[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Key bills and issues we’ve been following during the past week and beyond

By Hannah Beth Jackson

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Former California Governor Pete Wilson has endorsed Rudy Giulianiin the 2008 presidential race, reports the Bakersfield Californian.It’s a big one for Giuliani—assuming, of course, he’s trying to ditchthe Hispanic vote.

Inside Bay Area is taking a look at how absentee ballots have front loaded the primaries in California, which were moved up to February 5. Voters have the option ofsubmitting absentee ballots up to six weeks before the primary date, afull week ahead of Iowa’s primaries. Meaning that election seasonshould be just around the corner.

The US Senate is preparing to pass legislation expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, having voted 69-30, a veto-proof majority, to end debate on the bill,reports the Washington Post. The House, however, lacks such a majority.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has vowed to take up to the legislation“again and again and again” if Bush refuses to sign it.