Take This Cup, Senator. The Bathroom is Around the Corner

A fair number of Californians believe politicians should have their heads examined but Dorothy Cummings and Gary Ellis of Lake Arrowhead want state officeholders to have their blood and urine examined too.

Under a proposed initiative filed May 20 with the Attorney General’s office, on the first day of each legislative session state senators and Assembly members would be tested for the use of controlled substances and “the habitual use of alcohol” by the California Highway Patrol.    Read more »

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Legalizing Marijuana? Not Any Time Soon

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on May 6 in Davis, a college town down the road from Sacramento, that while he doesn’t think its time to legalize marijuana in California, it’s time to debate it’s legalization.

He was asked his views on legalization by reporters in the context of the state’s continuing budget problems as a possible way to raise more revenue to help close what is likely to be a gap of more than $13 billion between revenue and spending commitments during the fiscal year that begins July 1.    Read more »

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Assembly GOP Mike Villines to Resign, Sam Blakeslee the Likely Replacement

E.J Schultz of the Sacraemento Bee Capitol Bureau reports:

Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines of Clovis is expected to resign his leadership post tomorrow (May 7).

“Mike is going to be making an announcement tomorrow morning prior to a 9 a.m. caucus meeting,” said his spokeswoman, Jennifer Gibbons.

She would not discuss details but indications are that Villines will step aside after a more than two-year reign.     Read more »

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La Jolla Seal Deal

One of La Jolla’s most vexing crises could be on the road to resolution, thanks to bill approved by the state Senate April 16.

As anyone who walks along the shoreline in the ritzy San Diego neighborhood will plainly see, an enclave of harbor seals has selected as home a small cove near the intersection of Coast Boulevard and Jenner, just shy of Scripps Park.    Read more »

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Cue the Plague of Locusts

As though the state’s fiscal problems aren’t daunting enough, California’s top water officials gave Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a grim Power Point March 16 showing that rain earlier in the month has done little to lessen the state’s worst drought in modern history. 

The officials, including Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow, showed the GOP governor that at the time of year when water levels should be highest, Lake Oroville was at 66 percent of normal, San Luis Reservoir at 51 percent and Lake Shasta at 71 percent.    Read more »

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As of March 9, 2009 — 2,360

Since the 2009-2010 legislative session began last December, the Assembly has introduced 1,543 pieces of legislation, an average of 19.3 measures per each of its 80 members. 

The 40-member Senate has introduced 817 bills, a 20.4-per-member average. 

-30-    Read more »

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Continue Foster Care benefits to Age 21, State Officials Urge

A bipartisan group of state elected officials, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, announced their support for extending foster care benefits from 18 to 21 years of age at a March 9 Capitol press conference. 

Despite annually spending of nearly $1.7 billion on child welfare services, foster care remains one of California’s more glaring public policy failures.    Read more »

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Greenhouse Gas Emission Increases?

As part of the budget deal, a bill now on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk – AB 8 XX – would relax emissions control regulations for off-road diesel vehicles such as forklifts, backhoes and airport ground support. 

The measure is categorized as an “economic stimulus” measure in legislative handouts on the budget. Its subject matter when looked up on the Senate or Assembly webpage is described as “State Government.”     Read more »

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Northern California Bias?

A lobbyist for a large Southern California interest opined recently that Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, stacked his recently announced committee assignments to favor Northern California. 

That would appear to be the case looking at the composition of Senate Appropriations.

Although San Diegan Christine Kehoe is chair, six of the remaining eight Democrats on the 13-member committee represent Northern California districts.    Read more »

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They Don’t Make ‘Em Like This Anymore

Dean Misczynski is retiring for state service. If anyone deserves a tip o’ the hat for his contributions to California, it’s Mr. Misczynski.

“He is one of the most remarkable of the extraordinary, quiet people who do their jobs at the capitol with humor and professionalism,” to quote Rob Gunnison, my former colleague at the Chronicle, who has known Dean for several decades.     Read more »

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