[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Will the Board of Parole Hearings and the Schwarzenegger Administration Follow the Law?

By Ken Karan

Incarcerating people who are permanently medically incapacitated is a policy that produces no benefit to taxpayers at astronomical expense. The State of California is facing a 17 billion dollar budget deficit. Government officials must decide whether to continue diverting millions of dollars in public funds to incarcerate comatose or paralyzed inmates, or spend that money to hire teachers and police officers.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The San Francisco Chronicle's long-time Capital insider Greg Lucas has announced he's leaving what's left of the newspaper's Sacramento bureau. In a departure note to friends and fans, the 19-year veteran of the paper wrote that he is leaving to "write more travel stories and feed my seemingly unquenchable wanderlust ... And I don’t think I’m too old to learn the new trick of blog although I’m troubled since it’s a four-letter word like work and golf ... P.S.
I’ll see you around campus. I’ll be the guy with the earring and the "Will Write 4 Food" sign."
 
Mark Martin, who also has been a stalwart writer at the paper for the last several years, also is moving to greener pastures. Martin will be working at the Little Hoover Commission.
 
The departure of Lucas and Martin leaves just two reporters left in the Sacramento bureau of the financially troubled Chronicle, having shaved an editor two weeks ago and not replacing another reporter who left.

Also moving on is David Kravets, the long-time AP legal reporter, who has left his post as press secretary to Attorney General Jerry Brown. Kravets had been on the job for just three months. He's now searching for another job in the political press world.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

There are studies after studies of academics, a Committee headed by a former law and order Republican Governor, and bipartisan groups such as the state's Little Hoover Commission decrying the ceaseless ratcheting up of the years of punishment for crime in this state since we adopted a "determinate" sentencing law in 1976. You can see a stack of them in the picture to the left. California's newspapers have recognized this problem and there have been a number of editorials on this of late.

Republicans have been the main culprits in the thirty years war in this state to prove they are the toughest on crime. Their behavior reminds me of George Wallace, the segregationist Governor of Alabama, a Democrat, who after losing an election early on vowed to never be "outsegged" again.

Whether it is through ballot propositions or the dozens of bills to increase sentences they introduce every year, they try to intimidate Democrats in marginal districts into this game of one-upmanship. They complain of bills being held up in committee if they don't get that way. When sentences are increased one year, they are back next year trying to up the ante. To quote a phrase, "There ain't enough red meat to feed that alligator."

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

You don’t need me to remind you that Rep. John Doolittle has been in the news a lot lately. Since FBI officials raided his Virginia home yesterday, California Democratic Party Chair Art Torres upped the ante on efforts to unseat Doolitte in 2008. Last year’s challenger, Charlie Brown, came within four percentage points and is currently at a fundraising advantage. <><>Speaker Fabian Nunez’s plan to hand over redistricting power to the Little Hoover Commission received a cold reception yesterday from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said through a spokesperson that she had “not read” the bill. Pelosi is concerned about preserving the fragile Democratic majority, but she must not be so cynical as to think Democrats are not capable of winning on ideas, even in marginal districts. <><>One of the lawsuits that became a part of the “partial-birth” abortion case decided by the Supreme Court yesterday was filed by a Bay Area Planned Parenthood, the Oakland Tribune reports. The decision has been denounced in themedical community for its vague language and seeming distrust ofdoctors to make good judgments.<><>Several editorials board entered the “partial birth” abortion debate today, questioning the political nature of the opinion (change in membership rather than a change in constitutional interpretation resulted in the shift) and the autonomy of doctors.<><>Hugh Heftner doesn’t just play favorites with Playboy Bunnies. He has some favorite politicians as well, recently slipping a $2300 check to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.He has sent over $13,000 to Los Angeles Rep. Loretta Sanchez, makingher his “favorite” member of Congress.Read on... 

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez unveiled a bipartisan redistricting plan today. Congress would be included, and the maps would be drawn by the respected Little Hoover Commission. Here's some sound from the Speaker today.Speaker Núñez says his proposal is balanced and fair.Speaker Núñez explains why he included Congressional districts in his redistricting proposal.Speaker Núñez explains why he chose the Little Hoover Commission to handle the redrawing of political boundaries.Speaker Núñez says his proposal is not a political power grab.Speaker Núñez says his plan is fair, honest and straightforward.