New West Notes
Political columnist for the Huffington Post, he blogs daily at New West Notes, an online political newsletter; author of The New American Story; former chief political writer for the LA Weekly; former senior advisor to the California Democratic Party; senior advisor to Jerry Brown during his 1992 presidential campaign, he advised Brown's sister Katherine Brown, on her 1994 gubernatorial campaign; former senator (D-NJ) and former presidential candidate (2000)
Are there Tax Increases in California's Future? Since Proposition 13 passed in 1978, there have been some tax increases, but mostly there have been drastic cuts in government services at the state and local levels. Recent polls show times are changing. In September, the Public Policy Institute found that 95 percent of Californians think the state budget's a problem; 67 percent say it's a big problem. Last month, the USC Dornsife/LA Times poll reported that 64 percent would be willing to pay higher taxes for local schools.
The Democrats' Budget, a Budget Nobody Wants Late today -- for the first time in decades -- the state legislature late was on its way to passing a spending plan by the Constitutional deadline , which expires at midnight tonight. That means Senators and Assembly members won't get their pay cut. But Republicans are unhappy because they had no role in the process. Democrats are unhappy, even though the measure passed with all their votes . Governor Brown will have 12 days to sign it or try to work out something better.
SoCal Edison Executive to Head Commerce Department President Obama today appointed a Californian to be Secretary of Commerce, with special emphasis on reducing US dependence on foreign oil. John Bryson co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council . Bill Bradley is a former Democratic consultant whose memory goes back to Jerry Brown's first Governorship. He's now publisher of NewWestNotes.com and a columnist at the Huffington Post.
Jerry Brown Delivers His State of the State Tonight, Governor Brown made the first State of the State speech since he was elected last year, his eighth in all, he reminded the legislature, if you count his first two terms. He lost no time in demanding that, when his proposed budget has been enacted, voters will get the chance to decide if taxes that are about to expire be extended to save public services. Cities and counties have been up in arms over Brown's proposal to shut down redevelopment agencies and use the money for other purposes. In contrast to former Governor Schwarzenegger, Brown read from notes and ad libbed after applause lines. Before tonight's speech was written, Brown told reporters it wouldn't all be bad news, and tonight he talked about the state's vast resources.
The Governor's Race Heats Up Arnold Schwarzenegger will be a lame duck Governor until January, 2003, but political consultants are already trading insults and charges on behalf of candidates in next year’s Republican and Democratic primaries. Republican candidates: Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman Former State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner Former Congressman Tom Campbell Democratic candidates: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom former California Governor Jerry Brown
A Look at the June 3 California Primary California's presidential primaries have always been held in June, but this year the legislature moved them to February. What's left over are ballot propositions, primaries for the legislature and Congress and lots of local jobs.
South Carolina, Florida and the State of the Union President Bush will deliver his last State of the Union address tonight, trying to be heard over the din of the presidential campaigns . With his approval ratings down in the thirties and the Democrats running Congress, we get a preview of what he plans for his final year in office. Also, after South Carolina , are the Democrats any closer to deciding their nominee? Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have won two states apiece. Next Tuesday, they'll face off in 22 primaries and caucuses around the country. We hear from both campaigns. Will Ted Kennedy's endorsement make a big difference? On the Republican side, tomorrow's Florida primary has become a nasty confrontation between McCain and Romney . Can Giuliani survive?
Death By a Thousand Cuts: The 2008 California Budget Today, Governor Schwarzenegger made good on his promise of 10% budget cuts across the board in state government. With a $14 billion dollar deficit, he said that "tough times" create "historic opportunities." The Governor's latest budget would mean closing 48 state parks and beaches, cutting guaranteed school funding by hundreds of millions, giving as many as 50,000 prisoners early release, and a whole lot more.
Governor Signs Bills Since Arnold Schwarzenegger became Governor four years ago, liberal Democrats have dominated the legislature. This year's session formally came to an end Sunday night, when he finished signing or vetoing the 964 bills that were passed and sent to his desk.
More Debate in Sacramento but Little Progress on Health Care Reform In January, all sides agreed that this was the year for Healthcare Reform in California. The Washington Post said “all eyes” were on Governor Schwarzenegger’s plan requiring everybody to buy health insurance. That was then, this is now. Democratic Senate Leader Don Perata says the budget battle left Democrats and Republicans “ battered and bruised ” and just 3 weeks are left in the legislative session. Today, leaders of both parties met with the Governor today to talk about top priorities.
LAUSD Test Scores at New Low, Governor Taps New Education Secretary In the latest Academic Performance Index , the statewide average rose by 13 points for high school students. In LA Unified , the average dropped by 20 points. Meantime, Governor Schwarzenegger has appointed David Long to be his Secretary of Education. The Riverside County Superintendent of Schools has been running 23 school districts with a total of more than 400,000 students.
Arnold Schwarzenegger on the State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Schwarzenegger said tonight that California has the ideas of ancient Athens and the power of Sparta. He said this state can lead the nation and the world into the future, and he called for massive new borrowing to equal the $43 billion in bonds passed by voters last year. He reminded reminded the legislature of last year's bipartisan agreements on the minimum wage, prescription drug costs and reducing greenhouse gases, and proposed that California move away from fossil fuels and foreign oil. We hear what he said and how he said it, and talk with several commentators, including historian Kevin Starr, who helped shape the Governor's vision.
California Global Warming Solutions Act Today's New York Times and Wall Street Journal are treating California's new greenhouse-gas bill as big, national news. The measure mandates that the gases said to cause global warming be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. That's a bigger cut than the Kyoto Treaty rejected by President Bush. Since California only produces 2% of all greenhouse gases, it won't make much difference in global warming, but both the Governor and the Democrats say it will make California a world leader, and the newspapers seem to agree. With passage of the bill, Governor Schwarzenegger has thumbed his nose at President Bush, and Democratic legislators have deprived Phil Angelides of another potential issue. Is it a real move against global warming or political symbolism with a high price tag?
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?