Today's Fresh Meat

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

With the dust settled and a budget deal in place, the attention turns now to Governor Schwarzenegger, whose promise of $700 million in line-item vetoes was key to passage, the Sacramento Bee reports. Arnold is going to have to becreative—education, law enforcement and tax breaks for property ownersto preserve open space are off the table.

The 14 members of the GOP caucus who held up the budget emerge as the biggest losers at the conclusion of the 52-day impasse, the San Francisco Chroniclereports. The reviews are mixed for Governor Schwarzenegger, who seemedto lose control of the process but now at least can focus on hislegislative priorities.

Hank Shaw points out in today's Stockton Record that Republicans only put up the minimal two votes required for Senate passage, and no Central Valley GOP Senators were part of the mix. Many thoughtthat Jeff Denham, who represents a swing district running from Salinasto Merced, would blink, but he's termed out and looking to curry favorin a primary for Lieutenant Governor. GOP Leader Dick Ackerman ofTustin was left to be the 27th vote.

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Photo courtesy of the Nostrandus Mabus Project.