[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Media consolidation has claimed yet another member of the Capitol press corps today.
 
Steve Geissinger, the long-time Oakland Tribune writer and the paper's Sacramento bureau chief, is the latest layoff victim. The layoff ends the newspaper's presence in Sacramento, though it will continue to share articles with other newspapers in the MediaNews publishing group, namely the San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times.
 
Geissinger is one of the senior members of the press corps and president of the Capitol Correspondents Association. I recently worked with him on some delicate negotiations involving the press credentialing of bloggers, and first met him when I was the press secretary for Gov. Gray Davis. Steve often picked up stories that others wouldn't touch; his most recent blockbuster involved the state lottery. He'll be missed.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Dan Walters has been crusading, as usual, against the political “mess” in Sacramento. Walter’s focus of late has been the state’s budget deficit and what to do about it.

Like all journalists who never have to depend upon voters to retain their job, Walters can speak with disdain about those who do. He believes union-driven Democratic spending on the one hand, and tax-cutting Republicans on the other got us into this mess.
His solution would visit punishment on politicians of both parties: Force painful spending cuts from the Democrats, and end the charade of Republicans trying to identify themselves as the ‘no tax’ party by forcing them to agree to a take hike.

Governor Schwarzenegger, as always, is trying to please everyone. He has spending cuts that Democrats oppose and tax hikes (on a contingency basis) that drive Republicans crazy - so one would expect Walters and the Capitol press ‘pack’ to praise him.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Dan Walters suggests the Legislature cut a stick – for him to beat them with

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Liz Hill, the budget analyst is retiring to columns of approbation from the Capitol Press Corps. Dan Walters is the latest to heap praise on Hill.

Walters sets up a false dichotomy between “the right thing to do” and the “politically expedient” thing to do. The “politically expedient” thing is that which voters would prefer to see and which they would reward with further service The “right thing” would be to take action voters oppose – like raising taxes or cutting essential spending.

Funny, I always thought the people should have a voice in this business

Walters is part of the “I know better” caucus. Not answerable to the people, they feel free to castigate politicians forced to pay attention by the election process.

Liz Hill is one of them too. As Walters correctly writes, “Hill’s alternative budget
Had something for every party, every ideology, virtually every budget interest group to dislike”. Walters believes that to be a good thing. (After all, it has no public support).
I don’t agree.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

“I’ve got a great idea, let’s put on our own show”. Thus Mickey Rooney’s line in a half dozen “barnyard musicals” of the 1930’s. The same worn script is now being used by the government in California’s budget crisis.

The legislative “show” is the repeated effort of Democrats to cast Republicans as the villains in the state’s budget crisis for their refusal to offset service cuts with new taxes. The GOP has their own script, claiming they are all that stands between Democratic taxes and economic ruin for California.

The audience for these shows, the Capitol Press Corps, writes critical reviews of both shows. They prefer fantasy scripts of the sort written by the retiring “budget nun”, Liz Hill. Her recommendations have the strange virtue of rave reviews while commanding absolutely NO votes from ANY of those who employ her for advice (!)

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Former Governor Gray Davis will face the Capitol press corps for the first time in four years when he appears before the Sacramento Press Club on Wednesday, November 14th at noon at the Sterling Hotel.
 
The appearance should give Capitol insiders plenty to cluck about; Davis has had nothing but praise about Gov. Schwarzenegger and his ex-Deputy Chief of Staff Susan Kennedy, who is now Arnold's chief of staff. Expect reporters to grill Davis about post-recall life, his reflections on the 2003 election, and how he sees the 2008 election shaping up.
 
For details, visit the Sacramento Press Club's website.