[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Governor Schwarzenegger has dropped a plan to release 22,000 prison inmates early, reports the Sacramento Bee."Not a single legislator in the state had expressed support for theidea."

East Bay residents may be forced to reduce their use of water by 20 percent under a rationing proposal by the East Bay MunicipalUtility District expected to be announced today. "We could have an evendrier year next year, and we could end up with even half that or less.So, we have to stretch every last drop," said EBMUD spokesman CharlesHardy.

The LA Times reports disappointment among many female supporters of Hillary Clinton in West Virginia. Clinton is likely to sweep West Virginia, but it won't make a difference at this point.

There's more... 

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Governor Schwarzenegger's decision to cut the budget across the board(regardless of priority) has consequences -- for some, more seriousthan most. The Sacramento Bee reports that many patients in California Children's Services will face delays in care for serious chronic diseases.

Domestic spying ison the rise, but not terrorism prosecutions. The LA Times reports thatlately law enforcement has increased surveillance of individualsthrough wiretapping and financial records, while terrorism casesbrought to trial dropped 19 percent last year.

Republican election officials are trying to require "proof of citizenship" at the polls. Bill Cavala has the details at the California Progress Report.

There's more...

Image courtesy Sacbee.com

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

It's unusual when a government press office takes on the state's major newspaper. But that's just what happened last Friday.

The LA Times story noting that Gov. Schwarzenegger is exploring new taxes apparently struck a nerve, as the Governor's rapid response team went into full gear to try to prevent it spreading.

In a memo that was distributed to broadcast outlets only, the Schwarzenegger team called the story "inaccurate." "The Governor's staff HAS NOT been holding private meetings with stakeholders to prepare them for a tax increase -- that is 100 percent inaccurate," the memo read. "The Governor's staff has met with a variety of groups to discuss the budget deficit. The staff has said that all ideas are on the table, but this administration believes we cannout tax our way out of our systemic budget problem."

The memo also took aim at "another inaccurate story story that relied on unnamed sources." That one was about the Governor's position backing a story to run a transmission line through a state park. The memo didn't mention the Schwarzenegger version of that story.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The eyes of the nation are upon Pennsylvaia, but there's still a lot going on right here in California.  So, here are a few stories of note:

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Governor Schwarzenegger, along with officials from 17 other states, has signed a pledge urging Congress to quickly adopt legislation on curbing greenhouse gas emissions, reports the San Jose Mercury News. Together, California, Arizona,Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine,Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,Oregon, Virginia and Washington represent more than half the populationof the US.

The Governor’s toughness on climate change is always applauded, but histoughness on other issues is a different story. As this short piece inthe Merc notes, his proposed budget cuts for education would reduce spending to $5.6 billion below the state requirement for education spending.

California’s unemployment rate has spiked to 6.2% , the thirdhighest in the nation, reports the LA Times. The downturn inconstruction, however, could receive a boost from the $40 billioninfrastructure bonds that are starting to come online.

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

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