[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

“Ghost Voting”, the practice of one lawmaker voting for another in the California Assembly, regularly makes “news” as an abuse—another malfeasance by politicians.

In fact, abuses of the practice are rare, and the practice itself is both necessary and constant. While the smaller State Senate uses a ‘voice’ vote for its tallies, the Assembly has used a mechanical tote machine since the mid-1930’s. It requires a lawmaker to unlock the buttons on his or her desk and push either the green or red button on each vote. To do so, the lawmaker must remain in or quite near the desk. A Senator can roam the floor and the rear of the Senate chamber in conversations with other Senators and staff and still call out “aye” when his or her name is called.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

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

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

by davej [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

In California Hannah-Beth Jackson is running for the State Senate.  This is a key race because this is the Senate seat that could flip from Republican to Democrat, finally giving the Dems a 2/3 majority and enabling them to finally pass budgets. Her website is: Meet Hannah-Beth
Hannah-Beth is a former member of the California State Assembly who founded Speak Out California, where I post once or twice a week, and the Institute for the Renewal of the California Dream (which does not yet have a website) where I am a Senior Fellow.  This should tell you that she is a solid progressive, concerned with advancing democracy, community, and the mutual prosperity of all Californians instead of the benefits of our work and investment being funneled to the corporations and wealthy.  So she has my endorsement and I hope she can earn yours.

by Kevin Shaw [courtesy of Blog for America]

Forwarded message from Anne Dicker, DFA endorsed candidate for the PA Senate and founder of Philly for Change:

More good news!

Today, the Philadelphia Daily News endorsed me for State Senate in the First District, saying that I was the right choice to represent all residents fairly.

Here's a quote:

"Progressive candidate Anne Dicker...has long experience as a neighborhood and anti-casino organizer...she's in it to fight the Fumo and Dougherty machines.

(Click Read More for the rest of this post)

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Is Netflix founder Reed Hastings still smarting from the State Senate's rejection of his president of the State Board of Education years ago?

It sure seems like it. Yesterday he dumped nearly $100k into Governor Schwarzenegger's "Voters First" redistricting campaign, a hefty chunk of change. Hastings also contributed to the anti-term limits reform effort last year.

The Hastings donation is yet another from Schwarzenegger's top donor list. In recent days, the New Majority PAC -- whose mission is to elect more Republicans to the legislature, has quietly contributed another 50K. That's in addition to the 150K it contributed earlier this year.

There are still no major Democratic donors to this latest redistricting effort. Over the weekend, a major union coalition announced its opposition.