Thursday, March 31, 2011

Capitol Weekly: The Fight for Office Space in the Capitol

In race for office space in Capitol, Dems enjoy edge

By Malcolm Maclachlan | 03/31/11 12:00 AM PST

Capitol Weekly

Q: What’s the difference between a veteran Republican Senator and a freshman Democratic Assemblymember with three months under his belt?

A: About 20 square feet.

And no, we’re not talking about extra time spent in fundraiser buffet lines. This is about that all-important measuring stick of legislative power, the office space race.

Democrats have long held onto most of the spaces in the Capitol with the best views and, more importantly, the most room to stash employees. While the majority of legislators see the amount of space they have rise with their prominence, what matters far more is which party you belong to. After all, even a freshman Assembly member is kicking around in 869 square feet of office space. A Senate Republican gets an average of 889.

None of these measurements contain numbers for the main leadership offices, one Republican and two Democrats in each house, which generally are large and often in the older side of the Capitol. Overall, Assembly Democrats average 1,090 square feet, with veterans getting an average of 1,186. Senate Democrats have an average of 1,130.

A more telling measurement might be the rising fortunes of several Assembly Democrats in their second or third terms, many of whom have moved into big offices set aside for committee chairs. The biggest gainer is new Appropriations Committee chair Felipe Fuentes, D-Sylmar, who tripled his footprint from 730 square feet to a palatial 2,180 in Room 2114, traditionally the landing spot for the committee’s chairperson.

Right behind him was Health Committee chairman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, who jumped from 786 square feet to 1,882.

Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, D-San Fernando Valley, nearly doubled his space from 1,262 to 2,234 by becoming Budget chair and getting that job’s sixth-floor slot. Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Bruno, added a third more space, going from 1,041 last session to 1,567. He serves as agriculture chair.

Other Democratic chairs who pulled off a territorial expansion of 350 square feet or better include: Marty Block (San Diego, Higher Education), Joan Buchanan (San Ramon, Accountability), Mike Feuer (Los Angeles, Judiciary), Warren Furutani (South Los Angeles County, Public Employees), Alyson Huber (El Dorado Hills, Joint Sunset Review) and Bonnie Lowenthal (Long Beach, Transportation).

Assembly Republicans, meanwhile, get an average of 710 square feet. This might appear to be up slightly from the 702 they had two years ago, but there’s a caveat — the infamous Doghouse, the 391-square-foot office that has served as a two-room torture chamber for uppity Assembly members, almost all of them Republicans, now sits empty. That’s because Ted Gaines, R-Fair Oaks, jumped ship and won a special election for the Senate (where, at 750 square feet, he shares the smallest-office title with Mark Wyland, R-Escondido).

When a special election is held to fill that seat, the winner or some other Republican (AD 4 is safely Republican) will move into the infamous fifth-floor office and pull the GOP average in the Assembly down to 698.

By contract, only two Assembly Democrats had less than 728 square feet. One was freshman Ben Hueso, D-Chula Vista, with 655. In unrelated news, Hueso is carrying anti-bullying legislation this session (see Page 3 this week). Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Pomona, meanwhile, saw her space drop from 1,091 to a mere 686 in her second term.
With the Doghouse briefly dog-less, the title for smallest office goes to freshman Republican Assemblyman Brian W. Jones, R-La Mesa, with 526 square feet. His chief of staff, Bob Giovatti, greeted the news with a chuckle.

“We’re proud to be number one in something,” he said.

As opposed to the Doghouse, which has a decent view from one window but little else, Jones’ room 3149 has nice patio access - though Giovatti noted that the weather has been too awful to enjoy it. And space is still a constant issue.

“We were just talking the other day about trying to hire an intern, and we were scanning our office and wondering where we would put them,” he said.

Overall, the 11 freshmen Republicans in the Assembly get an average of 610 square feet. All but three are working in less space than Hueso (as are three second-term Republicans).

The next-most cramped digs went to a quartet of freshmen: Tim Donnelly (Hesperia, 542 square feet), Linda Halderman (Fresno, 568), Katcho Achadjian (San Luis Obispo, 572) and Kristin Olsen (Modesto, 584).

Veteran Republican Assembly members got an average of 783.

Capitol Weekly: Remaining Budget Options

Budget options: Temporary taxes, majority vote

By John Howard | 03/31/11 12

Capitol Weekly

Gov. Brown’s decision to pull the plug on budget negotiations left Capitol partisans plotting their next moves, which could include a push by the Legislature’s ruling Democrats to move Brown’s tax-and-cut package to the ballot with simple-majority votes.

But that move is all but certain to fracture a fragile coalition, forcing business interests from the fold and pushing labor into a fighting crouch.

Options include a plan to adopt tax extensions temporarily – 90 days perhaps - while a permanent budget agreement is hammered out that could go to the electorate in September. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Labor groups, critical to a successful ballot campaign, have been restive for weeks. Privately, they have proposed an all-out campaign to battle the GOP in their districts. Thus far, however, Brown has kept them in check, insiders say.

Meanwile, rival interests are eyeing budget ballot measures going before voters in November, such as GOP-backed plans for a permanent spending cap and public pension changes, and a potential move by organized labor to protect pensions and build revenues for education.

Raising taxes requires two-thirds votes, but simple-majority votes would suffice in some cases, such as tapping voter-approved programs already in law – an action that has become common over the years as lawmakers scrambled to balance the books.

A Legislative Counsel’s opinion, sought by Senate GOP Leader Bob Dutton, has said that in those cases, simple-majority votes are legal. Typically, however, they have been done with two-thirds votes.

As for Brown, he wants an election on the budget.

The governor has said repeatedly that he wants to place the budget before voters and “nothing has changed,” said Brown spokeswoman Elizabeth Bradford. The question is whether it will be June or some other date, even November, is uncertain.

“Right now we’re regrouping and taking a look at the best way forward. There hasn’t been a decision taken at this point. Obviously, the governor wants to figure out the best way to bring this choice to voters.”
Brown has not entirely closed the door on a June special election, but he said there would be challenges in meeting a June date. The alternative to June is commonly seen as November but it could be sooner. If a temporary tax extension were to be approved, the election could be held in September, when the extension expires.

Meanwhile, organized labor groups are not saying publicly what they will do next. Privately, they are looking at everything from an all-out campaign to push deep budget cuts into the Republican districts to their own ballot measure.

“At this point, we are looking at all of our alternatives and we’re trying to figure out what is the best way to go,” said Sandy Harrison, a spokesman for the state Building and Construction Trades Council, whose affiliated groups represent some 350,000 workers.

The California Labor Federation, an umbrella organization, represents more than 2.1 million workers in 1,200 unions, is also weighing its options.

“Certainly there has been no decision at this point on how to move forward,” said Steve Smith, a Federation spokesman. “Our main focus is that we absolutely cannot allow $14.3 billion worth of cuts to plunge the state off a cliff.”

On Tuesday, after three months of budget negotiations, Brown ordered a halt to talks with the Legislature’s Republicans in his bipartisan attempt to resolve the state’s $26 billion deficit.

The action left both Brown and Republicans in a political hot seat.

For Brown, he has to decide whether to push for a majority-vote to place his plan on the budget for a June special election – a plan that is legally uncertain and all but certain to outrage business backers of his election plan.

For Republicans, they have to fend off the appearance of being afraid to negotiate and of playing politics with the state’s fiscal woes.

Brown, a Democrat, in a letter to Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton, said the negotiations had focused for weeks on a spending cap, public pension issues and regulatory reform. Brown posted a YouTube video of his position.

But, he said, Republicans late last week added dozens of separate demands, “many of which are new and have no relationship whatsoever to the budget.” Brown noted that legislative Democrats already have approved billions of dollars worth of cuts.

“From my count, your list today added almost two dozen new topics, including obscure aspects of labor law and shifting the presidential primary to March. In addition, your list of demands, if met, would undermine my entire budget proposal by undoing major elements and extending the taxes for only 18 months,” Brown wrote.

Just days after he took office – for the third time – in January, Brown proposed a budget composed of equal parts of taxes and cuts to cover the state’s budget hole, and argued that voters had the right to decide the issue.

Republicans have opposes placing tax extensions or new taxes before the public. Democrats control the Legislature, but lack a two-third majority in either house required to approve new taxes.

Democrats, he added, “have swallowed hard and done their part – they have approved $12.4 billion in painful cuts.”

Sacramento Bee: Using On-line Sources to Track Crime

Sacramento area neighborhoods go online to track crime

By Sam Stanton The Sacramento Bee
sstanton@sacbee.com

Published: Thursday, Mar. 31, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 1A

Meet Robert Earl Randall, or "Bobby," as he is known to friends and police.

Randall, 44, has amassed a 12-page rap sheet that includes arrests on charges of burglary, driving under the influence, possession of controlled substances, impersonation, writing a phony prescription, receiving stolen property and taking a vehicle without permission.

Last week, found sleeping in a broken-down camper parked next to his mother's house off Opal Lane in the Hagginwood area, he was arrested again as a suspect in two additional burglaries.

"I'm not trying to be a criminal," Randall told Sacramento County sheriff's Sgt. Chris Joachim as he sat handcuffed the patrol car. "I don't want to go to prison."

Randall is one of the people you lock your doors against. But, increasingly, Sacramento-area residents are deciding that is not enough.

Some are turning to online crime-tracking tools or creating neighborhood watch groups on the Internet that give them instant access to crimes reported in their neighborhoods and suspicious activity.
Susanne Burns is one of them. The Carmichael resident decided she had to do something after her home was burglarized last May while her family slept.

The family had left vehicles in the driveway to make room for a pre-prom party in the garage. The burglars apparently broke into her husband's truck and used the garage door opener to get inside the garage and then the house.

When she discovered the burglary, Burns followed the traditional route, setting up a Neighborhood Watch group of homes in her gated community.

"We started emailing and this list grew basically out of control," she said. "It started with me emailing the 22 homes in our little community. It just mushroomed, and I think that's when it hit me."

"It" was the idea of harnessing Facebook. The result is Carmichael Watchgroup, a page on the social networking site that has 342 members and notifies residents of community meetings with the Sheriff's Department, crime-tracking websites and criminal reports.

News about stolen bikes, garage break-ins and other crimes are posted regularly. At Christmas, video from one home's security cameras was posted showing a burglar breaking into a house and leaving on a bicycle with stolen property.

Elsewhere, communities from Granite Bay to Natomas have set up email alerts to keep residents abreast of what is going on in their neighborhoods, and several area law enforcement agencies are contracting with companies to put crime data online and make it available to anyone for free.

Last week, Sacramento police announced they had signed a deal with CrimeReports.com, a Utah-based company that posts police reports to a searchable database.

"It'll give you instantaneous results every day," Sacramento Police Sgt. Norm Leong said.
The city is getting the service free for a year. Residents can sign up, type in their address and receive alerts to crimes reported in their area.

Greg Whisenant, founder of the 4-year-old company, said departments typically pay between $100 and $200 a month for the service and that more than 1,000 law enforcement agencies use it, including Auburn, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.

SpotCrime.com offers a similar service on a site that also includes information from area news reports. "People want this data," founder Colin Drane said from company headquarters in Baltimore. "Getting it quickly to the public hopefully creates a positive effect in knowledge and reducing crime."

The field is intensely competitive. CrimeReports.com sued Drane's company in federal court last year, essentially accusing SpotCrime.com of stealing its information and posting it online as its own.

CrimeReports.com declared victory when the case was settled in December, but Drane says his company is being unfairly squeezed out by police agencies that provide data only to his competitor.

The dispute highlights how valuable the data have become, especially to neighborhood groups that rely on the services to know when break-ins are occurring and to law enforcement agencies whose budgets are being cut.

But it often takes old fashioned detective work to get suspects in jail.

Randall, the burglary suspect, had been caught on video breaking into an electronics store to steal flashlights and tool belts in January, according to sheriff's officials. The next night he allegedly backed his van into the roll-up metal door of a scooter store trying to gain entry.

Joachim figured the van would have been so damaged that it would be easy for his officers to spot. And that is, in fact, what ultimately led to Randall's arrest.

"That was kind of stupid," Randall told Joachim at the time of his arrest. "Yeah, I was looking for a bottle of whiskey or something, I don't even know."

With six detectives working property crimes for the Sheriff's Department, cases have to be triaged to determine which are worthy of investigation.

Last year, Joachim's division had nearly 18,000 crime reports filed, including 4,743 residential burglaries, 1,577 business break-ins and 2,820 vehicle burglaries.

Of those, 704 cases were assigned to detectives, and 211 suspects ended up being arrested. It may seem like a small number, but burglars tend to hit more than one target, and Joachim figures the multiplier effect for each suspect means he's solving numerous break-ins each time an arrest is made.

"If studies show 6 percent of the people commit 98 percent of the crime, then let's try to catch as many of those 6 percent as we can," Joachim said.

Sacramento Bee: Governor Facing Tricky Budget Options

Jerry Brown faces tricky budget options

Published: Thursday, Mar. 31, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 1A

The collapse of budget negotiations leaves a temporary vacuum as state leaders decide where to head next.
This much is known: the state needs to solve a remaining $15.4 billion deficit, and lawmakers have exhausted many options in the realm of spending cuts and fund transfers.

Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative Democrats have given up on a June tax election. But they have not abandoned their desire to solve most of the remaining deficit with additional tax revenue.

Republicans say they remain opposed to taxes, though they have not provided a complete alternative.
As novel as Brown's approach has been this year, he faces the risk of heading down the same path his most recent predecessors did. The state could run out of cash as early as July, resulting in another summer of delayed payments to vendors and schools, as well as the risk of IOUs.

Here's a look at the different options for Brown, in no particular order:

Blue-state special

Why: Avoids the need for Republican votes. If an election occurs early enough and fails, it provides lawmakers time to figure out an alternative solution, with a mandate from voters to cut further.
Challenges: Using only a majority vote requires creative legal thinking, and opponents would file suit immediately. Voters would be less inclined to support taxes without the blessing of both parties, as would major business groups. The election would occur sometime after June, so the budget would be late and the state would face cash challenges. Brown has already suggested this route is unconstitutional.

Slash and burn

The plan: Balance the remainder of the budget using additional spending cuts.
Why: Most cuts can be done with only a majority vote of the Legislature (though deep education reductions require two-thirds approval). State leaders could resolve the budget on time.
Challenges: The Legislative Analyst's Office suggests cuts would likely hit every level of government, particularly K-12 schools and higher education. Schools would shorten the instructional year further, while state workers could face more furloughs. It is highly unlikely enough Democrats or Republicans would agree to such a plan, particularly on education.

What campaign promise?

Why: Avoids the uncertainty of an election, as well as the time and expense of a campaign. The governor and Legislature could resolve the state budget on time and secure higher tax rates before they expire.
Challenges: Republicans would drive a harder bargain than they did to place taxes on the ballot. They would seek to limit tax extensions to 18 months. They would ask Democrats to agree to place pension reductions and a long-term spending cap on a future ballot. And Brown would have to renege on his campaign pledge to ask voters before raising taxes.

The long and winding road

The plan: Gather signatures for a November tax initiative.
Why: Avoids the need for a legislative vote for taxes. Could impose cuts before the election to show voters what their taxes would buy back. Could pursue targeted taxes on oil and high-income earners, among others.
Challenges: It would be costly to gather enough signatures in time for a November election. Lawmakers would relinquish more than four months' worth of higher sales and vehicle taxes and possibly lose an entire year's worth of increased income taxes. It would be easier to attack as a tax increase because all three tax rates will have dropped by the time the election occurs. The state would face significant cash problems until November unless the Legislature makes deep cuts beforehand.

What's past is prologue

Why: Could be done on time with a majority vote. Avoids political liabilities related to tax hikes and deep education cuts. The legislative analyst has deemed it reasonable to use some onetime solutions rather than solve the whole problem in one bite.
Challenges: Governor would have to renege on his no-gimmick approach to solving the budget. May be difficult to find enough maneuvers to bridge the gap. Such options have proved unreliable in past years, adding to deficit problems. It does little to solve future deficits.

The plan: Find some mix of cuts, accounting maneuvers and outside funds to bridge the remaining gap.The plan: Persuade the Legislature to approve taxes on a two-thirds vote, with no election needed.The plan: Place taxes on the ballot by a majority vote of the Legislature.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Sacramento Bee: Anaheim Approves Loan to Lure the Kings

Anaheim approves plan to lure Kings

Published: Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 1A

ANAHEIM – It's pretty much up to the Maloofs now.

In a move that probably assures the Kings will relocate, the Anaheim City Council approved a $75 million incentive plan Tuesday designed to lure the NBA team from Sacramento.

A series of 5-0 votes came as Sacramento officials all but conceded the team is gone. Although the city had hinted a day earlier that it would sue Anaheim, Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday he was fine with the Kings' departure as long as the team owners, the Maloofs, repay a $77 million debt to the city.

Indeed, during the Anaheim council meeting, officials didn't mention a harsh letter they had received from Sacramento Assistant City Manager John Dangberg, demanding Anaheim halt its courtship of the Kings.
Instead, a celebratory mood prevailed, and a packed crowd of business leaders applauded the council vote.

"Walt Disney always said, if you can dream it, you can do it," Anaheim City Councilman Henry Sidhu said.
"Anaheim took a giant step closer to bringing an NBA team to Anaheim and the Honda Center," said Mayor Tom Tait.

In an interview after the vote, Tait deflected questions about Sacramento's harsh tone, saying, "The relationship between the Kings and Sacramento, that's none of my business."

Asked about hurting Sacramento basketball fans, he added: "For almost 20 years, Anaheim has been trying to get the NBA here. Most teams come from another city. That is the nature of professional sports."

Mayor Johnson said he was "very disappointed, not surprised" by the Anaheim vote. He said Sacramento will continue to press ahead with a feasibility study on a new sports and entertainment arena.

The more pressing concern for city leaders was the search for assurances that the Kings wouldn't leave without paying off their city loan. Minutes after the vote in Anaheim, the Sacramento City Council voted to set aside funds to hire a law firm to make sure $77 million owed by the Maloofs is repaid.

"The mindset of the city is to make sure that they fulfill their obligation," Johnson said earlier in the day. "And if they do that, then I don't want a messy divorce, I don't want to be a poor sport about it, it's their decision.
"And quite frankly, if they don't want to be here, then I'm going to be OK with (them moving) and I think our community will be OK with that."

Gavin Maloof, one of the co-owners, had no comment on the Anaheim vote. But Monday, two of the Maloof brothers, Joe and George, said the family would pay the debt. "We have no intention of leaving that town without paying our debt," George said.

Billionaire to finance deal

Johnson said the Maloofs told him Monday "it's not a done deal in Anaheim" and that if the team stays, "we will be back with a renewed commitment and vigor."

As negotiations proceeded in recent weeks, Anaheim officials had avoided identifying the Kings by name in documents and public comments. That changed Tuesday, when Councilwoman Kris Murray praised the Maloofs and said, "My heart does go out to the Sacramento residents."

Although Anaheim is issuing the $75 million in bonds, the deal is really being financed by Henry Samueli, the Orange County billionaire who manages the Honda Center and owns its hockey team, the Ducks. The city is involved because it owns the arena. But in effect, Samueli is loaning the money to himself, with the city as a conduit.

The $75 million will go toward arena renovations and other costs, including an NBA relocation fee. Two-thirds, or $50 million, will be loaned to the Maloofs.

The council also amended the Honda Center lease to accommodate an NBA tenant.

Before the vote, Anaheim business leaders stepped to the podium to congratulate council members for pulling together a deal that doesn't cost taxpayers anything.

The new team "will create thousands of jobs ... millions and millions of dollars for our local economy," said the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce's Todd Ament.

By contrast, Sacramento officials Monday, in their warning to Anaheim, said the Kings' departure would cause urban blight, in possible violation of California environmental laws.

Tuesday, despite Johnson's conciliatory language, they pressed forward with that argument. Sacramento City Attorney Eileen Teichert sent Anaheim officials a letter contending Natomas would be devastated without the Kings.

"Restaurants, bars, and businesses already weakened by the region's prolonged recession may fail, leading to many additional 'board ups' of vacant properties in Sacramento," she wrote.

But environmental lawyers told The Bee the city would have a hard time using the blight argument to block the team's move.

Waiting list for new fans

If the Kings leave without paying the debt, they would forfeit Power Balance Pavilion and a $25 million stake in the team. But the city would have to pay the $77 million debt to bondholders who financed the loan – and the assets left by the Maloofs might not be enough to cover that debt.

Sacramento City Treasurer Russ Fehr said the Maloofs' assurances Monday that they would repay the debt were "encouraging," but city officials want something more definite. State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said Tuesday he would consider carrying legislation that would prevent the Kings from moving if they don't pay.

Meanwhile, a group of private attorneys from Sacramento mounted an effort to block the relocation. Attorney Jeffrey Dorso, in a letter to Anaheim city officials, contended the Anaheim council violated state law by approving a bond issuance that takes effect right away.

State law requires a 60-day waiting period before the bond vote takes effect, he said. That delay would give people opposed to the move time to launch a ballot referendum to repeal the bond vote.

Opposition from Sacramento seemed to have no impact in Anaheim, where the Honda Center announced, shortly before the vote, that it would start a waiting list for NBA ticket buyers "due to the increased number of calls and emails being received from fans."

By contrast, the Kings haven't mailed out season-ticket renewals – something that normally would happen by now. "We will update everyone on the process as soon as we can," spokesman Mitch Germann said.

Assuming the team leaves, the Maloofs will have to pay the city of Sacramento $77 million – the balance due on a 14-year-old loan, plus a penalty. The Maloofs have until April 18 to ask for permission to move. The NBA board of governors, consisting of team owners, likely would vote on the request in September. Past relocations have been approved by landslide votes.

Sacramento Bee: Dan Walters on Budget Talks

Dan Walters: Jerry Brown's state budget plan blows up

Published: Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 3A

That explosion you heard in downtown Sacramento on Tuesday was the big blowup of Gov. Jerry Brown's plans to ask voters in June to extend billions of dollars in taxes to balance the deficit-riddled state budget.
Brown terminated negotiations with Republican legislators, citing a lengthy list of GOP demands last week.

The governor said he was willing to consider pension and regulatory reform and a spending cap as part of a deal but "while we made significant progress on these reform issues, the Republicans continued to insist on including demands that would materially undermine any semblance of a balanced budget. In fact, they sought to worsen the state's problem by creating a $4 billion hole in the budget."

The blowup, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said, means there won't be a June election on more than $11 billion a year in extensions of temporary taxes, thus leaving the estimated $15.4 billion deficit still unclosed.

So what's Plan B?

Brown has not been specific about an alternative, either because he assumed he would succeed and didn't need one, or because he didn't want to cloud negotiations.

Steinberg said "we will use the power of our majority" and, when asked about specifics, mentioned an initiative petition campaign to place taxes before voters next fall as one option.

Brown had earlier hinted at an initiative, but delaying tax extensions would severely reduce their revenue impact – even if voters agreed. Recent polls have indicated that most voters are leery of new taxes and in a fall election, they would be labeled tax increases rather than tax extensions.

Pressed further, Steinberg said, "we're going to consider every option." Legal authorities differ on whether Democrats could place taxes on the ballot without Republican votes, and an attempt would spark a court battle.

Still another option would be, as Brown once suggested, to adopt an all-cuts budget, hitting schools hard, and let the political chips fall where they may.

Meanwhile, everyone is pointing fingers of blame. As Brown and Democratic leaders pointed to Republican demands, Republicans said Brown was hamstrung in negotiations by opposition of labor unions and other interests to pension, regulatory and budget reforms.

One of the GOP senators who negotiated with Brown, Anthony Cannella, said, "finding agreement required an equal willingness from the public employee unions, trial attorneys and other stakeholders to join our effort to get California moving again – a willingness that was stunningly absent from our conversations …"

Actually, polls indicate that the GOP positions on pension and budget reform are more popular than the taxes the Democrats want. A fair compromise would have been to put those on the ballot as well and allow voters to truly decide.

Greg Lucas Blog: GOP Demands Lead Jerry Brown to Halt Talks

Greg Lucas' blog, California's Capitol has some comments on the end of budget talks and includes a scanned letter he sent to Senate Minority Leader, Senator Bob Dutton.

Read the story and the letter here:

California's Capitol Blog

Jerry Brown ends talks on bipartisan budget deal

The governor, who needs four GOP votes to place a tax extension on the June ballot, says Republicans are unwilling to back tax extensions and are asking for an 'ever-changing list of collateral demands.'

By Shane Goldmacher and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times

March 30, 2011

Reporting from Sacramento -- Gov. Jerry Brown has abandoned his effort to negotiate a bipartisan budget, charging that Republicans were unwilling to support his plan unless he yielded to "an ever-changing list of collateral demands."

The governor's announcement that he is walking away from the negotiating table, made in a late-afternoon news release Tuesday, further roils the state's finances and marks the biggest setback yet for the 72-year-old Brown. He returned to Sacramento this year for his third term as governor promising that he had the political skills and policy expertise to resolve the state's chronic financial mess.

Earlier in the day, key GOP lawmakers who had been negotiating with the governor declared the talks fruitless.

"We gave it our best. We're very disappointed. It's done," said Sen. Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet).

Budget cuts that lawmakers approved earlier this month closed only $11.2 billion of the estimated $26-billion deficit. Brown wanted to address most of the rest of the gap with a special election in June, when he hoped that voters would agree to continue paying temporary increases in taxes on income, sales and vehicles. All will have expired by July 1; higher income taxes already have stopped.

The governor needed at least four GOP votes to get a tax measure on a June ballot. On Tuesday, he said he was giving up his quest for those votes.

"Each and every Republican legislator I've spoken to believes that voters should not have this right to vote unless I agree to an ever-changing list of collateral demands," his statement said.

Administration officials and legislative leaders declined to say how they intend to proceed. Among the options they could pursue to raise revenue are gathering signatures for a citizens' initiative on the tax plan, or attempting to use an untested legal loophole to put the measure on the ballot with a simple majority of the Legislature, which Democrats command.

But time is running short. The deadline for balancing the budget is in June, and legislative leaders acknowledged Tuesday that they would be unable to place a measure before voters by then. California's treasurer has warned that the state would face a serious cash crunch if resolution of the budget problem was pushed into the fall, possibly forcing officials once again to issue IOUs.

Brown lashed out at GOP lawmakers Tuesday for blocking a June election, the linchpin of his budget plan. He cited a demand that he keep rather than jettison, as his budget proposed, a tax break given to California companies that move jobs out of state.

"Republicans demand that out-of-state corporations that keep jobs out of California be given a billion-dollar tax break that will come from our schoolchildren, public safety and our universities. This I am not willing to do," he said in his statement.

The tax break was one of dozens of demands that Republicans delivered to Brown on Friday in a seven-page document that outlined their price for supporting his plan. It was one of several major points of disagreement that Emmerson said could not be overcome.

Another was how to cap state spending. A third was how long voters would be asked to renew the billions of dollars in taxes. Brown wanted five years of extended taxes; Republicans wanted no more than three.

Emmerson called Brown a "very honorable adversary" in negotiations but said the divide between them could not be bridged, even though much progress had been made on changes to state regulations and public pensions.

Last weekend, a group of Senate Republicans negotiating with the Brown administration narrowed from five to three — with Sens. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) and Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto) joining Emmerson in the latest round of negotiations.

Cannella blamed the collapse of talks on special-interest pressure on Democrats not to make concessions.

"Finding agreement required an equal willingness from the public-employee unions, trial attorneys and other stakeholders to join our effort to get California moving again — a willingness that was stunningly absent from our conversations," Cannella said in a statement.

Republicans were also under pressure. Only a few were willing to engage openly in talks about any deal that included Brown's tax plan. On Tuesday, an anti-tax group launched a radio ad in Cannella's and Berryhill's districts, urging them not to go along with any spending proposal that relied on taxes.

"We must hold our legislators accountable," the ad states. "They are the only thing standing between us and a new, huge tax increase."

By Tuesday evening, Democrats declared Republicans "irrelevant" and signaled plans to move ahead without the GOP.

"They appear to want to be irrelevant and seem intent on achieving that objective," Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said in a hallway news conference.

Steinberg declined to explain how legislative leaders and the governor planned to go forward except to say, "We will use the power of our majority."

He said if there were to be an election, it would not take place until after June. If Brown decides to pursue a citizens' initiative for the fall, he could choose to put different taxes before the public. Polls have shown voters are far less willing to levy new taxes than keep existing ones.

On Tuesday evening, Brown released a YouTube message to voters. In it, he struck an optimistic tone rather than reiterate earlier threats that without public support for taxes, he would balance the rest of the budget with more painful cuts. Already, programs for the poor, elderly and sick have been slashed. Universities, libraries and parks have been reduced.

"I'm not giving up," Brown said in the video. "Look, the problem has taken a decade to build up. It's very serious and it's going to take some time before we finally solve it. I'm going to explore every possible avenue. There's more than one way to get to the goal.... I've been around a long time. I know we can do it."

shane.goldmacher@latimes.com

anthony.york@latimes.com

Gov. Jerry Brown, pictured here earlier in March, said he was willing to make concessions on key policy issues that are important to Republicans. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Governor Brown Halts Budget Talks

Governor Jerry Brown announced yesterday he was not going to continue budget negotiations. He has gone directly before Californians and talks here about his frustration and the need to find another way to fix the state's immediate financial problems:

Watch Governor Brown"s Video Here

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

SF Chronicle: Marin County Supervisor McGlashan Died Suddenly

Charles McGlashan, Marin County supervisor, dies

Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer

03/29/11

Robert E. David / Marin County Board of Supervisor

Charles McGlashan also advocated green energy.

Marin County Supervisor Charles McGlashan, an environmental visionary whose efforts brought solar, wind and biomass power into countless homes and businesses, died suddenly on Sunday while vacationing in Lake Tahoe. He was 49.

The supervisor's death, caused by an apparent heart attack while wrapping up a ski trip, has shocked county leaders and environmentalists.

"He leaves us a legacy that is a beacon to other counties in our state and across the country," said Susan Adams, president of the Board of Supervisors.

Last May, Marin became the first county to take advantage of a 2002 law allowing communities to buy electricity on behalf of residents. Despite strong opposition from Pacific Gas & Electric Co., more than 27 percent of the county's energy today comes from clean and renewable sources, exceeding state targets.

"Supervisor McGlashan pretty much single-handedly wrestled this over the finish line," Adams said, noting that the system has already repaid taxpayers' $950,000 investment.

Dawn Weisz, executive officer of the Marin Energy Authority that runs the program, credited Mr. McGlashan with helping clear the county of 68 tons of carbon dioxide a year.

"He was very passionate and enthusiastic about getting things going, and making the vision into a practical reality," Weisz said. "It's a great loss."

Green energy isn't the supervisor's only environmental legacy. An advocate of alternative transportation, Mr. McGlashan served on the board of the 8-year-old Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, and pushed for bike lanes along the rail line.

He also backed a successful effort to outlaw plastic bags in the county as of January.

"Charles wasn't just a Marin County environmental leader. He was an environmental leader for all of us in the Bay Area, and really showed what can be done at the local level when you have passionate commitment," said Joel Makower, chairman and executive editor of GreenBiz Group in Oakland. "This is devastating news."

Despite living outside of Marin, Makower hosted a political fundraiser for the future supervisor.
Mr. McGlashan won, and joined the board in 2005, representing southern Marin, which includes his town of Mill Valley, from which he often rode his bicycle to work in San Rafael.

Born in Hillsborough in 1961, Mr. McGlashan graduated with honors from Yale University in 1983. He earned an MBA from Stanford University in 1991, then worked as a consultant in environmental management and business planning.

He served on the Municipal Water District Board of Directors from 2003 to 2005, and on the Marin Economic Commission from 2001 to 2005. He advised a number of environmental groups including the Marin Conservation League and Sustainable Mill Valley.

The two-term supervisor was second vice president of the Board of Supervisors.

He went to Lake Tahoe with friends the other day "for a much-needed ski weekend," said aide Maureen Parton. As the group packed up to leave on Sunday, Mr. McGlashan stayed in the car as the others took a last-minute sweep of their cabin. Minutes later, they returned to find the supervisor slumped in the back seat.

"His passion and joy for the work of public service was without bounds," Parton said. "He changed the face of Marin."

Mr. McGlashan is survived by his wife, environmentalist Carol Misseldine.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors will remember Mr. McGlashan during today's meeting beginning at 10 a.m. in Room 330 of the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael.

PPIC Poll: Half of Likely Voters Back Vote—Less Than Half Favor Tax, Fee

PPIC STATEWIDE SURVEY:
CALIFORNIANS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Click here to read the poll!

Public support for holding a special election to extend temporary tax and fee increases has dropped, the March PPIC Statewide Survey finds. But more Californians support than oppose Governor Brown's overall budget plan of tax extensions and spending cuts.

The survey was supported with funding from
The James Irvine Foundation.

LA Times: Continued Upheavel in LA Area Cities, City of Cudahy

Cudahy city manager and city attorney fired, other officials placed on leave

The Cudahy City Council, in a short, hastily called meeting Monday night, fired controversial, longtime City Manager George Perez, who has run the tiny southeast Los Angeles County town for more than a decade.

The council, voting 4 to 0 in closed session, also fired longtime City Atty. David Olivas, replacing him with Arturo Fierro, a partner in a firm that also represents Chino and Rialto.

The council placed City Clerk Larry Galvan and Human Resources Director Crystal Hernandez on administrative leave. Galvan promptly filed his retirement papers, saying “it was a pleasure” to have worked for the city.

Olivas, too, said “it was an honor” to have worked for the city since 2000.

Perez did not attend the meeting. Councilman Juan Romo was absent.

The vote marks the latest political upheaval in the small communities that dot southeast L.A. Neighboring Bell has been rocked by a sweeping public corruption scandal after revelations by The Times about the high salaries paid to eight former officials. The state Legislature is considering a bill that would disincorporate

Vernon, where the former city manager was indicted last year. And Maywood is struggling to recover after disbanding its police department and contracting out many city services to Bell.

After announcing the changes, Cudahy Mayor Josue Barrios, elected to the council in 2009 and appointed mayor last week, said Perez was fired “for cause,” though he gave no specifics.

Perez’s contract with the city, signed in 2008, provides that he be paid 18 months’ salary — which began that year at $172,548 — if he is terminated for any reason other than the commission of a felony involving personal gain.

Sacramento Bee: Sacramento Sends Letter To Anaheim, "Stop Talks."

City asks Anaheim to stop relocation talks with Kings; Maloof fires back

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
Published: Tuesday, Mar. 29, 2011 - 12:47 am | Page 1A

Sacramento launched a game of hardball Monday in its effort to keep the Kings – or at least keep the team from walking away from its city-backed $77 million loan.

City officials, hinting they might go to court, called on the city of Anaheim to stop negotiating a deal to bring the Kings to Orange County.

In a terse letter Monday to Anaheim officials, Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said Anaheim was ignoring the "blighting impacts" that luring the Kings from Sacramento would have on the capital city. The move would cause "irreparable harm," the letter said.

If, however, Anaheim "insists on continuing the negotiations," the letter said, that city must require the team to honor its debt to Sacramento.

In a phone conversation Monday night, Kings co-owner George Maloof told The Bee he was angry at the city's letter. "It is interfering with our business," he said. "We're going to take every measure possible to protect ourselves. We have no intention of leaving that town without paying our debt. For someone to imply that we are not going to pay our debts, it's wrong, it's ridiculous."

Sacramento will also ask state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, to carry a bill barring Anaheim from moving ahead unless Sacramento is assured the Kings will pay off the $77 million they owe the city.

Up to this point, the Kings haven't given the city any written assurance they'll pay the debt, Dangberg said.
"We are protecting the interests of the city of Sacramento and the taxpayers of the city of Sacramento,"

Dangberg said in an interview. "We are not accusing anybody of doing anything. We are just stating the facts as they are."

Dangberg's broadside came as Anaheim's City Council prepares to meet today to consider issuing a $75 million bond paving the way for the Kings' relocation to the city-owned Honda Center.

The council is expected to approve the bonds, which would pay for $25 million in improvements to the Anaheim arena and other expenses, and would include a $50 million loan to the Kings. The bond would be repaid by Honda Center manager Henry Samueli.

At its own meeting this evening, the Sacramento City Council is to consider hiring the Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson law firm to advise the city on how to force the Kings to repay the Sacramento debt.

The Maloofs have until April 18 to decide whether to ask the NBA for permission to leave.

Officials at Anaheim City Hall and the Honda Center declined comment.

Dangberg's letter dangles the prospect of a lawsuit against Anaheim officials over alleged violations of the powerful California Environmental Quality Act.

The blight argument has been used to stymie expansion by big-box retailers in California. An appeals court blocked two Walmart super-stores in Bakersfield seven years ago after lawyers said the stores would cause blight by putting scores of competitors out of business.

One of the stores got built, but the case took four years, said Brett Jolley, a Stockton lawyer involved in the matter.

In the Kings case, Jolley said, the 400 miles between Sacramento and Anaheim is probably irrelevant under the environmental law.

"They're saying Anaheim has to look at that (environmental) impact, even if it's occurring all the way in Sacramento," he said.

If Sacramento can't keep the Kings, it wants to protect itself financially. The city issued bonds in 1997 to make a loan to the Kings' prior owner. If the team leaves, it must immediately repay the $77 million outstanding, including a penalty, said city Treasurer Russ Fehr.

If the Kings don't pay, the city would take ownership of Power Balance Pavilion and a $25 million stake in the team.

But that would leave city officials with a financial headache. Already saddled with a huge budget deficit, they would have to pay off the $77 million debt to bondholders.

And they'd be left with a property of questionable value. The Natomas arena and surrounding acreage has been assessed at $56.5 million. But the Maloofs have said it's worth only $30.5 million, according to appeals pending with the Sacramento County Assessment Appeals Board.

As Sacramento arms itself legally, the rhetoric from City Hall is also getting harsher.

On Saturday, R.E. Graswich, special assistant to Mayor Kevin Johnson, was quoted in the New York Times as saying the mood in Sacramento toward the Kings "is good riddance, although I'm not sure it has sunk in."

"We've grown up as a sports town," Graswich said. "We're not going to back any crummy product they put on the floor. We've got bigger problems – 12.5 percent unemployment, people being laid off or furloughed, their homes in foreclosure. The Kings would be a nice distraction if they were any good, but they're not."
Johnson's office did not make the mayor available for comment Monday.

A Kings spokesman said the team "has no response" to Graswich's comments. The remarks did result in stinging reactions from Kings fans and those close to the team.

Grant Napear, who does TV play-by-play for Kings games, posted on his Twitter account that Graswich's comments were "a freakin disgrace!"

"The fact this guy is the right hand man to Kevin Johnson pretty much says it all!" Napear wrote. "What a shame and what a poor, poor choice by the Mayor."

Others in the community remained more conciliatory, though they haven't made headway in persuading the Kings to stay.

A group of elected and business leaders approached the Maloofs last week with an idea to renovate Power Balance Pavilion. A conference call with the owners faltered when the group said financing was not in place.

The Kings issued a statement saying renovating the arena isn't a viable option.

Associated Press: Decision Time on Tax Extensions

Decision near on tax extension vote

BUDGET: Brown, other Democrats seek Republican votes.

By Lien Hoang The Associated Press

Posted: 03/28/2011 07:58:35 PM PDT

SACRAMENTO - The California Legislature is set to convene amid uncertainty over the fate of Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal and warnings by majority Democrats that they might try to bypass Republican lawmakers to call a special election on taxes.

The most immediate question for the session beginning Tuesday remains whether the governor and majority Democrats can get Republican support for an election this summer so voters can decide whether to renew higher sales, personal income and vehicle taxes.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrel Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said he could schedule a vote soon to force GOP lawmakers to make a decision but would not give up on a deal as long as the Democratic governor wants to keep negotiating.

If bipartisan support for the special election fails, Democrats have floated the idea of trying to get it on the ballot by a simple majority vote. Should that succeed, the vote almost certainly would be disputed in court because legislation related to taxes and ballot measures require a two-thirds majority.

Mark Hedlund, a spokesman for Steinberg, said that although such a vote would be questionable, it was being considered.

"We're still focusing on two-thirds but trying to leave our options open," he said Monday.
Republicans would challenge the legality of a simple-majority approval, said Sabrina Lockhart, spokeswoman for Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway of Tulare.

Budget talks stalled on Friday after Senate Republicans released a list of 53 budget reforms and policy changes they want in exchange for backing Brown's tax initiative. The governor hopes to solve the $26.6 billion deficit by balancing the tax extensions with about $14 billion in spending cuts and fund transfers, some of which he signed into law last week.

One of the Republicans' proposed reforms would limit an extension of the tax hikes to 18 months instead of five years, as Democrats want. Another would let Californians vote to reduce public pensions and set a state spending cap.

The rest of the GOP wish-list covers a broad range of proposals, including converting public employee pensions to 401(k)-style plans., tying future state spending to inflation, restoring funding for county fairs and moving next year's presidential primary to March, rather than June as Democrats would like.

The list represents the first substantive move from Republicans, who have been depicted throughout budget talks as a "party of no" that opposes the governor's plan but does not offer alternatives to the spending cuts and taxes.

The state Assembly and Senate each need yes-votes from two Republicans to reach a two-thirds majority. But Democrats have shown declining optimism for a bipartisan solution, having passed most cuts so far with little and sometimes no GOP support.

The spending cuts signed into law so far include an estimated $7.4 billion from the state's welfare-to-work program, services for the developmentally disabled and health insurance for the poor.

Assembly Committees and Bills Set This Week

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE HEARINGS
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011
AGING AND LONG-TERM CARE
YAMADA, Chair
2 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 126

(note room change)

ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE RULES

REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 40 Yamada. Elder abuse: reporting.

A.B. No. 138 Beall. Elder Economic Planning Act of 2011.

A.B. No. 518 Wagner. Elder and dependent adult abuse: mandated

reporters.

A.B. No. 533 Yamada. Area agencies on aging: independent living

centers: funding. (Urgency)

ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING
FONG, Chair

1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 444

BILLS HEARD IN SIGN-IN ORDER

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 193 Knight. Polling place designation.

A.B. No. 362 Bonnie Lowenthal. Elections: office of superior court
judge: write-in candidate.

A.B. No. 413 Yamada. Elections: all-mailed ballot elections.

A.B. No. 477 Valadao. Elections: vote by mail ballots.

A.B. No. 481 Gordon. Petitions: signature gatherers.

A.B. No. 651 Hueso. Initiatives: paid circulators.

HEALTH
MONNING, Chair

1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 4202

BILLS HEARD IN FILE ORDER

TESTIMONY MAY BE LIMITED TO 2 WITNESSES

TESTIFYING FOR EACH SIDE

3 MINUTES PER WITNESS

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 301 Pan. Medi-Cal: managed care.

A.B. No. 604 Skinner. Needle exchange programs.

A.B. No. 861 Hill. California Stroke Registry.

A.B. No. 916 V. Manuel PÃ©rez. Promotores: medically underserved
communities: federal grants.

A.B. No. 989 Mitchell. Mental health: children's services.

A.B. No. 1394 Committee on Health. Health care facilities: financing.

HIGHER EDUCATION
BLOCK, Chair

1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 437

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 63 Donnelly. Public postsecondary education: tuition and
fees.

A.B. No. 176 Lara. Standardized testing: valid identification.

A.B. No. 334 Bonnie Lowenthal. Community college board members:
absence from the state.

A.B. No. 404 Gatto. Public postsecondary education: Native American
Linguistic Institute.

A.B. No. 478 Roger HernÃ¡ndez. Community colleges: funding.

A.B. No. 515 Brownley. Public postsecondary education: community
colleges: extension program.

A.B. No. 611 Gordon. Private postsecondary education: unaccredited
doctoral degree program.

A.B. No. 620 Block. Public postsecondary education:

nondiscrimination and training: sexual orientation and

gender identity.

A.B. No. 649 Harkey. Public postsecondary education: veteran's

enrollment.

A.B. No. 743 Block. Community colleges: student assessments:
California Community Colleges: common assessment

system.

A.B. No. 835 Mitchell. Community colleges: Economic and Workforce
Development Program.

A.B. No. 852 Fong. Public postsecondary education: community

colleges: temporary faculty.

A.B. No. 853 Blumenfield. Public postsecondary education: tuition and
fees: veterans.

A.B. No. 948 Furutani. Public contracts: competitive bidding: best

value.

A.B. No. 970 Fong. Cal Grant B awards: award amount.

A.B. No. 1013 Committee on Higher Education. Private postsecondary
education.

RULES
SKINNER, Chair

10 minutes prior to Session - State Capitol. Room 3162

HEARING CANCELLED

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011

EDUCATION
BROWNLEY, Chair

1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 126

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 5 Fuentes. Certificated school employees: performance
evaluation.

A.B. No. 47 Huffman. Schools: open enrollment.

A.B. No. 85 Mendoza. School facilities: security locks.

A.B. No. 86 Mendoza. Charter schools: authorization: petition.

A.B. No. 124 Fuentes. Academic content standards: English Language
Development Standards Advisory Committee.

A.B. No. 143 Fuentes. Pupil records: privacy rights.

A.B. No. 189 Eng. Education funding.

A.B. No. 199 Cook. Pupil instruction: social sciences: Filipinos in
World War II.

A.B. No. 207 Ammiano. School attendance: residency requirements.

A.B. No. 224 Bonilla. School accountability: Academic Performance
Index.

A.B. No. 227 Hall. Education technology planning.

A.B. No. 339 Bonilla. Instructional materials: reviews: fees.

A.B. No. 360 Brownley. Charter schools.

A.B. No. 414 Carter. Pupils: homework assignments for suspended

pupils.

A.B. No. 440 Brownley. Charter schools.

A.B. No. 532 V. Manuel PÃ©rez. Pupil assessments.

A.B. No. 580 Davis. Civil rights education: California Civil Rights
Education Advisory Committee.

A.B. No. 596 Carter. Child care: CalWORKs recipients: rights.

A.B. No. 637 Knight. School choice: G.I. Jr. Grant Program.

A.B. No. 709 Brownley. Foster children: school placement: disputes.

A.B. No. 746 Campos. Pupils: cyber bullying.

A.B. No. 802 Blumenfield. Online education: school attendance.

A.B. No. 1034 Gatto. Charter schools.

A.B. No. 1065 Bradford. Pupil transfers: records.

A.B. No. 1085 Davis. School attendance: interdistrict attendance.

GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
HALL, Chair

1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 4202

ADOPT COMMITTEE RULES

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 252 Charles Calderon. Alcoholic beverage control: licensees.

A.B. No. 270 Perea. Satellite wagering.

A.B. No. 517 Hall. Alcoholic beverage control: licensees: returns.

A.B. No. 623 Williams. Alcoholic beverage licensees: limited off-sale
retail wine license.

A.B. No. 731 Jeffries. Firefighting.

A.B. No. 749 Hall. Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control: report.

OVERSIGHT HEARING

SUBJECT: OVERSIGHT HEARING: THE ABCs OF LICENSING,

ENFORCEMENT AND REGULATORY SALES OF

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN CALIFORNIA.

INSURANCE
SOLORIO, Chair

9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 437

BILLS HEARD IN SIGN-IN ORDER

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 55 Gatto. Unemployment compensation: employer: motion
picture industry.

A.B. No. 226 Solorio. Unemployment insurance: reporting

requirements: status of funds.

A.B. No. 228 Fuentes. State Compensation Insurance Fund: employee
exemptions.

A.B. No. 315 Solorio. Surplus line brokers. (Urgency)

A.B. No. 335 Solorio. Workers' compensation: notices.

A.B. No. 624 John A. PÃ©rez. California Organized Investment Network.

A.B. No. 690 Solorio. Portable electronics insurance.

A.B. No. 804 Yamada. Unemployment compensation: disability

benefits: paid family leave.

JOBS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AND THE ECONOMY
V. M. PÃ‰REZ, Chair

9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 127

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

SUBJECT: Adoption of Committee Rules

INFORMATIONAL HEARING

SUBJECT: California Economy Recovery: Is the States

Infrastructure Sufficient to Support Recovery?

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
SWANSON, Chair

1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 447

ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE RULES

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 10 Alejo. Minimum wage: annual adjustment.

A.B. No. 59 Swanson. Family and medical leave.

A.B. No. 217 Carter. Workplace smoking prohibition: long-term health
care facilities.

A.B. No. 243 Alejo. Labor contractors.

H.R. No. 11 Ammiano. Domestic workers.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, RETIREMENT AND

SOCIAL SECURITY
FURUTANI, Chair

9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 444

BILLS HEARD IN SIGN-IN ORDER

ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE RULES

Measure: Author: Summary:

A.B. No. 7 Portantino. State employment: salary freeze.

A.B. No. 17 Davis. Retirement: pension fund management.

A.B. No. 329 Dickinson. County employees' retirement. (Urgency)

A.B. No. 453 Skinner. State employees: scientists.

A.B. No. 455 Campos. Public employment: local public employee

organizations.

A.B. No. 501 Campos. Public school employment.

A.B. No. 692 Hall. Civil service: employee hearings.

A.B. No. 782 Brownley. Public employee benefits: audits.

A.B. No. 920 Portantino. Public employees: rights.

A.B. No. 925 Lara. Charter schools.

A.B. No. 1028 Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social

Security. State employees' retirement.

A.B. No. 1101 Eng. Teachers' Retirement Board: members.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011

RULES
SKINNER, Chair

10 minutes prior to Session - State Capitol. Room 3162

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011

SELECT COMMITTEE ON HIGH QUALITY

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
BONILLA, Chair

1:30 p.m. - Council Chamber at the Concord Civic Center

1950 Parkside Drive

Concord

SUBJECT: To discuss Transitional Kindergarten: Perspectives and

Implementation Update.

State Senate Policy Committees and Bills Set This Week

Senate Daily File~

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011

ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS
                                  PADILLA, Chair
                              9:30 a.m. - Room 3191
                                    (TELEVISED)
                               INFORMATIONAL HEARING
SUBJECT: The Public Goods Charge and the Renewable Resources Trust
 Fund

PUBLIC SAFETY
                                  HANCOCK, Chair
                  9:30 a.m. - John L. Burton Hearing Room (4203)
                                    (TELEVISED)
                       MEASURES WILL BE HEARD IN FILE ORDER
S.B. No.    247 Wyland. Minors: fitness hearing.
S.B. No.    248 Wyland. Forensic specimens: offenders.
S.B. No.    390 La Malfa. Crimes: assault and battery: search and rescue
                teams.
S.B. No.    404 Anderson. Firearms: handgun safety certificates: exemp-
                tions.
S.B. No.    425 Calderon. Cruelty to animals: fighting.
S.B. No.    534 Corbett. Victims of sexual assault.
S.B. No.    557 Kehoe. Family justice centers.
S.B. No.    610 Wright. Firearms: license to carry concealed firearm.
S.B. No.    622 Corbett. Sex offenders: registration.
S.B. No.    780 Emmerson. Vehicles: driving offenses: punishment.
S.B. No.    852 Harman. Corrections: victim notification. (Urgency)

JUDICIARY
                                   EVANS, Chair
               1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment of session - Room 112
                            (Please note time change)
                                    (TELEVISED)
                       MEASURES WILL BE HEARD IN FILE ORDER
S.B. No.       8Yee. Public records: auxiliary organizations.
S.B. No.     111Yee. Civil rights: language restrictions.
S.B. No.    129 Leno. Medical marijuana: qualified patients and primary
                caregivers: employment discrimination.
S.B. No.    154 Wolk. Marriage licenses: vital records: fees: domestic vio-
                lence: Solano County.
S.B. No.    182 Corbett. Judiciary: demographic data.
S.B. No.    190 Lowenthal. Mechanics liens.
S.B. No.    284 Harman. Real property: marketable title.
S.B. No.    445 Simitian. California Public Records Act: library records.
S.B. No.    561 Corbett. Common interest developments: delinquent as-
                sessments.
S.C.A. No.    7 Yee. Public bodies: meetings.

TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
                               DESAULNIER, Chairman
                           Upon adjournment of session
                        John L. Burton Hearing Room (4203)
                            (Please note time change)
                                    (TELEVISED)
                     ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE RULES AND POLICIES
                           BILLS ARE HEARD IN FILE ORDER
S.B. No.      28Simitian. Vehicles: electronic wireless communications
                devices: prohibitions.
S.B. No.      29Simitian. Vehicles: automated traffic enforcement sys-
                tems.
S.B. No.    209 Corbett. Common interest developments: electric vehicle
                charging stations.
S.B. No.    211 Emmerson. California Global Warming Solutions Act of
                2006: tire inflation regulation: enforcement.
S.B. No.    223 Leno. Voter-approved local assessment: vehicles.
S.B. No.    290 Correa. Neighborhood electric vehicles.
S.B. No.    301 DeSaulnier. Housing and community development: rede-
                velopment: seismic retrofits.
S.B. No.    341 Lowenthal. Vehicles: dump trucks: backup alarms.
S.B. No.    444 Evans. Land use: subdivisions: rental mobilehome park
                conversion.
S.B. No.    565 DeSaulnier. Vehicles: traffic violator school: confidential-
                ity.
S.B. No.    720 Runner. Vehicles: drivers' licenses: military personnel and
                their dependents.
S.B. No.    730 Kehoe. Local government: online building permit form:
                electric vehicle charging.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011

EDUCATION
                              ALAN LOWENTHAL, Chair
                   9 a.m. - John L. Burton Hearing Room (4203)
                                    (TELEVISED)
                         BILLS WILL BE HEARD IN FILE ORDER
S.B. No.    268 Wright. School attendance: interdistrict attendance.
S.B. No.    381 Pavley. School attendance: residency requirements.
S.B. No.    433 Liu. Charter schools: suspension and expulsion of pupils.
S.B. No.    461 Blakeslee. High school equivalency certificates.
S.B. No.    629 Lowenthal. Public postsecondary education: California
                Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Develop-
                ment Program.
S.B. No.    675 Wright. Private postsecondary education: non-English
                speaking students.
S.B. No.    774 Hancock. Public postsecondary education: parking fees.
                              GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE
                                   WOLK, Chair
                               9:30 a.m. - Room 112
                                    (TELEVISED)
                         BILLS WILL BE HEARD IN FILE ORDER
S.B. No.      14Wolk. Performance Based Budget.
S.B. No.      15DeSaulnier. State Budget:  performance measurement
                standards.
S.B. No.    508 Wolk. Tax credits:  disclosure and information.
                               INFORMATIONAL HEARING
SUBJECT: Meeting Our Promise to the People: The Role of
 the State in Delivering Improved Outcomes
 Through Realignment
                           NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
                                  PAVLEY, Chair
                          1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Room 112
                                    (TELEVISED)
                               INFORMATIONAL HEARING
SUBJECT: Beyond Bonds: Options for Funding Public
 Benefits of Water Related Investments