by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Lt. Governor John Garamendi today sent a stern letter to Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, insisting that proposed new rules that would alter voter-approved protections of Proposition 103, and very likely lead to escalating insurance rates, be subjected to public scrutiny. In an "Emergency Regulation" yesterday, Poizner proposed weakening regulations for home, auto, and business insurers that have saved California consumers $62 billion since Proposition 103 was enacted. Garamendi issued the following statement:

"I spent eight years transforming the California Department of Insurance into the best consumer protection agency in America. I will not stand idly by and watch that be dismantled on the backs of consumers.

Almost twenty years ago California consumers rose up to take control of their insurance costs by passing prop 103. The measure was put into law to ensure that consumers would have rights in dealing with giant insurance companies. Attempts to short circuit the protections inherent in prop 103 will only lead to another uprising. ..."

There's more...

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

Via TPM , word of internal polling from Jackie Speier that shows her with a huge 30 point lead over incumbent Tom Lantos.  Speier's camp quotes a 57%-27% lead over Lantos is a straight "who would you support" poll of the 12th district.

Rep. Lantos, as of October filings, has nearly $1.4 million cash on hand and it's looking like he might need to start using it if he wants to hold this seat.  He's been increasingly crotchety lately, condemning free speech in the name of MoveOn, blasting visiting Dutch legislators for not being upset enough about the Holocaust and calling German Chancellor Gerhard Schr?der a political prostitute.

The goodwill and name recognition that Speier built up during her primary run for Lt. Governor last year seem to be serving her well out of the gate.  I'm sure Lantos will bounce back from numbers like these, especially once the incumbent protection kicks in.  But if these numbers prove to be remotely accurate, it's gonna be a heckuva race on the peninsula.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

As the victims of last month's Southern California wildfires begin to rebuild their lives, one would think Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner would be out standing guard against insurance company malfeasance. But with today's pledge to dump $1.5 million of his seemingly bottomless pool of cash into the No on Prop 93 campaign, Lt. Governor John Garamendi is not convinced Poizner's priorities align with the interests of the people of California:

"Today our state is still recovering from last month's devastating Southern California fires where nearly 2000 people lost their homes," Garamendi said. "I would expect that our Insurance Commissioner would be focused on helping our fellow Californians rebuild their lives, not playing politics. Today we must focus on healing California. There will be plenty of time for politics tomorrow."

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Sara S. Nichols

With the number of smelt in the California Delta dwindling daily, the public is an uproar calling for Lt. Governor John Garamendi to name the remaining smelt.

"Let's get real," said Gloria Gussmacher, a petite resident of the Delta region, "while the rest of the state government seems powerless to stop the daily smelt slaughter, there is one man who can help--Lt. Governor John Garamendi. Please Mr. Garamendi, these smelt are going to their deaths nameless and afraid. Please Mr. Garamendi, name the smelt!"

The Lt. Governor has already established clear naming jurisdiction over whales who have made their way within the Delta region. Recently he made headlines by naming a mother and calf "Delta and Dawn" as they explored the Sacramento River.

But does the Lt. Governor have the authority to name anything but sea mammals? And who is looking into the problem?

"Frankly, I'm upset. The Lt. Governor keeps holding these press conferences and workshops to discuss what happened with the whales. But they already have names!!! Meanwhile the smelt are dying daily, and we have no idea what to put on their graves," said 10 year old Emily Stevens, an avid smelt watcher.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Lt. Governor and CSU Trustee John Garamendi accepting letters. Garamendi has opposed fee hikes as an unfair tax on students and a dangerously shortsighted move that places the quality of California’s workforce in jeopardy. The Legislature and Governor were then visited by students to include funds in the state budget that would make the fee increase unnecessary.

By Brian Ferguson

Students, faculty and state political leaders gathered on the West Steps of the Capitol Wednesday morning to speak out against a proposed 10 percent fee hike for California State University students currently being considered by the legislature.

Student representatives from all 23 CSU campuses were on hand to deliver more than 7,000 handwritten letters from students to legislators asking for the fees not to be raised. Lt. Gov John Garamendi, who is also a CSU Board of Trustees member, was on hand to accept the letters.

“It is critical that we invest in our students and ensure that they can afford a college education,” said Garamendi. “California’s continued leadership and success depend upon our ability to adequately prepare our students to address the future needs of our state.”