Ann Veneman, UNICEF’s executive director

Ann Veneman, UNICEF’s executive director, has just returned from a trip to Sierra Leone and Liberia where she met Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first woman president of Liberia and the first elected woman president in Africa.

“It was a fabulous meeting, a good substantive discussion. We talked about redevelopment, agriculture, health care, nutrition and how all of that comes together.    Read more »

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Prescription Drug Imbroglio Redux

In case you missed it in reputable publications, the Board of Pharmacy at their March 5 meeting in San Diego postponed implemention of ePedigree from January 1, 2009 until 2011. 

 Technology wasn’t quite up to snuff to handle what the board wanted to accomplish.

 The coalition of pharmacists, makers of generic and name-brand drugs, clinics, hospitals and animal health providers seeking the postponement rejoices.    Read more »

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Prescription Drug Imbroglio

            

Prescription drug makers, pharmacists and major retailers will ask the state Board of Pharmacy on March 25 to postpone the effective date of a law aimed at preventing counterfeit drugs by electronically tracking every bottle.

The board says the new system is needed to stem a rising amount of counterfeit drugs, which the World Health Organization estimates represent less than 1 percent of the market in developed countries.     Read more »

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June’s Eminent Domain Ballot Battle Is All About Rent Control

 

This June’s ballot duel between rival initiatives that each claim to restrict the ability of local government to seize public property will be all about rent control. 

A brief clause in Proposition 98, sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, prohibits “limiting the price a private owner may charge another person to purchase, occupy or use his or her real property” which effectively repeals rent control in California.     Read more »

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No Time Like the Present…Two Fundraising Items

 

Please Join

  

Speaker-Elect Karen Bass

For

A Culinary Experience at The Kitchen

  

Monday, April 21, 2008

6.30pm

 

The Kitchen Restaurant

2225 Hurley Way

Sacramento, CA 95825

 

$5,000 per ticket

 

Please make checks payable to: 

Strengthening CA Through Leadership

(ID# 1294232)

1100 “O” Street, Suite 200

 Sacramento, CA 95814

 

Disclosure Information

Contributions to the Strengthening CA Through Leadership (ID# 1294232)

are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.    Read more »

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Long-time Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill to Retire

Elizabeth Hill, the Legislature’s top budget and policy analyst for nearly 22 years is retiring at the end of the 2008 legislative session. she announced Thursday (March 13).

“Her dedication to examining the policies — not the politics — of issues was remarkable. I and my colleagues will sorely miss her thoughtful analysis and sound advice.    Read more »

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Dion Aroner

Five years ago, Dion Aroner created a lobbying and consulting firm with two former members of her legislative staff, Elisabeth Jewel and Barbara Ellis. Aroner wanted to do everything by the book.

New businesses need business permits so Aroner dutifully applied for one from the City of Berkeley, which she directly represented as Assemblywoman from 1996 to 2002 and indirectly represented for the previous 24 years as former Assemblyman Tom Bates’ chief of staff.    Read more »

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Karen Bass, California’s Next Speaker

 

Karen Bass appears to be the next speaker of the California Assembly, the first African-American woman to be elected to the post. 

Bass and current Speaker Fabian Nunez told lobbyists and others Wednesday night that she had endorsement letters from 33 members of the 48-member Democratic caucus – well more than needed to elect her speaker.     Read more »

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How a 1962 Modesto Snowstorm Shaped Leon Panetta’s Political Career

“By Bill Bagley, Lew Butler and Leon Panetta

 

Here is how Assembly Speaker Jesse Unruh’s 1961 skullduggery and a freak snowstorm in Modesto the following year caused former Republican U.S. Senate aide Leon Panetta to become a Democratic congressman from Monterey and eventually chief of staff to President Bill Clinton.

In 1961, Modesto attorney Ralph M.    Read more »

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Speaker’s Cup 2008. Call Collect. Call Direct. But Call today!

SPEAKER’S CUP 2008

 

11TH ANNUAL SPEAKER’S CUP

Presented by AT&T

 

April 25, 2008 – Pebble Beach & Spyglass Hill

April 26, 2008 – The Links at Spanish Bay & Spyglass Hill

 

 

2008 SPEAKER’S CUP PACKAGES

 

THE ULTIMATE — $70,000

Golf for four Friday

Golf for four Saturday

Four hotel rooms for Friday and Saturday

Dinner for eight on Friday night and Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

 

THE PLATINUM — $50,000

Golf for two Friday

Golf for two Saturday

Two hotel rooms for Friday and Saturday

Dinner for four on Friday night and Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

 

GOLD — $40,000

Golf for four Saturday

Four hotel rooms for Saturday

Dinner for eight on Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

 

BRONZE — $25,000

Golf for one Saturday

One hotel room for Saturday night

Dinner for two on Saturday night

Commemorative Gifts

 

SPA PACKAGE — $30,000

One hotel room Friday night and Saturday night

Four spa treatments, two per day

Dinner for two on Friday and Saturday night

Commemorative Gifts

 

Due to the limited number of spa treatments available through Pebble Beach and the increasing scheduling problems including no shows because of conflicts with tee times, we’re only offering spa treatments to non-golfers or golfer’s guests.    Read more »

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