[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Today, thousands of Californians young and old are packing unionshalls, senior centers, churches and schools around the state to selectdelegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, and the number of candidates is unprecedented, theSan Francisco Chronicle reports. For instance, in Barbara Lee's EastBay Congressional district, 101 people are vying for four delegateslots for Barack Obama.

Balancing the budget is hard, as this Sacramento Bee article pointsout, and sometimes the kind of non-partisan solutions offered  byLegislative Analyst Liz Hill are ignored. The balance becomes harderwhen Republicans insist on calling every proposed tax increase "stifling."

For more on Republican budget hypocrisy, check out this Calitics piece, which breaks down what exactly the GOP means by "economic growth."

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Consider this an open thread.

[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 (!)

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Legislative Analyst Liz Hill is going to retire at the end of the year. She has served in the psot for 22 years.  Her no-nonsense style will surely be missed around Sacramento.  From Speaker Nunez in the SacBee.:

"Everyone who values serious advice for meeting California's serious challenges owes a tremendous debt to Liz Hill," said Assembly Speaker Fabian N??ez, D-Los Angeles, in a statement. "Her thoughtful, non-partisan stewardship of the Legislative Analyst's Office is an example of public service at its best."

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

As Speaker, Karen Bass will be a strong fighter for Democratic values and an able consensus builder, while making sure Los Angeles gets its fair share, the LA Timeseditorializes today. Bass has enjoyed an excellent press cycle andseems to have the benefit of the doubt—like the Times, we look forwardto seeing her at work.

The Governor is heading to Ohio this weekend, but not campaign for John McCain,who still faces a nominal challenge from Mike "I believe in miracles"Huckabee, according to the Bee. Schwarzenegger is actually going toparticipate in the Arnold Sports Festival—but don't you think he'llsneak in an appearance with Mac?

One thing we can say about Arnold: he has had at least three different positions on the budget in just this past week ,resisting taxes, then embracing Legislative Analyst Liz Hill's modesttax loophole proposals,  now backing away from that support. TheSacramento Bee reports that the Governor has now distanced himself fromanything specific, saying we need to "you know, close the taxloopholes."

There's more...

Photo courtesy of the Sacramento Bee.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Jenny Oropeza
California State Senator