[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata issued a statement and took questions from reporters shortly after 5 p.m. today on the steps to the state Capitol. The Sacramento Bee has an article on this with a few more details. Sacramento sources indicated last week that the polling for the race was not too favorable for the recall succeeding.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

There he was, being introduced by California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata as the “maid in waiting,” the man with a Cheshire cat grin, who had gained the easy consensus of the Senate Democratic Caucus that he will take Perata’s place—on August 21 at the end of this year’s legislative session. Standing next to him was Senator Alex Padilla, who had been interested in the top spot, but who was effusive in his support of Steinberg. The two contenders had just broken bread—literally—they had lunch before appearing before reporters, Steinberg a chopped salad and Padilla a turkey and cheese sandwich at the River Café in Sacramento.

Earlier in the day, the Sacramento Bee had headlined it “A 'nice guy' out to finish first Steinberg could be Capital's first Senate leader since 1883.” Keying on that, Padilla said of his onetime competitor, “I’m here to tell the Sacramento Bee that, yes, Darrel Steinberg is a nice guy. He is not only well liked, but truly respected.”

by dday [courtesy of Calitics: Soapblox California - Front Page]

This is an absolutely enormous development.  Clean Money got kind of lost in the shuffle at last weekend's CDP Convention, but Loni Hancock's AB 583 has been quietly making its way through the Assembly.  It cleared the Assembly Elections Committee, and yesterday there was a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which was favorable.  And now, the Senate President pro Tem has signed on to be a co-author.  Considering that the CDP wouldn't take a position on Clean Money just a year ago, this is historic news.  Susan Lerner writes in an email to supporters:

I want you to be among the first to hear the exciting news:  California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata just became a co-author of AB 583, the Clean Money bill!

The President pro Tem joins an ever-growing list of Legislators who are co-authors of AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act.  Clean Money supporters in Senator Perata's Oakland district and throughout California should be proud because it was your calls, letters, and petitions that convinced him to sign on as a active Clean Money supporter.

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