Despite Court Ruling, Controller Won’t Cut State Worker Pay

Despite a July 2 ruling by a Sacramento appellate court and a written request from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, State Controller John Chiang said he would not reduce the pay of more than 314,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

In its 43-page ruling, the Third District Court of Appeal said that the law requires Chiang to reduce employee pay if a budget authorizing payment isn’t in place.    Read more »

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July 2: Is a Two-Thirds Vote Required to Pass Talking Points?

(Editor’s Note: It’s the second day of a new fiscal year. The state constitution says the Legislature must deliver a budget to the governor by June 15.)

To which California Republican Party Communications Director Mark Standriff says this:

“Two weeks after missing their constitutionally mandated deadline, the Democrat(ic) leadership has now produced a worthless document void of any details on how to close the growing, multi-billion dollar state budget deficit.    Read more »

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BIll to Ban Bisphenol A in Baby Products Passes the Assembly

On the first day of the new fiscal year, the state Assembly spent 45 minutes debating a bill that would ban the use of bisphenol A in sippy cups, baby bottles, and formula containers used by infants up to the age of three.

More than 15 lawmakers spoke on both sides of the bill, SB 797, which was defeated last September by the lower house.    Read more »

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Guest Post: Of Yogi Berra, John Burton, Wind and Whitman

Yogi Berra was born in St. Louis in 1925, John Burton in Cincinnati in 1932.  One would think the similarity between these two men would end there, other than Burton’s fanaticism for baseball.

Not so.

Berra became known for turning a phrase that even Norm Crosby had trouble understanding.  Like being asked at a pizza joint if he wanted his pizza cut in six or eight slices.    Read more »

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Could Be Marijuana That Determines the November Election

The wild card in November’s election is marijuana.

How much more money Meg Whitman spends on her gubernatorial campaign is significant but the kind of voters drawn to the polls by Proposition 19, which legalizes marijuana and allows localities to tax and regulate it, may be the determining factor.

Asked at the state Democratic Party convention in April how Democrats can re-energize President Obama voters from 2008, Party Chair John Burton replied: “Pot.”    Read more »

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June Taxes $200 Million Above Estimates, No Budget Near

June tax collections appear to be roughly $200 million over estimates as California reaches the end of the month with no budget in sight for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

The higher than expected revenue eases slightly the state’s cash shortfall of $17.9 billion.  But agreement on how the rest of the cash hole is filled remains elusive.    Read more »

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Asbestos Risks Drive Bid To Dump California’s State Rock

Normally, lawmakers carry legislation to add something to California’s list of “official state” symbols.

But in an unusual twist, a Los Angeles state senator wants to remove an item.

Not the dogface butterfly, California’s official state insect. Not the Golden State’s official song, “I Love You California,” words by Los Angeles merchant F.B.    Read more »

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Bumper Sticker — “Snowmen Against Global Warming”

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June Tax Receipts Still Falling Short of Revenue Projections

With five days left in the month, state tax receipts for June are $211 million short of revenue projections.

In his revised budget released in May, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated more than $5.5 billion in income tax revenue and $2.1 billion in bank and corporation tax payments for June.

If June payments come in above estimates, the state’s $17.9 billion budget hole shrinks.    Read more »

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Going from a Circus to an Amusement Park…

A Day at the Disneyland® Resort with Assemblyman Curt Hagman

Saturday, August 14th,  2010

Join Assemblyman Curt Hagman and his family for a fun-filled day at Southern California’s premier destination.

Come for lunch at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa, enjoy a day at the Disneyland® Resort with VIP experiences and you can even choose to stay the night at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa

$1,500 Family Package

Includes 4 lunch tickets and 4 Disneyland® Resort Tickets

$3,900 Deluxe Package

Includes 4 lunch tickets, 4 Disneyland® Resort Tickets and a one night stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa

Guest rooms need to be reserved by July 15th

*Additional Lunch & Disneyland® Resort Tickets can be purchased*

Space is limited so RSVP early.    Read more »

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