[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

My first boss in the Legislature was Budget Chair under Speaker Unruh, and his particular interest was in the State’s program for crippled children.

When Ronald Reagan ended 8 years of Pat Brown in 1966, that program was gutted to save money. Dozens of kids died for lack of care. Thousands more were beset with the emotional problems that occur when teased by their peers for the inability to speak with a cleft palate. I learned of their situations individually, by answering letters from anguished parents for my boss.

It showed me that there was a difference between Democrats and Republicans. A difference worth fighting for.

And, it demonstrated to my satisfaction that, when you lost, a lot of people paid the consequences.

So when I read the tepid arguments of due process Democrats who would sacrifice the election advantages provided by partisan redistricting in the name of “fairness” or “due process”, I feel disgust. Such people view politics as a game where the outcomes matter less than ‘how the game is played’. Matter less to themselves, I’m sure. But not to those whose lives – or quality of life – is directly dependent on political outcomes.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Susan Smartt
Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters

Super Tuesday and the political excitement generated by the February presidential primary has passed, and most Californians, particularly those who care about the environment, are looking ahead to the November presidential elections. Indeed, the inertia and environmental backsliding by the Bush Administration over the last seven years give environmentally-minded Californians including the folks at the California League of Conservation (CLCV) good reason to look ahead (see http://ecovote.org/heat/). However, if you care about issues like global warming, sprawl, protecting the coast or the quality of the air that you’re breathing as you read this, you should join CLCV in treating the June 3rd primary with the same urgency as the November election.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• Calls Governor his "friend" who has been ill advised as he was in 2005 special election and expresses optimism after budget is reworked
• Rejects call to pay off Wall Street early while kids on Main Street do without
• Transit cuts inconsistent with posing for cover of Newsweek as "savior of global warming"

By Frank D. Russo

California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez appeared with Don Perata, the head of the State Senate, and the budget committee chairs of both houses today after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his revised budget proposal. Both his formal remarks and answers to questions from reporters left no doubt that he strongly disagrees with the Governor on many points, including how the new budget proposal treats the state's blind, aged, disabled, and the poor.

Despite strong words at times, Nunez also expressed optimism that the legislature will be able to work with the Governor on reworking these proposals in an acceptable budget in line with California's values. He said he did not find "shared sacrifice" in the budget, a phrase remarkably similar to the Governor's pet phrase of "shared responsibility" that he uses to promote his health plan.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• Speaks of the most vulnerable Californians in the "free-fire zone"
• Calls on Governor to lead beyond the budget to rationalize revenue, spending, and a tax system that makes us "a sidecar to the federal government"
• Compares state lottery to funding government by "bake sale"

Democratic Senate Leader Don Perata with Budget Committee Chairs John Laird of the Assembly and Jenny Oropeza of the Senate in background

By Frank D. Russo

Don Perata, the President pro Tem of the California Senate spoke of Democratic values in response to Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed revisions of the California state budget. But he didn't just limit his remarks to the issues of this year's budget, and branched off into a philosophical discussion of systemic changes in the way our state approaches raising revenue and spending it.

Speaking to dozens of reporters at a press conference without notes immediately following the Governor's unveiling of changes to the budget, Perata's colorful remarks drew laughter at times, but was also thought provoking and had the ring of candor.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Resolutions Need Delegate Backing to Realize Party's Goals

[We have received this response from Mayme Hubert of Take Back Red California leaders of the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party and other delegates who will be working to bring about changes of the party at the upcoming state convention.]

Open letter to County Central Committee Chairs

Re: Resolutions to be considered at the State Convention April 27-29, 2007

Dear County Committee Chairs,