September 28 Is The 90th Day of the Fiscal Year That Began July 1 — A Full Quarter Has Passed WIth No Budget In Sight

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Governor Vetoes Bill To Give Preference to California Workers

To the Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 967 without my signature. This bill would provide a 5 percent bid preference if 90 percent of a business’ employees performing work on a state contract exceeding $1 million are California residents. This bill also specifies that agencies accepting proposals for the distribution of funds pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provide a 5 percent bid preference, regardless of contract amount. While this bill seeks to create new jobs and stimulate the economy, it would cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in bid preferences and administration [....]

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Seems Like News Would Be Putting More on the Streets

September 27, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Keep Drunk Drivers Off the Street

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed AB 1601 by Assemblymember Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), which authorizes judges to revoke, for up to ten years, the license of any person convicted of three or more DUIs in a 10-year period. Current law only allows for a license revocation period of three years for someone with three or more DUIs. Hundreds of thousands of Californians are arrested and convicted of driving under the influence every year in California, and many of them are repeat offenders.

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Somewhere Well North of “Laughing Stock”…

MOCKINGSTOCK — “A butt for merriment”

– WillIam Perry’s Royal Standard English Dictionary, 1809

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Governor Thanks State Air Board for Taking an Illegal Action

Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Adoption of 33 Percent Renewable Energy Standard

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today (September 23) applauded the California Air Resources Board for adopting the Renewable Energy Standard regulation requiring that one-third of electricity sold in California comes from clean, renewable sources by 2020: “I applaud the Air Resources Board for adopting regulations to increase California’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to 33 percent. This action further establishes the Golden State’s legacy as a worldwide environmental and economic leader. “We are already seeing increased investment in renewable energy projects in California. There are currently over 200 renewable energy projects looking to build and do [....]

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A Question to Pose at the Upcoming Gubernatorial Debate

(Editor’s Note: Recently, The Sacramento Bee solicited requests for questions that could be posed to California’s two gubernatorial candidates, Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown.  Here’s one: How are you going to balance the state budget for the first full fiscal year you are in office. Please be specific.)

In its November 2009 examination of the state’s fiscal outlook, the Legislative Analyst identifies a shortfall in the current fiscal year, which began July 1, of more than $20 billion.

Actions taken by the Legislature earlier in 2010 have helped reduce that hole.

In his May budget proposal, Gov. Arnold [....]

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A Budget Before the End of the Fiscal Year’s First Quarter?

“The Governor and Legislative leaders have reached the framework of an agreement, will work through the details over the weekend, and hope to come to a final agreement when they reconvene Monday.”

–Aaron McLear, Gov. Arnodl Schwarzenegger’s press secretary

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September 23 is the 85th day of the fiscal year that began July 1. There is no budget in place – the longest such delay in California’s 160-year history.

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This Is Not Quite as Punchy an Answer As It Could Have Been

“Basically, you’ve got to sort of say you can’t just sort of appeal and appeal and appeal and appeal. So I think there has to be some change in the process by which death row inmates live on for 20, 30-odd years on death row. I think we’ve got to take that up.”

– GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman to The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board sort of regarding the number of appeals and appeals of death row inmates on death row.

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Democratic Majority Senate OKs Timber Industry backed Bill

It’s a rarity when the timber industry gets measures it supports through the Democratic majority Legislature but that’s what happened in the 40-member Senate August 18 on a bipartisan 32 to 1 vote. The bill, awaiting action by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, deals with timber harvest plans, which are required by the state prior to commercial logging. A previous bill allowed plans, which normally have a three-year length that expired in 2008 and 2009 to receive four one-year extensions – under certain circumstances. However, the California Forestry Association, which sponsored the current bill, AB 2163, said some timber harvest plans were missed by the earlier bill. [....]

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Here’s A Word That Isn’t Heard Very Often…

SNOKER — One who smells at objects like a dog.

From the verb, SNOKE – To pry into holes and corners, to poke one’s nose where it has no business.

As in:

“Jeez Louise, the guy at the workstation over there is quite the All-World snoker.”

“Totally, man. Snoke Central.”

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