[courtesy of Blog for America]

Dave Garretson  is running for the Assembly seat in the 134th district representing the towns of Greece , Ogden , and Sweden (not far from the city of Rochester , NY). SUNY Brockport is included in the district. I care about Dave Garretson taking this Assembly seat and representing the public.I can't vote for him. I don't live in the district. Why would I bother even noticing a race that's not visible through my living room window?

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

So, this is rapidly breaking news here. As of right now, Assembly Members Price and Calderon abstained from voting on the yacht loophole fix. All other Dems voted yes, with Assembly Member Soto being out sick, we don't have the 41 votes necessary to fix the yacht loophole. What does it say if we can't get even this smallest of revenue fixes passed?

As an aside, apparently Sen. Denham is taking this recall effort seriously. He voted against some of the spending cuts. Interesting. I'll update when I learn more.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

If you look at the recommended diaries list you'll see a diary entitled "Congressional Transparency on a Map." It is from the good folks at the Sunlight Foundation. It discusses their push for members of Congress to release their schedules on the web. They've used a number of creative means to get these members to open their schedules, including a bounty program to regular citizens to get their member to confirm that they would post their schedules online.  It's really a good idea to bring some of that famed "sunshine disinfectant" to our Capitol.

So, I have a question. How many of our California Legislators release their schedules online? So, if you know of a legistlator who has done so, point it out in the comments. And if not, any suggestions for getting more some of our state Senators and Assembly members to release their schedules onlne?

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Recently liberated the Capitol Alert firewall, Daniel Weintraub questions Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's decision to throw $1.5 million into the No on Prop 93 campaign. Says Weintraub:

"I wish I had Steve Poizner's money. If I did, I bet I could find something better to spent $1.5 mil of it on than trying to kill Prop. 93, the legislative leaders' attempt to change term limits in California.

I know I'm supposed to be real agitated that the proposal would allow assembly members to serve 12 years rather than six, and senators to serve 12 years rather than 8, and it even applies to lawmakers already serving. But to me it's a big yawn. I don't think it makes much of a difference either way. Once this crew washes out, the new members will serve a maximum of 12 years rather than the current 14, and they can serve it all in one house or the other. Is that going to change the world? I doubt it."

Good to have you back, Dan.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Judy Pope

On October 18, 2007 a standing room-only crowd of 220 people rose to its feet and applauded as the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club honored Sheila Kuehl with the club’s first annual Paul and Sheila Wellstone Leadership Award. The award, presented by the Wellstone’s son David (photo by Ces Rosales), celebrated Senator Kuehl’s championship of single payer health care.

The event was held at the Silver Dragon Restaurant in Oakland. It sold out completely and raised over $10,000 in donations that the club will dedicate to funding its voter registration and Get Out the Vote work in the upcoming elections.

The event’s honorary co-hosts included Congresswoman Barbara Lee, State Senator Ellen Corbett, Assembly members Sandre Swanson and Loni Hancock, former Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and Supervisor Keith Carson. All the co-hosts but Congresswoman Lee and Mayor Dellums were present, as were many Easy Bay elected officials.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In the Democratic weekly radio address Assembly members Jared Huffman and Tony Mendoza talk about legislation that will reduce energy use, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and save consumers and businesses money. Assembly Bill 1109, which will result in much more energy efficient lighting, could save consumers and businesses $3-billion annually. Assembly Bill 1470, which will jump start the solar hot water heating industry, could reduce natural gas demand by 5%. Both measures were authored by Assembly member Huffman.

You may listen in English or in Spanish.

Hello, I’m Assembly member Jared Huffman, I chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials.

You’ve probably heard in the press that some states and countries have considered bans on incandescent light bulbs.

With climate change and energy crises looming, and with 22% of our electrical use going to lighting, it’s certainly understandable.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Here is a question.  Why did Arnold think that the Republicans were bluffing about taking a much stronger stand on the budget?  They promised as much last year during their bloody leadership battles.  I have seen newspapers refer to that as posturing, indicating that they never believed the Republicans would actually follow through.  Did Arnold really thing they would roll over, when history is littered with examples of their obstructionist tactics during previous budget negotiations?

I absolutely love this Economist article on the budget.  The magazine has a well deserved reputation for presenting the news in a straightforward manner.  They hold no punches on this one and go right after the Republicans.

Republicans are causing the delay, as in the past. Ignoring pleas from Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor, Assembly members won some spending cuts and tax breaks. Then, while they hit the beaches, state senators demanded further cuts. Last week, in order to try to end the debate, the Democratic Senate president locked them in. Senators lounged around like teenagers at an all-night party, amusing themselves by sending messages to conservative blogs. ?To update you?we've done nothing,? wrote one. They want a mixture of real and symbolic sacrifices?less money for environmental litigation and trade-union studies, for example.