[courtesy of California Progress Report]

More Than Enough Voters Wrote in a Name in the 15th Senatorial District—But Did They Vote For Democrat Dennis Morris?

By Frank D. Russo

Votes are still being counted in a number of races across the state and in some of the closer ones, the outcome will not be known for sure until all straggling ballots are cast.

But in the 15th Senate District race which stretches across 5 counties on the California Central Coast, which could determine if Democrats get an important two-thirds majority in that house, the result will depend on whether enough Democrats have written in the name Dennis Morris. It is a district where the incumbent, Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado is the most vulnerable of all the Senate Republicans running this year. Democratic registration has been surging in this district and there is not a 40.5% to 36.2% edge they have over Republicans—the highest of any seat not in Democratic hands.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Senate president pro tem Don Perata is ending his efforts to recall Republican state Senator Jeff Denham,reports the LA Times. Republican leaders have persuaded him his supportof the recall would hinder budget negotiations; the measure itself willstill remain on the ballot.

Barack Obama paid a visit to the House of Representativestoday, to the apparent delight of his supporters, reports the SanFrancisco Chronicle's politics blog. Speaker Nancy Pelosi hasreiterated that the race continues, but it's clear that many see Obamaas the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Obama's aides say that he will declare victory soonafter the Oregon and Kentucky contests give him a majority of pledgeddelegates on May 20, but Hillary Clinton is prepared to dispute hisclaim, reports Politico. According to Howard Wolfson, a chiefstrategist for Clinton, “We don’t accept 2,025. It is not the realnumber because that does not include Florida and Michigan. It’s a phonynumber.”

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata issued a statement and took questions from reporters shortly after 5 p.m. today on the steps to the state Capitol. The Sacramento Bee has an article on this with a few more details. Sacramento sources indicated last week that the polling for the race was not too favorable for the recall succeeding.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Hundreds rally on Capitol Steps, including Republican State Senator Maldonado

Photos courtesy of Diana Casanova

By Elizabeth Goldstein
President
California State Parks Foundation

The Save Our State Parks (SOS) Campaign held a rally on the West Steps of the Capitol yesterday in protest of the proposed cuts to state parks. More than 300 park advocates including legislators, mayors, surfers, hikers, campers, RV enthusiasts, and other parks users chanted slogans and held signs decrying the proposed closure of 48 state parks and the reduction of life guard staffing at 16 state beaches.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Marty D. Omoto
Director/Organizer
California Disability Community Action Network

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I mentioned last week that the recall efforts for Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Modesto/Merced/Salinas) were getting to the signature gathering stage. Now, it seems that this movement might have some political muscle behind it after all.  When word of support from the CA Dem Party came out through financial statements, everybody assumed that they would back off. 

But Don Perata has not backed off. The process needs 31,084 signatures by Feb. 13, and it's looking like that might actually happen:

A political committee with close ties to Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata is spending thousands of dollars to try to recall a sitting Republican state senator in a move the targeted lawmaker called "unprecedented." Campaign statements filed this week show the Voter Education and Registration Fund has spent more than $41,000 on an effort to recall GOP Sen. Jeffrey Denham. ... "I do think the recall will appear on the ballot," said Paul Hefner, a spokesman for Perata and the Voter Education and Registration Fund, "and I do think the voters of the 12th (Senate) District will recall Jeff Denham." (SacBee 10/3/07) 

read more »

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

There is a double header of breaking good news.

The California State Senate is in the process of passing the state's budget with Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman joining his fellow Republican lawmaker Abel Maldonado in voting for it and trailer bills associated with it. Some of the trailer bills, attached to and necessary for the budget to go into effect have been passed by the Senate and have received other Republican votes.

The budget bill is "on call," meaning the record is being kept open for additional votes to pass it. It has 26 votes, one shy of the number needed. The Senate is waiting for the arrival of Democratic State Senator Edward Vincent who is bill but will provide the final vote for passage.

Republican State Senator Tom McClintock, along with some of his party colleagues have maintained perfect records of never having voted for a California State Budget.

Ackerman's vote may result in a change of Senate Republican leadership, with a new minority leader having been predicted for some time now. Ackerman himself had indicated he would be stepping down before he is termed out next year under current law.