Sure, sure, there's water policy and committee hearings to discuss. But
we might as well start with the story everyone in the
Capitol was buzzing about yesterday: the gubernatorial veto message that, when read like
the back page of Mad Magazine, contains a secret carnal
imperative.
Capitol Weekly reports the veto of a TOm Ammiano bill
seemed "innocent enough. But
when read on the governor’s Web site, the first letter of the last two paragraphs
line
up to spell out a clear, if crude message.
“FU@K YOU.”
The apparent coded message was first reported in the San Francisco Bay Guardian . You can see the PDF on the governor’s Web site.
Schwarzenegger
spokesman Aaron McLear said the hidden message was
a "strange
coincidence."
"When you veto so
many bills, something like this is bound to happen," he said with a
straight face.
McLear noted the first
lines of other veto messages spell out things like
"soap,” “poet” and
"bad tap." Presumably that's not a commentary on any member's hygiene,
literary skill or dancing prowess."
OK, moving on.
The LA Times apparently declared the water deal deal.
Or at least stalled. For now.
Bettina Boxall reports, "Lawmakers have been chewing over water legislation
for weeks, unable to
seal a final deal despite threats from the governor, weekend
negotiating sessions and their own deep desire to disprove
the
widespread perception that they can't get anything done.
"Many of
the choking points involve often arcane details of
water policy and
regional self-interests that haven't always followed the usual partisan
lines.
"It's fear of losing water, fear of having to pay for
stuff," said
Ellen Hanak of the Public Policy Institute. "It's the same
old interests," she added, that have for decades impeded any kind
of
overhaul of California's complicated and increasingly troubled water
system.
"The Democrats' proposal is broad-ranging, but far from
revolutionary. It takes what many water experts have
characterized as
modest steps in regard to groundwater, urban water
conservation and
state enforcement of water rights."
Dan Walters says the water fight is really about development in the
Central Valley.
"In a semi-arid state such as California, whether land remains
undeveloped, is cultivated for agriculture, or is covered
with houses
and shopping centers depends almost entirely on the
availability of
water.
"That was true when Los Angeles' civic and political
gentry, eager for profitable land development in the
San Fernando
Valley, stealthily grabbed water from the Owens Valley
a century ago.
It's even truer today.
"The water legislation now being drafted in the Legislature
sets forth the "co-equal goals" of improving both the reliability of
the water supply and the environmental health of the
Delta. But were
the flow of water down the California Aqueduct to Southern
California
to become more reliable, it would, in effect, make
supply a less potent
factor in conflicts over Tejon Mountain Village and
other big
developments in Southern California."
E.J Schultz reports the Senate is planning to forge
ahead, with Darrell Steinberg saying a Senate vote on the water bill possible "as early as Monday."
Capitol Weekly looks at the counter-proposal introduced by Assembly Republicans Tuesday.
It's official: the June ballot will formally pit Parra vs. Florez.
CW's Malcolm Maclachlan reports, "Former Kern County supervisor Pete Parra on Tuesday set up an exploratory committee to run for
the 30th Assembly District, a seat now held by Republican
Danny Gilmore of Hanford. Parra's decision appeared to confirm what political insiders
have felt for weeks - that Gilmore won't seek reelection next year.
"Parra's action was announced by his daughter, former Democratic Assemblywoman
Nicole Parra, who held the seat from 2002 to 2008.
"He's in it now. He's signed the paperwork," Parra told Capitol Weekly.
She added, "We'll be in Sacramento next week making the rounds."
Timm Herdt reports backers of a Constitutional Convention are submitting
language to the attorney general today.
"The countdown to a potential political revolution in
California starts today.
"Sometime before noon, the reform group Repair California,
led by the
Bay Area Council and its deep-pocketed business members in the Silicon
Valley, will submit to the attorney general its initiatives
that would
allow voters to authorize and then convene a convention
that would be
charged with putting together the first comprehensive
rewrite of the
California Constitution since 1879.
"Assuming that such council members as Google and Apple
will help
supply the dough, the council should be able to come
up with the $2
million or so that will be needed to qualify the measures
for the
November 2010 ballot."
Evan Halper reports former Speaker Fabian Nuñez has been cleared of violating campaign finance laws.
"Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez broke no state laws when he spent
tens of thousands of dollars in campaign funds on luxury
travel around
the world, gifts at high-end boutiques and meals at exclusive
restaurants, the state's ethics watchdog has ruled.
The Fair Political Practices Commission also has cleared
the Los
Angeles Democrat of any illegal activity in funneling
nearly $300,000
from companies and organizations with business in the
Capitol to a
charity that spent it on events that helped him politically."
Bloomberg takes a look at today's Assembly Public Safety committee hearing about the
possible legalization of marijuana.
"California’s Assembly will consider
lifting its 96-year-old ban on marijuana, decriminalizing the
drug and taxing it like alcohol, as the state seeks
ways out of
its worst financial crisis since World War II.
"The Assembly’s Public Safety Committee will discuss the
social, fiscal and legal implications of legalizing
and
regulating marijuana in Sacramento today, said Quintin
Mecke, a
spokesman for Assemblyman Tom Ammiano.
"It would be the first time the issue has been considered
by
the Legislature since the ban on marijuana use went
into effect
in 1913, according to a statement from the San Francisco
Democrat."
The New York Times' Sam Roberts reports changes in the census could hurt California in Congress.
"A Republican senator’s proposal to count only United States citizens
when reapportioning Congress would cost California five seats and New
York and Illinois one each, according to an independent
analysis of
census data released Tuesday. Texas, which is projected
to gain three
seats after the 2010 census, would get only one."
Something tells us this might not get past Nancy Pelosi...
And finally, Arnold Schwarzenegger has something to
look forward to this Christmas.
"
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to
receive a
very special gift - a bronze bust of former Russian president,
Vladimir Putin.
"Sculptor
Alexander Chernoshchyokov is working on the Putin bust on an order
from Russia's Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation."
Another Christmas wish answered...
