget praises the Democratic governor’s spending cuts for generating multi-year rather than one-time savings and laying out some “bold” realignment proposals, the assessment also finds some of the things Brown vowed wouldn’t be there.    Read more »

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1.12.2011
From 1984’s “Newspeak” file…

From 1984’s “Newspeak” file…

“Disestablished”

— Page 171, Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2011-12 budget summary. By July 1, the fate of existing redvelopment agencies.

(That anything like being eliminated?)    Read more »

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