California on Tuesday May 13, 2008

Archive of California on Tuesday May 13, 2008

Schwarzenegger drops plan for early release of 22,000 inmates
By Andy Furillo, The Sacramento Bee (registration)
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has dumped his plan to release about 22,000 lower-risk inmates from prison before they complete their terms, The Bee learned Monday.
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Black woman in powerful job in California
By Jennifer Steinhauer, The New York Times
LOS ANGELES - The California Legislature is often first out of the gate with certain laws or to take on a policy issue that other states have yet to grapple with.
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Immigration raids shake California schools
By Richard Gonzales, National Public Radio (Audio)
Raids by federal authorities on undocumented immigrants in Northern California panic parents and school officials as fears spread that students might be targeted. Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and other big-city mayors are denouncing the raids.
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EdFund executives seek at least $3 million in severance
By Judy Lin, The Sacramento Bee (registration)
The executive staff of EdFund, the student loan guarantor the state plans to sell to a private investor, has crafted its own severance package worth more than $3 million.
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Perry heading to California to help San Diego GOP
By W. Gardner Selby, The Austin American-Statesman (registration)
Gov. Rick Perry, who made a splash with a let-conservatives-be-conservatives speech to California Republicans in September, is returning to the Golden State on Tuesday to raise money for the San Diego Republican Party, his office announced Monday.
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California Supreme Court rules for prosecutor who advised filmmakers
By Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times (registration)
SAN FRANCISCO - When a Santa Barbara County prosecutor decided to give a filmmaker his files on fugitive Jesse James Hollywood, he figured that the publicity might help catch the accused killer.
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State report sheds light on snooping into UCLA Medical Center files on Farrah Fawcett and Britney Spears
By Charles Ornstein, Los Angeles Times (registration)
California health regulators have connected 14 more people affiliated with UCLA Medical Center, including four physicians, to the improper viewing of celebrity medical records, bringing the number of current and former workers apparently implicated in the snooping scandal to 68.
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Ruling to lift ban on state's unclaimed property program affirmed
By Denny Walsh, The Sacramento Bee (registration)
A federal appellate court Monday affirmed a Sacramento judge's decision to lift an injunction that had halted operation of the state's multibillion-dollar unclaimed property program.
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Fixing state budget is Bass' top priority
By Jim Sanders, The Sacramento Bee (registration)
Los Angeles Democrat Karen Bass will be sworn in today as the first African American woman to serve as speaker of the Assembly. Bass, a 54-year-old former nurse, physician's assistant and Los Angeles community organizer, sat down Monday with the The Bee's Capitol Bureau.
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Deficit ensnares another governor
By Ed Mendel, The San Diego Union-Tribune
The famous catchphrase spoken by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in one his action movies, "I'll be back," can now refer to his handling of the state budget.
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Nunez leaves mixed legacy as Assembly speaker
By Dan Walters, The Sacramento Bee (registration)
Fabian N??ez, the eighth and longest-serving Assembly speaker in the 13 years since the legendary Willie Brown was forced to vacate the position in 1995, is being forced out himself by a legislative term limit law he tried, and failed, to persuade voters to change.
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Federal judge stays order for governor, Rincon band to reach gambling agreement
By Onell R. Soto, The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO - A federal judge has put on hold, for now, his order that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and North County's Rincon Indian band reach an agreement on a gambling expansion by July.
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Fremont Democrat to take a top post in Assembly
By Edwin Garcia, The Mercury News (San Jose) (registration)
The Bay Area, which has been on the verge of losing political power within the leadership of the state Legislature, will bounce back into prominence as early as today when Alberto Torrico of Fremont is elevated to one of the top posts in the Assembly, the Mercury News has learned.
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High court lets prosecutor remain on 'Alpha Dog' case
By The Associated Press, The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN FRANCISCO - The state's high court ruled Monday that a Santa Barbara deputy district attorney who helped in the making of the movie "Alpha Dog" can stay on the real-life death penalty case on which the film is based.
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CalPERS names interim CEO
By The Associated Press, The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Public Employees' Retirement System has named a longtime administrator within its ranks to serve as interim chief executive of the nation's largest public pension fund.
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States, locals swamp immigration program
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Sudden demand by state and local police to join the federal 287(g) initiative, which lets local police start deportation proceedings for suspects and criminals who are illegal immigrants, is overwhelming the federal government. That means long waits and alternative programs offered to police departments that want to join.
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In school sports, who makes the call?
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

A shot at the buzzer of a high school championship game — was it in time or not? — led the South Carolina Legislature to consider a bill to require referees to watch video replays. It was hardly the first example of armchair quarterbacking by lawmakers.

Neutral govs to remain on sidelines
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

In the homestretch of an unprecedented presidential primary season, spinning with competing sound-bites and endless rhetoric, voters still heading to the polls in four states can’t look to their governors for any pre-election advice. These governors plan to wait until after their states vote to make their own endorsements.
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At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

After a pair of hard-fought primaries, North Carolina joins Missouri, Washington and Indiana on Out There's list of states where partisan control of the governorship could flip this fall.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.
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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008)

When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states.
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Will states fix 2012 primary process?
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

While voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls today (May 6) to help Democrats pick Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their nominee and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the presidential nominating contests for 2012 and beyond.
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
By Kim Mendelsohn, Special to Stateline.org
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.
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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.
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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
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Emissions restrictions thwarted
By Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
A week after a state panel approved rules for cleaner car emissions, the Legislature Monday passed a bill that would block those rules from taking effect.
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Parents turn to states for autism help
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs.

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Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

With a sagging economy and a divisive war occupying Americans’ minds, will social issues be overshadowed in state elections in 2008?
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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
By Daniel C. Vock and John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writers
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.

'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The national polls point to a tight presidential race in November. But Democrats have a bit more to cheer about than Republicans do, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, according to the latest state-by-state electoral-vote projections by “Out There.”
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.

Summary of the State of the State Address

Facing a projected $14 billion budget deficit, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged lawmakers to "face our budget demons" and approve a constitutional amendment to rein in spending.
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A tale of two comebacks
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Not long ago, the approval ratings of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley were in the dumps. Both managed to climb back to popularity. Their stories hold lessons for other politicians.

Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Not a single governor or state legislator wields authority over the conduct of the Iraq War, yet a broad range of party strategists and political analysts agree that state races in 2008 will be shaped, mostly indirectly, by public attitudes towards that conflict. Unless there’s a sea change in public opinion, that’s bad news for Republicans.
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