[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass will have the honor of introducing Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama tonight at a gala in Los Angeles. Senator Obama will be appearing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of The Los Angeles Music Center.
 
Bass was an early supporter of Obama, and is helping coordinate his general election efforts in the U.S.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

In a blow to efforts at getting more workers into unions, the U.S. Supreme Court this week voided a California lawthat barred employers from actively speaking out against union drives,the San Francisco Chronicle reports. We'll watch this to see how itreverberates.

The high court did give a break to older workers, however,ruling that if sued, companies must show that their hiring andtreatment policies do not constitute age bias, the Los Angeles Timesreports.

We can't let the minority party hold up this year's budget over a narrow agendaagain, writes Assembly Speaker Emeritus Fabian Nunez writes in today'sCalifornia Progress Report. The stakes are too high, especially forsmall community health clinics where a couple months of cut-off fundscould mean closing the doors to needed care.

There's more... 

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

James Sweeney of the San Diego Union has a story in today’s paper to the effect that the Sycuan Band of El Cajon has failed to ratify it’s controversial new compact – costing the state $18 million dollars in lost revenue.

The failure of the Tribe to ratify gave the Governor the option of declaring the compact null and void. Had he done so, the state might have fared better. The BEE quotes the Governor’s spokesman as saying he didn’t void the compact because it was “good for the tribe and good for the state”.

This month, the Governor agreed to extend the deadline for the tribe’s OK until the first of next year.

The hitch in negotiations finalizing the compact are secret.

Now is this the same group of Casino-owning Native Americans that patriotically contributed $45,000 this month to the Governor’s redistricting initiative? The Sweeney story fails to mention that fact.

That was the same contribution justified by Kathay Feng of Common Cause who noted that many groups supported redistricting ‘reform’ because they opposed gridlock in the Capitol.

I see.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

When a politician tanks with voters there is a flurry of comments about putting principle above polls, staying the course, and other such hackneyed sayings.

Don’t believe them. No politician does.

Because voters do matter in elections, politicians whose actions have led them out of favor with the public (they had to be ‘in favor’ to be elected) feel dirty. Just as winning is approbation, losing is condemnation. And no matter how much ranting about the ignorant electorate you do, you can’t enjoy the benefit of popularity if it was the result of ignorance.

For a President, our most visible politician, the fall is from a great height. In the wake of 9/11, George Bush III had approval ratings of 74%. But fame is fleeting. Today, 69% of the voters disapprove of the job he’s doing.

It’s time to circle the wagons.

With five months until Bush is replaced, it will be interesting to see whether McCain remains in the circled wagons – or joins the rest of us.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Today, Speaker Karen Bass was sworn in as California's 67th Assembly Speaker. Here are her remarks:

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Today, Speaker Karen Bass was sworn in as California's 67th Assembly Speaker. Here are her remarks:

"To the former Speakers who joined me today as my escorts -- you honor us with your presence the way your service honored this house and this state. Thank you for taking the time to be here today. Since I have been in the legislature I have sought each of you for your guidance, critique and solidarity. And I thank you for that -- and assume you’ll be available for many more phone calls.
 
Members….honored guests…dear friends and family….since my election on February 28th to be the 67th Speaker of the Assembly, I have had the opportunity and experience to be part of an incredible transition –  part of a complex and comprehensive process of receiving the torch from the 66th Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Núñez.
 
I know the job ahead of me as Speaker will be both easier and harder because of the example set by Speaker Núñez.

There's more...

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Today, beginning at noon, Speaker Karen Bass was sworn in as California's 67th Assembly Speaker. Here are her remarks:

"To the former Speakers who joined me today as my escorts -- you honor us with your presence the way your service honored this house and this state. Thank you for taking the time to be here today. Since I have been in the legislature I have sought each of you for your guidance, critique and solidarity. And I thank you for that -- and assume you’ll be available for many more phone calls.
 
Members ... honored guests ... dear friends and family ... since my election on February 28th to be the 67th Speaker of the Assembly, I have had the opportunity and experience to be part of an incredible transition --  part of a complex and comprehensive process of receiving the torch from the 66th Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Núñez.
 
I know the job ahead of me as Speaker will be both easier and harder because of the example set by Speaker Núñez.

read more »