Senators Dean Florez and Darrell Steinberg are high on their soapboxes this week, slamming Governor Schwarzenegger for not signing SB 1121, a bill that would have extended the state’s overtime labor laws to California farmworkers, who currently do not fall squarely under the standard system due to the seasonal nature of their work.

As Schwarzenegger spelled out in his veto message, Florez’s bill would have been bad for both businesses and farmworkers. Since other states do not have these wage requirements, the businesses here in California would just have made more crews work shorter shifts, which would have resulted in lower pay for everyone. And let’s also recognize that California, unlike other states, currently does provide for overtime benefits for farmworkers once they hit 10 hour days or 60 hour weeks.

According to Florez and Steinberg (or more likely the flacks who write their press releases), the Governor’s decision was an act of “sid[ing] with the shameful” or maintaining “discrimination.” Yet before these two finish crucifying Arnold, they should save a few nails for themselves.

That’s right, as this… Read More

Senators Dean Florez and Darrell Steinberg are high on their soapboxes this week, slamming Governor Schwarzenegger for not signing SB 1121, a bill that would have extended the state’s overtime labor laws to California farmworkers, who currently do not fall squarely under the standard system due to the seasonal nature of their work.

As Schwarzenegger spelled out in his veto message, Florez’s bill would have been bad for both businesses and farmworkers. Since other states do not have these wage requirements, the businesses here in California would just have made more crews work shorter shifts, which would have resulted in lower pay for everyone. And let’s also recognize that California, unlike other states, currently does provide for overtime benefits for farmworkers once they hit 10 hour days or 60 hour weeks.

According to Florez and Steinberg (or more likely the flacks who write their press releases), the Governor’s decision was an act of “sid[ing] with the shameful” or maintaining “discrimination.” Yet before these two finish crucifying Arnold, they should save a few nails for themselves.… Read More

Just in from State Senate Republican Campaign HQ…

Weekly Update Senate District 12 This week Anthony Cannella’s campaign opened volunteer-hub offices in Modesto and downtown Salinas to augment the two volunteer hubs already active in Merced County. Cannella’s campaign continues to deploy dozens of volunteers into the precincts every weekend. Upcoming Event: Anthony will be in Sacramento for a fundraising event Wednesday, August 18 at 5:30 PM at Mix. Contact Jamie Mori. Caballero Watch: It’s a telling sign that Anna Caballero’s website lists a total of five endorsements from Merced, Madera, and Stanislaus Counties. By contrast, Anthony Cannella’s website lists more than 100 endorsements. Senate District… Read More

Las Vegas in July. Not exactly the “coolest” place to be during the summer. But last weekend it was definitely the place to be for political Internet activists. The two biggest conferences for the Left and the Right were held on opposing sides of the Vegas Strip: the conservative RightOnline Conference at the Venetian and Netroots Nation at the Rio.

Founded five years ago, Netroots Nation heralded the Left’s investment in new and social media. Their investment paid off, with an unprecedented new/social media campaign that propelled Barack Obama’s 2008 candidacy towards victory. But conservatives weren’t too far behind and RightOnline was launched three years ago by Americans for Prosperity. In the three years it has gone head-to-head with Netroots … Read More

This just in…

Justice Cantil-Sakauye Interprets The Law, As It Is Written By Ret. Justice Joanne Parrilli Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has nominated Tani Cantil-Sakauye as chief justice of the California Supreme Court. It is a choice that is as wise as it is groundbreaking. Justice Cantil-Sakauye is an excellent jurist and is at all times mindful of the public trust. And because of that, Flash Report readers should be clear about… Read More

I found it to be very ironic that the news that Governor’s Schwarzenegger’s pick to replace retiring California Supreme Court Justice Ron George had officiated over a same sex marriage was tucked in a Los Angeles Times story (by Maura Dolan) with the innocuous headline, Chief Justice Nominee Avoids Hot-Button Issues. Appellate Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye (pictured, right) actually, and probably unwittingly, has plowed robes-first into what a great many would consider to be California’s most high-profile “hot button issue” – gay marriage.

Californians are very polarized on this issue, which has been the subject of a couple of high-profile statewide votes. In a split decision, the very court to which Cantil-Sakauye has been nominated issued a 4-3 split decision, throwing out voter-approved Proposition 22… Read More

I found it to be very ironic that the news that Governor’s Schwarzenegger’s pick to replace retiring California Supreme Court Justice Ron George had officiated over a same sex marriage was tucked in a Los Angeles Times story (by Maura Dolan) with the innocuous headline, Chief Justice Nominee Avoids Hot-Button Issues. Appellate Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye (pictured, right) actually, and probably unwittingly, has plowed robes-first into what a great many would consider to be California’s most high-profile “hot button issue” – gay marriage.

Californians are very polarized on this issue, which has been the subject of a couple of high-profile statewide votes. In a split decision, the very court to which Cantil-Sakauye has been nominated issued a 4-3 split decision, throwing out voter-approved Proposition 22… Read More

Because of false, misleading and unfair ballot language submitted by Attorney General Jerry Brown, today the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has gone to court, as a leader in the effort to pass Proposition 23, filing a petition to compel amendments to the official label, title and summary that will be provided to voters by the State.

HJTA has taken this legal step because it certainly looks as though the Attorney General has crafted a description intended to sway voters to vote “no” on Prop. 23.

As the sitting Attorney General, and in his campaign for Governor, Jerry Brown should avoid even the appearance of impropriety. But he crossed a clear legal line when he presented official ballot language that fails to meet the test of impartiality in describing the initiative to voters.

Specifically, the petition for Writ of Mandate we filed contends, “that the Attorney General is attempting to influence the election with a misleading and clearly biased ballot label, title and summary in violation of the elections code” and “has used biased words and phrases that advocate for [Prop. 23’s] defeat rather than merely informing voters of its chief… Read More