Progress on Water Legislation?

Sacramento, August 26, Shortly Before 10:00 AM — Lobbyists for the Association of California Water Agencies and one of the Central Valley’s more powerful water districts entered the state Resources Building at 9th and O Streets. That suggests a morning meeting at the Department of Water Resources, which is headquartered there, to try to find a consensus on parts of the bills on water pending in the Legislature.     Read more »

More

Tuesday August 25, 2009 — Fundraiser Options

Eight Cocktail Receptions Six Breakfasts Two Lunches One Baseball Game One Dinner  Minimum Cost to Attend All Events: $21,600 

***** 

Jose Solorio for the Assembly  2010

Pyramid Alehouse, 1029 K Street

Sacramento 5:30-7:00 p.m..

$1,000

 *****

Friends of Warren Furutani 2010

Ambrosia Café, 1100 11th Street

Sacramento 8:30-9:30 a.m.

$1,000

 *****

Jim Silva for the Assembly.    Read more »

More

Not Good

 

California’s unemployment rate rose to 11.9 percent in July, the state Employment Development Department announced August 21.

 

The United States unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent in July. 

 

In June, the state’s unemployment rate was 11.6 percent. In July of last year, the unemployment rate was 7.3 percent. 

 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said this:

 

“These numbers indicate that we must do everything possible to get California moving forward again.    Read more »

More

Prison Spending Cuts Pose a Political Problem and, Therefore, a Math Problem

The budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, assumes that state prison spending will be reduced by nearly $1.2 billion – but doesn’t say how more than $631 million of that savings will be achieved.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says only that it will be accomplished by new policies – “reforms” — that will lower inmate and parolee populations.    Read more »

More

Old News About California’s Water Woes

At the first informational hearing on water and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta August 18, lawmakers heard a lot of things that have been said to them — and by them — for a long time.

Former Assemblyman, now lobbyist, Phil Isenberg told the joint hearing of the Assembly and Senate water committees that “if you do something significant, a lot of people will be mad at you.”    Read more »

More

One Reason a Delta Solution is So Elusive

(Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, August 18, in the 159th year of California’s water wars, amid the dust of a three-year drought, the first of three special hearings by the Senate and Assembly’s water committees is scheduled.

The purpose is to find areas of accord between the myriad water interests, which include farmers, environmentalists, irrigation districts, cities, counties, utilities, the federal government, the state and Native Americans.    Read more »

More

An Interesting Fundraising Appeal

   Read more »

More

A Look at the July Budget Package “Assumptions”

While not rivaling Clive Cussler, James Patterson or Ian Fleming for pacing or excitement, the Legislative Analyst Office’s appraisal of the budget package signed July 28 is worth perusing – if only to note the number of times the word “assumes” appears.

The package of bills which include eliminating automatic cost-of-living increases in state programs aimed at helping the poor and infirm, were an attempt to close an estimated $24 billion hole in the budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.    Read more »

More

No More IOUs

In good news for the California taxpayers and businesses who received $1.5 billion in registered warrants – IOUs – from the state, the state controller and state treasurer announced August 13 that the warrants will be paid back September 4, one month earlier than expected.

The state will seek a $1.5 billion short-term loan to begin redeeming the IOUs.    Read more »

More

Clearly, Momentum is Moving DeSaulnier’s Way

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 2009 Contact: Katie Merrill (510) 883-9780

PEACE ACTION WEST ENDORSES MARK DESAULNIER FOR CONGRESS

OAKLAND, CA – Peace Action West has announced its endorsement of Senator Mark DeSaulnier for Congress in the 10th Congressional District. Peace Action West joins other progressive organizations endorsing Mark DeSaulnier for Congress, including the California League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club.    Read more »

More