by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

The Congressional Progressive Caucus released an alternative federal budget.  Check out the full article from the Contra Costa Times:

Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairwoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, today rolled out the CPC’s alternative budget, which would cut defense spending; halve U.S. poverty in a decade; and include a second economic stimulus package containing many of the provisions — more spending on public works, food stamps, unemployment insurance and Medicaid assistance to states — pared by Republican demand from the first package last month. 

Danny
Communications Director

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

In the highlight reel this morning is this story from the Contra Costa Times, which picks up on several of my recent posts here on the California Majority Report exposing the heavy Republican donations to the so-called "bipartisan" redistricting effort being put forward by Governor Schwarzenegger and other big Republican donors.

The fact that the mainstream media is picking up on the story is significant in itself. Redistricting has gotten more positive press than Obama in the early days; this is the first article that goes beyond the concept of redistricting and focuses on the flawed nature and motivations of the "Voters First" initiative.

The article notes the heavy contributions by Schwarzenegger contributions and big name Republicans.

If they don't fix that, they're in trouble," Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and the Media at Sacramento State University who has served on the Voices of Reform board advocating redistricting reform, said in the article. "If Democrats don't start contributing, people will say who's this helping, and whose ox is being gored?"

There's more...

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

California’s lawsuit against the EPAhas finally been allowed to move forward in federal court, after theEPA released its justification for refusing to grant California awaiver under the Clean Air Act, reports the Contra Costa Times.

Calitics highlights a very worrying trend in the California economy—the fact that there was nearly zero job growth in the state last year.Only 14,900 new jobs were generated for the whole state, with most ofit in the Bay Area. Southern California actually experienced negativegrowth.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Today’s Contra Costa Times citing unnamed “observers”, fills in the blanks in the Governor’s claim that his redistricting initiative will make Legislative contests more “competitive”.

It could cost the Democrats six seats in the Assembly and two in the Senate, diluting Democratic control of the Legislature.

So why should Democrats support this change?

Republicans have about 34% of the state’s registration. Why not simply allocate them 27 seats (34%) of the Legislative seats. Start the Democrats with 36 seats (their proportionate share) and arrange the remaining 17 seats so the registration is equal to the two-party take (45-34). This would provide the Democrats with a 53 seat upside and only one Republican needed to pass the budget or raise taxes on multi-millionaires.

Republicans would need to win 14 of the 17 to control the Assembly – not an impossible job if they stop recruiting extremists whose views are at odds with the people.

I could accomplish this reform – sufficient competition to make both parties sweat blood – with only a few changes.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

[Editor's note: The following letter was sent to Poizner who heads the opposition to Proposition 93 from Susan Smartt, Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters. No answers to the questions she has asked have been received. California voters deserve to know this information and we wait.]

November 28, 2007

Mr. Steve Poizner
Insurance Commissioner

Dear Commissioner Poizner:

The Contra Costa Times reported last week that a Virginia-based organization gave $1.5 million in contributions to your campaign committee against Proposition 93 but refuses to disclose where the money came from. You have claimed to support political reform but now you’ve accepted $1.5 million in campaign contributions from an out-of-state source that refuses to say who gave the money or why.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Disclosure: I work with the Yes on Prop 93 Campaign. This is also available in orange.

There's already a Howie Rich exposed website, so the Contra Costa Times will have to just stick with the site they have now.  In today's paper (reg req'd), Steven Harmon goes into a little bit more about the mysterious initiative funder:

Just a few days after Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's widely heralded takeover of the No on Proposition 93 campaign, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization quietly chipped in $1.5 million to the cause.

The group, U.S. Term Limits, spends considerable effort and money across the country trying to fend off attempts to weaken term limits laws, such as Prop. 93 -- which will appear on the February ballot -- in California. And the group tries to do so while steering clear of the limelight, which is precisely how Howard "Howie" Rich prefers it. (CCTimes 11/19/07))

More over the flip.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Bush Administration andthe Department of Homeland Security did a better job of responding tothe southern California wildfires than they did to HurricaneKatrina—but not by much. While kudos are given to GovernorSchwarzenegger and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders for a quick response, the federal government was apparently slow to send out firefighting aircraft, instead preferring to stage phony press conferences at FEMA.

Congress is almost certain to override President Bush’s veto of a $23-billion water billyesterday, which includes funds to shore up California’s levies,reports the Contra Costa Times. Bipartisan support for the bill hasbeen strong, as it which would provide money for water projects allover the country.