by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The AP has gotten a hold of the governor's May Revise speech and therefore the major budget proposals that are to be unveiled tomorrow. The key elements are described below and over the flip I provide my immediate analysis.

• Arnold will float bonds using the state lottery as security. $15 billion over 3 years will be raised but $10 billion goes into "rainy day fund"
• If that fails, 1% sales tax hike to last no more than 3 years
• Prop 98 suspension abandoned; instead COLA will not be paid
• State parks closures abandoned; instead fees to rise $1 to $2
• $6 billion still left to cut or balance out somehow."

Analysis below...

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The San Jose State Survey and Policy Research Center (SPRI) released today the second part of a poll taken earlier this month that showed Prop 93--the term limits measure--ahead 51% to 27% amongst likely voters with 21% undecided, a substantial majority continuing to support illegal immigrants becoming legal residents of California (59% of Californians and 53% of voters), and that there is support for a sales tax increase to support insurance coverage for Californians.

The poll can be found on the SPRI site along with results released Friday as to the Presidential Primary race. There is a lot more here on Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity (it continues to be high and above 50% of both voters and Californians), the direction of the state (down to only 42%-39% right track versus wrong) which is positively balmy when compared with the 26% who say the nation as a whole is headed in the right direction while 59% of Californians say it is "seriously off on the wrong track."

Presidential Primary

In the Democratic primary for President, Hillary Clinton is ahead with all primary votes by 42$ to 20% for Barack Obama and 14% for John Edwards. A full 24% of Democratic primary voters are either supporting another candidate or are undecided.