[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
 
The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is weighing in on the Fair Political Practices Commission today when it meets to consider new rules for the disclosure of expenses by political candidates, calling for "explanations" of the expenses far beyond what the state watchdog agency is proposing.
 
Yet this so-called "taxpayer and consumer group" refuses to provide any information to the press or to the state about who its donors are.
 
So in other words, do as we say, not as we do.
 
You would think that an organization that pretends to represent taxpayers and consumers would adhere to the same principles that it is calling for others to follow.
 
You'd think they'd own up to being a front for the California Nurses Association (which, as reported here, reported through their mandatory reporting that they've given the Foundation hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years) on the health care bill. Or Lord knows who else from the special interest world has helped fund their fact-deprived press conferences and media stunts.
 
But no.
 
It appears that the Foundation continues to live in its glass house: an organization with no members that are consumers or taxpayers, and failing to provide the very transparency they are calling on others to have.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Because apparently everybody loves an overpriced and overhyped idea, the Governator wants to do some more public-private partnerships for road maintenance and such:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday proposed an expanded push for public-private partnerships and set a goal to add 20,000 new engineers to California's work force as part of his upcoming January budget plan.

The Schwarzenegger administration wants the state to expand the types of public projects that can be built with the financial might of private companies.Current law does not allow state government broad authority to use this type of contracting - known as a Performance Based Infrastructure - except in emergencies or through legislative approval. (SacBee 12.27.07)

The thing is, as both Robert and I have argued, they don't actually end up cheaper, or more efficient. Sure, they have success stories here and there, but overwhelmingly, what ends up happening is once the cameras disappear from the press conferences hyping these P3s, the bill gets higher as the owners of the corporation demand higher and higher profits. Oh, and they don't have the same labor standards as state agencies do.

So, yeah, let's line the pockets of investors with our state general fund. Sounds like a great plan.

by juls [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(cross-posted from Working Californians)

The legislature really aught to have issued a proclamation making today Michael Moore day to celebrate the California release of his new film Sicko.  The Capitol is practically ringed by satellite news trucks, in town to cover an almost constant schedule of press conferences, rallies, photo-ops and screenings.  I stopped by to pick up my ticket for tonight's screening hosted by Fabian Nunez and snuck into the press conference he was holding with Moore.

Moore supports single payer health care to cover all Americans and get the profit motive out of the equation with regards to health insurance companies.  To this end he is holding a rally with CNA and press conferences with Sen. Kuehl today.  However, during the press conference with Nunez, he was supportive of legislative efforts to revise the current private industry model.  They did joke about Arnold's current opposition to SB 840, with Nunez saying "Who knows, maybe he watches and..." Moore quipped "Well, he likes movies."  Moore is looking for California to lead the way on the issue, as we have done on issues like the minimum wage and the environment.  He sees his film working on concert with legislative efforts.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

The legislature really aught to have issued a proclamation making today Michael Moore day to celebrate the California release of his new film Sicko. The Capitol is practically ringed by satellite news trucks, in town to cover an almost constant schedule of press conferences, rallies, photo-ops and screenings. I stopped by to pick up my ticket for tonight's screening hosted by Fabian Nunez and snuck into the press conference he was holding with Moore.

Moore supports single payer health care to cover all Americans and get the profit motive out of the equation with regards to health insurance companies. To this end he is holding a rally with CNA and press conferences with Sen. Kuehl today. However, during the press conference with Nunez, he was supportive of legislative efforts to revise the current private industry model. They did joke about Arnold's current opposition to SB 840, with Nunez saying "Who knows, maybe he watches and..." Moore quipped "Well, he likes movies." Moore is looking for California to lead the way on the issue, as we have done on issues like the minimum wage and the environment. He sees his film working on concert with legislative efforts.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Lessons in Democracy for Historic Number of First Time Delegates

The California Democratic Party 2007 state convention in San Diego was gaveled to an end yesterday, but not before setting a number of records:

• Over 1,000 new delegates in attendance; almost half of those attending were first time convention goers, demonstrating a resurgence of energy and enthusiasm for the party that bodes well for 2008 and beyond.

• 2,264 delegates registered and attending the convention

• More than 400 press credentials issued, including 50 bloggers or new media "citizen journalists."

• More than 700 volunteers

• Seven Democratic candidates for President addressing the main convention hall, followed by multiple press conferences, press availabilities, and some of them attending live blogging meetings in rooms off the floor.

• Over 500 California Young Democrats in the hall.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

First appearance of a funny hat and political button wearing delegate

By Frank D. Russo

It is hard to describe in words all the comings and goings at the California Democratic Convention.

There is the formal side, the endless meetings of the Resolutions Committee as they grind through over 120 proposals to winnow them to a dozen for floor consideration, the press conferences, the dozens of caucus meetings, the workshops, and what you can see from the agenda of the convention.

But it is what is taking place in the hallways and other parts of the massive San Diego convention hall—the conversations, the hugs of Democrats who haven’t seen each other for a long time, the new acquaintances, the exchange of ideas as first time delegates mingle with the perennial convention goers-- that often go unnoticed and unreported. It can be argued that this is even more important than the formal superstructure of these three days and essential to what will be playing out through the next set of elections and beyond. Through the zaniness, the baroque grandeur, and the overstated appearances one sees tothe sometimes the little gestures and words one hears while wandering about, there is a kinetic kind of energy that only the Democratic party has when it is on the ascendance.