[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Robert Cruickshank
California High Speed Rail Blog

The Senate Transportation Committee yesterday approved AB 3034 by an 8-4 vote. But as Erik Nelson at the Contra Costa Times reports it included some great amendments, including Sen. Leland Yee's plan to restore the primacy of LA-SF:

“The committee, at the urging of Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, restored language that restricted use of the $9.95 billion in bond proceeds to the "spine" of the 800-mile system, which is now slated to run from Anaheim to Los Angeles to San Jose and San Francisco through the Antelope and San Joaquin valleys.”

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

[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.”

There's more...

Image courtesy Time Magazine.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The California Labor Federation has released its 2007 scorecard with 14 Democratic legislators garnering perfect scores.
 
The Labor Fed ranked legislators on 35 votes. They ranged from health care reform to child care provider protection to the four gaming compacts.
 
One hundred percent ratings in the Assembly went to: Assemblymembers Julia Brownley; Mark DeSaulnier; Mike Eng; Edward Hernandez; Dave Jones; Mark Leno; Fiona Ma; Ira Ruskin; Lori Saldana; and Sandre Swanson. In the Senate, perfect grades went to Senators Ellen Corbett, Christine Kehoe, Carole Migden, Darrell Steinberg, and Patricia Wiggens.
 
Lowest scoring Democrats were Senator Lou Correa and Mike Machado (53 percent), Assemblywomen Cathleen Galgiani (61 percent) and Nicole Parra (67 percent).
 
Scoring the lowest were Republican Senators Tom McClintock, Sam Aanestad, and Bob Margett at 3 percent.

by Lucas O'Connor [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The Dump Denham campaign came to life in the midst of last year's budget wrangling, helped in no small part by Senator Don Perata.  Well Jeff Denham may or may not ultimately face recall, but he'll be termed out in 2010 if he lasts that long, and it looks like Democrats have themselves a challenger ready.  It seems that Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani recently moved into Denham's Senate district.

Galgiani, who succeeded the ever-popular Barbara Matthews in 2006, says she just wants to live closer to the center of her Assembly District, but it certainly is convenient that she also happens to enter SD-12.  Denham's district is at or near the top of nearly every Dem-target list for the near future, especially as the 2/3 rule collides with the year's budget crisis.

Just a hunch, but I'm guessing that budget flexibility is going to become a bigger issue over the course of the year, what with that whole budget shortfall thing.  And healthcare funding.  And Indian Gaming compacts.  Might just be that ambition is finding a place in all this.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

AB 1x1 -- the state's landmark healthcare bill -- has passed the Assembly. If the Senate approves, 70% of California's uninsured, including all children, would be covered, and most Californians would be required to acquire health insurance. Subsidies, rebates, and exemptions would be provided for those below 400% of the poverty line, or for those who's medical expenses exceed 5.5%.

Given the looming deficit, it's not surprising that Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and others are wary about supporting the healthcare bill, even if it doesn't tap into the general fund. Twenty-one lawmakers are doing their part in refusing a $3,110 per year raise. Among them are Assemblypersons Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton).

Mitt Romney's run for the highest office is causing a stir in the Mormon community statewide. Californian Mormons are "raising money and rallying support" for the former Massachusetts governor.

There's more... 

Image courtesy of Sacbee.com