There is a lot of interesting stuff going on in California politics today:
* The latest Field Poll numbers show that the public is wising up to the poor public policy behind actor/producer/director Rob Reiner’s "universal pre-school" measure. The measure, which would create a new tax burdon on Californians, creates a centralized, statewide bureaucracy to provide pre-school. Conservatives oppose the measure both for the new taxes and another government-run program (a massive one, at that) — but also Democrats are starting to oppose the measure (such as former Senate President John Burton) because they feel that a lot of wealthy folks who already send their kids to pre-school will be the primary beneficiaries.
* FR friend Bill Bradley, a columnist for the LA Weekly and blogger extraordinairre at New West Notes (you though I wrote a lot, this guy types circles around me) reveals that there is a new independent expenditure firing up on behalf of Phil Angelides.
* Negotiations are underway again to negotiate an infrastructure funding package for the November ballot. This is your opportunity to contact your legislator, and the Governor, and tell them that you support a responsible approach to financing roads and other needed infrastructure investments — that include a significant pay-as-you-go component in this year’s budget, reforms in environmental regulations that make spending the money extra expensive, a cap on total borrowing, and, of course, a sharp line against including as ‘infrastructure’ social engineering programs.
* Finally, for today, I have to share this e-mail that appears on the SF Chronicle website, perporting to be from the "Join Arnold War Room" and is an "Attack Breakdown" that mentions…. ME! On that day that this memo covered, there was an article in the Los Angeles Times about the fact that the Governor had re-appointed to the State Board of Education the Chairman of the union-coalition that tanked Propositions 74 – 77 last year. This guy is also the top political operative for the California Teachers Association. I said that I would have rather the Governor appointed my kindergarten teacher. This was not meant as an attack on the Governor – rather it was a defensive quote against Nunez and company’s attack on public education in California.
Here’s the email:
This is an e-mail sent from Governor Schwarzenegger’s re-election campaign "war room" assessing media coverage of the governor.
– – –
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006
Subject: ATTACK BREAKDOWN: 4/13/06
Attack Breakdown: 4/14/06
206 days until Election Day
Attacks:
— Robert Salladay in a LA Times op-ed discusses the Governor’s appointment of Joe Nunez and how it is drawing criticism from the Republican base.
— An OC Register editorial criticizes Angelides’ tax policies but applauds him for at least having more courage to stand by his convictions than either Westly or the Governor.
Opportunities:
— Dan Walters in a Sac Bee op-ed discusses Angelides’ terrible campaign strategy.
— Sarah Jimenez in the Fresno Bee reports on Tulare County receiving Indian gaming money because of a bill the Governor signed allowing it to do so.
Of Note:
— Andy Furillo in the Sac Bee, Carla Marinucci in the SF Chronicle, Michelle Dearmond in the Riverside P-E, Edwin Garcia in the SJ Mercury News, and John Marelius in the SD Union Tribune report on Westly’s surge ahead of Angelides in a recent field poll.
— Robert Salladay in a LA Times op-ed discusses Angelides’ strategy of being up-front with his plan to raise taxes.
— A LA Times editorial claims the data on preschool education is not credible.
— Aaron C. Davis in the SJ Mercury News reports on the President’s trip to California and the possible meeting with the Governor.
— AgustÃn Durán in La Opinion reports on Angelides’ appearance at the AFL-CIO event yesterday.
— Juliana Barbassa in the AP reports on the Governor’s State of Emergency declaration for 9 more counties.
— An AP wire and Mark Grossi in the Sac Bee report on the Governor’s tour of a Central Valley levee yesterday.
— Glen Martin in the SF Chronicle reports on the deteriorating levees.
— Dan Morain in the LA times, Laura Mecoy in the Sac Bee, and Mark Martin in the SF Chronicle report on the First 5 Commission missing $3 million.
— A Bakersfield Californian editorial explains how Californians are not prepared for a major disaster.
— Rodney Foo in the SJ Mercury News and Paul Payne in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat report on the storm cleanup and the 73 year-old man who was found under a mudslide.
— Terry Rodgers in the San Diego Union Tribune reports on power plants’ affects on ocean ecosystems in Southern California.
— Ken Katz in the Co Co Times reports on the homeless situation in the bay area and the steps individuals can take to help alleviate the problem.
— Rachel Gordon in the SF Chronicle reports on Prop. 82 supporters picketing a bay area Gap store.
— A SF Chronicle editorial discusses Kuehl’s bill to teach historic achievements of gays.
National:
— No Coverage
1.
Robert Salladay, Los Angeles Times, Gov.’s Allies Upset At Enemy Within
…
So to Republicans, it was nothing short of infuriating and confounding that Schwarzenegger would appoint Nunez to the state Board of Education. He handed a Democrat and avowed enemy one of the most prestigious patronage jobs in government.
…
Schwarzenegger has flummoxed the political establishment — particularly Republicans — by making dozens of appointments from outside his own party.
…
Jon Fleischman, a Republican activist who runs a politics website, said dismissively: "My kindergarten teacher would be a better appointee to the state Board of Education than Joe Nunez … and I don’t even know how she was registered."
The appointment is another example, Fleischman said, of Schwarzenegger’s turning away from the GOP, which could dampen the enthusiasm of party activists during the November election.
…
Steve Frank, another GOP activist, said Schwarzenegger has given several speeches highlighting his proud membership in the Republican Party, including the keynote address at the 2004 National Convention, and "we would expect him to put into action the values he spoke about."
…
2.
Orange County Register editorial, Orange County Register, One Cheer For Angelides’ Candor
…
Most candidates these days do not follow through with the courage of their convictions. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance, has called for dramatic plans to address global warming, but then he backs away from specific unpopular policies to deal with it, such as a gas-tax hike.
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