[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Assembly Republicans yesterday voted in lockstep against a plan advanced by Assembly Democrats to provide assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure.
 
AB 2509, authored by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani (D-Livingston), was passed by a 45-26 vote, with all "no" votes from Republicans. Six Republicans also abstained, despite being in the Assembly chamber.
 
"President Bush bailed out the billionaires at Bear Stearns, but Assembly Republicans won't lift a finger to help out the hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure on their homes," said Sen. Art Torres (Ret.), Chairman of the California Democratic Party. "The Republicans’ votes are a slap in the face to Californians who are struggling in the Bush economy and may lose the roof over their heads.”

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Image courtesy Time Magazine.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Today the Education Coalition reminded lawmakers that schools and students must be a priority in the state's budget and that Proposition 98, the minimum school funding guarantee, must be upheld.<> <>Senate and Assembly Republicans held a press conference today to re-release their "education reform package" from two weeks ago while calling for "full funding" of Proposition 98 with an education funding proposal. <> <>The Education Coalition fully supports protecting Proposition 98 and opposes any further cuts to our schools. California currently ranks 46th out of 50 states in the nation in per pupil spending, according to the non-partisan Education Week, "Quality Counts Survey," 2008.The Education Coalition believes that any proposal brought forward should protect Proposition 98, not by altering what school districts are already owed, but by following the minimum school funding guarantee.There's more...

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

They definitely know how to party at the state's Lottery Department,but unfortunately, taxpayers have to pick up the bill, the SacramentoBee reports. Democratic Controller John Chiang is pushing the LotteryDirector to repay the costs of some of the exorbitant activities.

Assembly Republicans are "working" on a plan to give more funding to schools without raising taxes, the San DiegoUnion Tribune. Whether this plan will make any sense policy-wise, andwhether it fulfills the spending minimums currently in place, remain tobe seen.

Right-wing crusader Tom McClintock, always the under-dog, may get a boost in his carpet-bagging Congressional bid if wealthy GOP opponent Doug Ose's personal spending triggers the "millionaire's amendment,"allowing McClintock to triple his contributions, the Bee reports. Someare taking to calling Ose a "liberal millionaire" for his somewhatmoderate record last time he was in Congress.

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by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• New Poll Shows More Californians Favor Tax Increases
• 56% of Californians "Very Concerned" About Spending Cuts
• Major Budget Subcommittee Hearings In April
• Most Actions Will Wait Until Governor's May Budget Revisions

By Marty D. Omoto
Director/Organizer
California Disability Community Action Network

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Perhaps the fumes from the engines on their power yachts finally got to them. That’s the only logical explanation we can think of as to why the Assembly Republicans, breaking their own record for political tone-deafness, would have chosen the swanky new boutique hotel Le Rivage as the location for their caucus retreat.
 
Nestled into the banks of the Sacramento River, Le Rivage offers “elegant surroundings, select accommodations, impeccable service, and unique amenities combine to create the finest luxury hotel in California's capital.” What unique amenities, you ask?
 
How about – you guessed it -- "luxury yacht parking, long term and short term."
 
According to the hotel’s website: Le Rivage Hotel proudly hosts Sacramento’s premier yacht parking.

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[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

(Cross-posted on Calitics).

This is really kind of priceless. So the Assembly caucuses are having their legislative retreats this week. The Assembly Democrats are meeting at the UC Davis Medical Center. The Assembly Republicans have booked out this hotel. In addition to the many amenities at the Le Rivage Hotel, they offer:

"Marina - Offers luxury yacht parking, long term and short term"

Whether it's welfare queen Tom McClintock grabbing $300,000 in tax-free per diem payments even though he lives a short commute from the capital, or Jeff Denham pretending to decline pay raises while accepting them a few months after everyone stops paying attention, or Assembly Republicans making sure their retreat has luxury yacht parking, the contrast between the party of the people and the party of self-enrichment is striking. The Yacht Party detests runaway spending unless it's spent on them.