Tag Archives: Lois Wolk

Jerry Brown

Brown Outlines New Water Bond Proposal

Bond is about half as large as current package on November ballot, doesn’t include peripheral canals

by Brian Leubitz

Sen. Lois Wolk has been working for a long time on getting a revised water bond package on the ballot to replace the current $11.75bn bond slated for this November. The legislators and the governor are worried, justifiably, that voters will be scared off by that number when considering authorizing additional debt. However, given the current drought, a strong consensus has emerged that we must do something.

But, of course, there are always stumbling blocks. Like, say, the concept of peripheral tunnels to bring water around the Bay Delta. Sen. Wolk outlines how she sees the three pillars of a deal:

“It has to be a reasonable bond. It has to have the support of the governor. It must be tunnel neutral, and he is very clear about that, and I support that strongly,” said Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis), who represents the Delta. (Capital Public Radio / Ben Adler)

As you can hear in Ben Adler’s clip above, the governor is a lot bit gunshy of adding additional debt. In something of a reversal of roles, the Republican caucus is pushing for a higher funding level, arguing that $2B of storage funds are insufficient, favoring a $3B minimum.

But, if the Governor can gather the votes that he needs before next week’s deadline, his plan is likely to be the basis of the bond. While there may be a few changes here and there, one has to suspect that the time pressure will push Republicans toward accepting any deal that can get through the hurdles.

In a letter on his website, the Governor outlined his priorities for the package:

My $6 billion plan provides for water use efficiency and recycling, effective groundwater management and added storage. It invests in safe drinking water, particularly in disadvantaged communities and for watershed restoration and increased flows in some of our most important rivers and streams.

This water bond is tied to our comprehensive Water Action Plan that charts the way for California to become more resilient in the face of droughts and floods. It goes a long way to ensure clean drinking water, protect habitat and free up funding for local water projects.

See the flip for an outline of the spending priorities in the Governor’s bond package as well as his open letter on the subject..

To My Fellow Citizens of California:

Drought conditions in California grow more serious by the day.

Last month, the State Water Resources Control Board issued mandatory conservation measures to ensure that our water supply remains reliable. Whether you’re a rancher, farmer, business owner or an average Californian – it is crucial that you do all you can to conserve water.

State government, of course, has a major role in how we manage and conserve this fundamental resource. In March, I signed legislation to provide over $680 million for drought relief efforts, including money for housing and food for workers directly affected by the drought, bond funds for local projects to capture and manage water more efficiently and funding for emergency drinking water supplies. The recently enacted state budget contains specific funding to lessen the impacts of drought on fish and wildlife across the state.

But the drought shows no sign of letting up, so we must do more.

Five years ago, state legislators and the Governor put a pork-laden water bond on the ballot – with a price tag beyond what’s reasonable or affordable. The cost to taxpayers would be enormous – $750 million a year for 30 years – and would come at the expense of funding for schools, health care and public safety. This is on top of the nearly $8 billion a year the state already spends on bond debt service.

Since being elected governor, I’ve worked with the Legislature to reduce the state’s fiscal liabilities. Together, we’ve made steady progress paying down debt and enacting responsible, balanced budgets and it is no time to turn back now. Therefore, I’m proposing a no-frills, no-pork water bond that invests in the MOST CRITICAL PROJECTS without breaking the bank.

My $6 billion plan provides for water use efficiency and recycling, effective groundwater management and added storage. It invests in safe drinking water, particularly in disadvantaged communities and for watershed restoration and increased flows in some of our most important rivers and streams.

This water bond is tied to our comprehensive Water Action Plan that charts the way for California to become more resilient in the face of droughts and floods. It goes a long way to ensure clean drinking water, protect habitat and free up funding for local water projects.

Water is central to our lives, our wildlife and our food supply. Our economy depends on it. We must act now so that we can continue to manage as good stewards of this vital resource for generations to come. But we can and must do so without returning California to the days of overwhelming deficit and debt.

Respectfully,

Jerry Brown

For more on how you can do your part to conserve water, please visit www.saveourwater.com

Water Action Plan Financing Act of 2014 – $6 Billion Total

Regional Water Reliability – $750M

 Integrated regional water management (with minimum for direct expenditure for

disadvantaged communities) $450M.

 Stormwater Capture $200M.

 Water conservation $100M.

Safe Drinking Water – $400M

 Provide clean, safe and reliable drinking water to all Californians. With minimum to

leverage federal funds for safe drinking water and clean water programs and for

disadvantaged communities.

 Small Community Program $200M.

 Public Infrastructure $200M.

Water Recycling – $450M

 Statewide water recycling projects and activities.

Groundwater Sustainability- $450M

 Prevent and reduce groundwater contaminants.

 Provide sustainable groundwater management support (technical assistance and planning

grants for locals).

Watershed Protection, Watershed Ecosystem Restoration, State Settlements – $1.175B

 For statewide water-related habitat, flows and water quality in watersheds ($700M) and

for state settlement obligations including Central Valley Project Improvement Act

($475M).

Storage – $2B

 Continuous appropriation for water storage projects.

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta – $475M

 For Delta levee subvention programs and delta flood protection projects ($300M) and

ecosystem restoration and science related to the Delta Plan and Delta Reform Act

($175M).

Statewide Flood Management – $300M

 Statewide flood management projects and activities.

General Provisions

 Funding eligibility requires urban or agricultural water management plans and

compliance with 2009 Water Conservation Act.

 Bay Delta Conservation Plan neutral.

 Protects existing water rights and reaffirms area of origin protections.

Uncategorized

Committees Get Reassigned, Wolk Gets “Refocused”

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Sen. Steinberg’s office released the new committee assignments for this year’s regular legislative session. In general, senators have fewer assignments. In many cases, that was welcome. However, that’s not likely to be the case for Sen. Lois Wolk. (As a side note, I did some work for Sen. Wolk’s 2008 campaign.)

When Steinberg released a list of slimmed-down committee memberships last week, Wolk retained the chairmanship of the Revenue and Taxation Committee and a spot on the Natural Resources and Water committee and picked up one assignment — a seat on the Food and Agriculture Committee.

But she was stripped of seats on Appropriations, Budget and Fiscal Review, Health, Transportation and Housing and Local Government. (SacBee)

As the Bee points out, it could be coincidence that Sen. Wolk spoke out against the water bill and her new, perhaps lesser committee assingments.

That being said, Sen. Wolk is, if anything, too much of a straight shooter.  She opposed the water bill, for very legitimate reasons for a legislator of the Delta region, and said so. Of course, standing in front of a steamrolling tank doesn’t always get you in a place in the history books, sometimes it gets you a far lesser prize.

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Water: A Conversation with Sen. Lois Wolk and Asm. John Laird

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(Check us out at 3:30! – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

UPDATE: We just wrapped up the show, which I think went very well.  The archive is available in the player to the right, and will be available on itunes shortly.

There is much news going around the Capitol around water issues. One of the most noticeable issues is the growing opposition from Delta legislators that was highlighted in Capitol Weekly:

Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Sacramento, and Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Linden, don’t agree on much. But both are against the water plan being negotiated between the Legislature and the governor – and both think they have the votes to kill it.

Their opposition stems from one thing they do have in common. Each represents a district within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the water-rich region at the center of the water policy and bond package.

“Absolutely there is bipartisan opposition,” Niello said. “Lois’ concerns are not the same as mine, but she is nonetheless every bit as opposed as I am.”

*** *** ***

[Wolk] added: “Southern California has to do away with its dependence on the Delta.”

Meanwhile, the hard work of actually making it happen is getting some attention from the California Teachers Association and the High Broderist George Skelton.  And the issue of funding is still a mysterious one.  Nobody has really laid out a plan, in public, to pay for all of this new construction. Construction that doesn’t even bring us any additional water.

So, tomorrow we’ll talk with Senator Lois Wolk, the Legislature’s leading water expert and former Assemblyman John Laird, in my opinion, the go-to guy for questions of funding and the budget.  Please join me on the Calitics podcast, live at 3:30. You can also catch the podcast at the same address after the fact.

If you have a question, feel free to leave it here.

California

The Fix is In – Steinberg Shuts Wolk Out of Water Bill Conference

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Just caught this press release by State Senator Lois Wolk, and my jaw dropped:

SACRAMENTO-Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) has withdrawn her authorship of Senate Bill 458 that would establish a Delta Conservancy.   The action came in response to being notified by Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that her legislation would be amended in a Conference Committee with provisions Senator Wolk and the five Delta counties opposed.  Wolk has been replaced with Senators Steinberg and Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) as the authors of SB 458.

“When I learned that the Conference Committee intended to alter key provisions of the bill, as well as other pieces of the water package, it was clear I could no longer carry this legislation,” said Senator Wolk.  “What began as a sincere effort to create a state and local partnership to restore the Delta and sustain the Delta communities and economy is becoming, day by day, amendment by amendment, a tool to assist water exporters who are primarily responsible for the Delta’s decline.  It is regrettable.  Without the Delta communities as working partners in this effort it is unlikely to succeed.”

Neither Lois Wolk, nor Mariko Yamada, nor any other politician representing the Delta have been allowed into the committee, and it looks for all the world like they’re gearing up for a peripheral canal deal that screws the Delta so that the hydraulic status quo can be stretched along a little bit further into the future. A region and an ecosystem long marginalized in favor of powerful interests has just had the last line of political defense stripped away.

Forget it, Lois, it’s Sacramento.

originally at surf putah. h/t Davis Vanguard.

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UPDATE – The Delta Counties Coalition now opposes the bill and wants it killed:

“To be perfectly clear, the Delta Counties Coalition opposes the Delta package, as currently drafted, and believes that the Legislature should not bring the package up for a vote today.  The number of changes required to make the package acceptable to Delta Counties is not possible in the time remaining.”

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My E-Mail Inbox is A-Flutter: Friday Deadline for Policy Committees

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There are a few weeks in each legislative session that I get simply barraged with press releases from legislative staff. And this week is one of them, as the deadline for bills to pass out of their respective policy committees is on Friday.  But before I move on… here’s a rant:



First, props for trying to reach out to bloggers, that’s a point for you.  But I would give one point of free advice to all you press flacks out there, please include the text of the press release in the email. I really don’t want to open a PDF just so that I can get the privilege of having all of your pretty formatting work out every time. And by text, I mean text, not an image of text. Ok end rant.

Now, to some of the actual bills that have emerged from policy committees that are taking up space in my inbox.  First, how about one from an environmental champion, Lois Wolk:

Wolk´s Senate Bill 679 prohibits the use of state park lands for non-park purposes without legislative approval. Even with legislative approval, the bill would not allow a project to move forward unless the use of the park land was compensated for with a parks´ designation for land with equal environmental and fair market value. (Press Release here)

And how about a couple from Sen. Leland Yee. SB 557 would allow law enforcement to sieze property from human traffickers. And in response to the SF Bay Oil Spill last year, he has gotten SB 1217 passed out of the policy committee. It would regulate bar pilots and provide more transparency in the process.

And how about one from freshman Assembly member Joan Buchanan? Her AB 1317 was passed out of the Assembly Committee on Health. The bill would provide access to parent of newborns for tests to screen for a wide range of disorders, such as sickle cell anemia.

I suppose I am encouraging more emails with this post, so I guess all you Assembly staff can feel free to shoot me more emails with tales of your boss’s big breakthrough.

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A Cleansing Rain in Stockton, another Reason to Stay for Change

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There are a lot of myths about Stockton’s politics. It seems there’s more than a few people from California’s coast who could use a refresher course on the nature of Stockton’s politics. It’s a secret, then it’s not.

The fact is that Stockton is preparing to give Democrats an increasing share of its vote on Tuesday. But, the groundwork has been there for a while:

Seven Democratic Clubs are active and working within San Joaquin County, as well as three more political clubs where Democrats predominate. One group, the Truman Club of Stockton, raised and distributed over $25,000 to local Democratic candidates during the last election cycle. Our Central Valley Stonewall Democratic Club is a proud champion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people’s rights here in the so-called “red” portion of California. (Anne Baird)

Through my work in the 5th Senate District I’ve become impressed with this city. It’s surprisingly politically active, lawn signs for political candidates are omnipresent as you drive throughout the city. From the working class neighborhoods to the wealthy communities, people care about the path we pursue politically. Whether I agree with them and their shiny Dean Andal signs, I do marvel at the high participation rate.

But Democrats are rising in this town. Everytime I have been here, there are always people buzzing in and around the Democratic offices.  The Wolk HQ is just down the street from the Obama/Democratic campaign office, and both were hives of activity.  The same cannot be said for the Republican office in Stockton.  It was like a ghost town when I strolled in there on a Saturday afternoon around 2. I did get lots of paraphernalia from the helpful lady, who was very happy to tell me how important Prop 8 was. But, the fact that they had 2 people, who were quite possibly high school kids dragged there by one outside force or another.

But the funniest part of the Republican office? It was located in a former branch office of Delta Bank, a regional bank hit by the foreclosure crisis. (Editor’s Note: Delta Bank is in fine financial form, and I’ve learned they were never involved in subprime lending.  I did not mean to say that the bank was in any precarious position, rather I was trying to point out the overall economic condition, including the foreclosure situation. Regional banks are generally faring better than the big guys. See this post. )

But in Stockton, you have to look hard to find something not hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. Stockton is the epicenter for California and the nation’s foreclosure crisis:

In the second quarter alone, one in 25 Stockton homes received a foreclosure notice, one of the highest rates in the nation, researcher RealtyTrac says. Some blocks have been so depopulated that even the Saturday afternoon jingle of an ice cream truck is greeted with silence. The telltale signs of homeownership gone bust? Brown lawns dying in the Central Valley heat and black lockboxes dangling from front doors. (USA Today 10/24/08)

How appropriate is it that the Yacht Party has its headquarters in a failed bank branch? Well, this city will work its way out of this crisis with the help of responsible leaders like John Eisenhut, Democratic candidate for Assembly, and Ann Johnston, the mayoral candidate endorsed by the San Joaquin DCCC.

If Props 4 & 8 and the other props aren’t enough to make you want to stay for a change, you just want a candidate to hit the streets for, check out Stockton.  You can walk for the great Democratic slate, and really

Stay for Change

And check out a pic of the Stockton Republican campaign 2008 HQ over the flip…

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A Beautiful Sunday in Northern California

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As I mentioned last week, I made a trip out to Stockton yesterday.  The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny. It made for a nice day to walk a precinct. The CDP Rural Caucus couldn’t have chosen a nicer day.

I got to Stockton at around 10, after a gorgeous drive over the Altamont pass and through the sea of wind turbines (and the “Jesus Saves” cross burned into the side of a hill). It really is beautiful, when you see the hills with a smidge of foggy haze over them.  As I walked into the building, a former movie theater, you can see a few things. One, this wasn’t fancy. There wasn’t even a restroom, you had to use one at the sympathetic coffee shop next door.  There was insulation and old movie theater seats in the back room that was now housing a proliferation of lawn signs from local candidates.

And there are a lot of strong local candidates.  The event was designed to support Assembly candidates Huber and Eisenhut as well as State Senate candidate Lois Wolk. (Note: I do some work for Wolk’s campaign.) However, it went further than that. We had the CDP’s flyer with the Obama Highway picture that contained some pretty good recommendations for the props (except that the CDP couldn’t come to a recommendation on Prop 10…vote no on 10!) and a flyer for Stockton mayoral candidate Ann Johnston.  

I walked with CDP Rural Caucus Chair Jamie Beutler and Region 4 Chair Owen Jackman. Well, I’ll put “walk” in quotes there.  It’s weird, because for all I complain about the huge hills in SF, there are advantages to walking precincts here. Namely, everything is close. So, we drove around talking to voters. We were in a pretty mixed neighborhood, with a bunch of students from University of the Pacific as well as some working class families. Overall, the impresion of the voters we spoke to was very positive.

PhotobucketI was, once again, impressed with Alyson Huber. For a political newcomer, she has run a great campaign. While I might have tweaked a few tactics here and there, overall she has managed to stay competitive in a tough district.  In the next 8 days, she has a better shot than anybody has had in this district for a long time to put a Democrat in this seat.  Her opponent, Jack Sieglock, is a longtime politician. He’s been a city councilman, a supervisor, and generally hanging around GOP politics in the region for a while.  

At this point, Sieglock’s running a pretty negative campaign. (Even using a quote from the Calitics podcast out of context on a mailer). But all that’s just the name of the game in politics, but more troubling are all the lies.  Namely, Sieglock is alleging that Huber is some sort of McClintock-esque carpetbagger.  Trust me when I say that Huber is no McClintock, carpetbagger-wise or in any other stretch of the imagination.  Huber was born and raised in the Central Valley. She graduated from Lodi High School and attended Cal State, Chico before finishing up at Cornell. She attended one of our fine state law schools, Hastings, and now practices from her home in the Valley. Huber deserves respect for working her way up, and she should be the next Assembly member from AD-10.

It really was a great experience, and I topped it off with a stop in Tracy to stand at a street corner to oppose Prop 8.  We got a lot of great support, honking horns and the sort.  It was a great group that turned out, a lot of young newly energized Californians opposing the joke that is Prop 8.

Now that’s a beautiful day…

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Putting my time where my mouth is: Stockton Blue Wave Action

PhotobucketI’ve been talking a lot about Stay for Change. Well, I’ve got a chance now to put my time, gas, and energy where my mouth is. The CDP’s Rural Caucus and Take Back Red California are putting together a great event in Stockton (1825 Pacific) on Sunday morning at 10AM.

Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma will be there to rally the ‘roots, joining several other local elected officials. Oh, and me! Come and say hi!

Once we hear some good speechifying, we’ll break off to to do some work for Calitics favorite Alyson Huber as well as Lois Wolk (for whom I do some work) and Jerry McNerney. Details:

What: Blue Wave Action event

Who: CDP Rural Caucus, Take Back Red California, Asm. Fiona Ma, Brian Leubitz (That’s me) and tons of fun people…plus you!

When: Sunday, October 26, 10AM

Where: Stockton DCCC, 1825 Pacific

Why: Because California needs you to build a better, more responsible budget.

More information: Cool JPG with info

Come on out to Stockton! I’ll see you there.

Central Valley

Democrats Making Their Case In Rural Counties

Cross posted on Daily Kos

PhotobucketDemocrats in Yolo County are fired up and ready to go.  They met last night at the historic Palms Playhouse in Winters for a rally sponsored by the Western Yolo County Democratic Club.

Over 100 people came out to listen and cheer as guest speaker CDP Chairman Art Torres, along with candidates Lois Wolk (SD-05), Mariko Yamada (AD-08), and Jeff Morris (CA-02), talked about “Why Rural Families are Voting Democratic – Taking Back Red California.”

Oh, and the old-time music and the free spaghetti dinner weren’t exactly deal-breakers either.

The speaking schedule was full. In addition to the politicians, there were local food and farm activists, as well as local organizers like Claire Black-Slotton, the executive director of Yolo United, and Ryan Loney, the Northern California Field Director of Students for Barack Obama and an Obama delegate to the Denver convention.

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A major theme that emerged as speaker after speaker addressed the audience was the real need for California activists to get involved in local Congressional races, whether it’s for Jeff Morris in CA-02, Bill Durston in CA-03, Charlie Brown in CA-04, or Jerry McNerney in CA-11.  There was a clear sentiment among those who attended that just winning back the White House in 2008 will not be enough; we must have strong Congressional majorities to support Pres. Barack Obama as he leads our nation.

One speech in particular that really resonated in this rural setting came from Richard Rominger, a former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture in the Clinton administration who is currently advising the Obama campaign on agriculture affairs. Here’s what Rominger had to say:

Richard Rominger, Art Torres, Lois Wolk

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What are rural Americans thinking about these days? Farm prices, food prices, fuel prices, health care costs, the war in Iraq, immigration, climate change.

A couple of quotes from Senator Obama: “When we strengthen our rural communities, we lift up our entire nation.” “I think that people who live in rural areas can feel confident that I’m not a newcomer to this.”

Senator Obama supported passage of the current Farm Bill, but said he wanted more reform. The Farm Bill was passed by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate over President Bush’s veto. Senator McCain opposed the Farm Bill, saying he would have vetoed it just as Bush did. The bill included more money for conservation programs, including the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program; more money for nutrition programs, including more fruits and vegetables for school lunch programs, more help for farmers markets, and increases in food stamps; more support for agricultural research; and a boost for renewable energy. It is clearly better than the previous Farm Bill, although it is far from perfect.

Senator Obama has repeatedly voted to fund agriculture programs while Senator McCain has repeatedly voted against funding agriculture programs.

Senator Obama would limit farm subsidies to prevent very large farms from collecting the vast majority of subsidies. Senator McCain voted against capping subsidies.

Senator Obama has voted for emergency assistance for farmers in times of disasters. Senator McCain has repeatedly voted against emergency assistance for farmers.

Senator Obama supports immediate implementation of Country of Origin Labeling, starting with meat products. Senator McCain voted against Country of Origin Labeling.

Senator Obama voted for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Senator McCain repeatedly voted against it.

Barack Obama has a comprehensive energy plan to help Americans cope with the energy crisis in the short term, and make the long-term investments we need to break our addiction to oil. He will use some of the oil companies’ record-breaking profits for an Emergency Energy Rebate of $1,000 per family or $500 per individual. He will also release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to cut prices.

Within ten years we could save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined, by increasing fuel efficiency standards for our vehicles, working with the auto industry to put 1 million plug-in hybrid cars – cars that get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by 2015, and investing in the development of new fuels.

Senator Obama will help create five million new jobs by investing in a clean energy future: Investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to develop clean energy technologies, from jump starting the commercialization of plug-in hybrids to advancing the next generation of biofuels. These are five million jobs that can’t be outsourced.

Barack Obama would diversify our energy sources by adopting an aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standard, requiring 10% of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2012 and 25% by 2025. That will spur significant private sector investment in renewable sources such as wind and solar, creating thousands more new jobs. (You may have noticed the recent news articles about 11 shiploads of wind turbine parts being unloaded at the Port of Sacramento for a new wind farm near Rio Vista).

As president, Obama will implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. And he’ll work with our allies abroad to develop effective emissions reduction efforts.

Senator Obama has proposed a plan to extricate the U.S. from the misguided war in Iraq. Senator McCain would prolong the Bush policies.

Senator Obama supported the expansion of the successful State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Senator McCain joined President Bush in opposing the expansion of this successful program.

Senator Obama supports increasing access to health care in rural areas by investing in Health Information Technology and TeleMedicine. When Senator McCain was asked about his rural health care plan he admitted it does “not sound too serious.” In 2003, Senator McCain voted against funding for rural Medicare health care providers.

On immigration, Senator Obama supports comprehensive reform, including secure borders, an Ag Jobs Program, and a path over a period of years for those already here illegally to earn resident status. Senator McCain originally supported comprehensive legislation, but has since backed away from it.

For the estate tax, Senator Obama supports the limits that will be in effect in 2009, which is $3.5 million per person, $7 million per couple, which will exempt 99% of farms and businesses. Senator McCain supports higher limits which will allow wealthier tax payers to escape the tax.

To sum up, an Obama administration, along with Democratic majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives will provide an economy that answers the needs of farmers and all of rural America, as well as our urban and suburban neighbors, and returns the United States of America to its former position of leadership and respect in the world.


Penny

Online Organizing Director

California Democratic Party

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Why The Perata/CDP Scandal Threatens The Fight for Congressional Seats

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“It just seems to me it is improper. It reduces confidence in government and also particularly the Party. I think the Party is going to have a tough time with all this publicity raising money from the smaller donors.”

-Bob Stern, President, Center for Governmental Studies on KCRW last night talking about the California Democratic Party wasting $450,000 on Senator Don Perata’s criminal defense fund. CDP flack Roger Salazar refused to go on at the same time as Stern and Rick Jacobs to debate the scandal.

Yesterday, David Dayen explained Why The Perata/CDP Scandal Threatens The Budget Fight. Yet that isn’t the only casualty from the culture in Sacramento that has put the California Democratic Party in crisis.

TPM Election Central is reporting on the target list for $34 million in DCCC reserved TV time this fall. Of the 31 races targeted, zero are in California.

Which brings me back to last night’s ill-timed fundraiser with Speaker Karen Bass. The actblue page to RSVP for the account said the money was going to support the California State Democratic Committee – Federal Account. Great idea, Madame Speaker Bass helping Madame Speaker Nancy Pelosi pick up more seats and be able to overcome the Blue Dog Caucus siding with the GOP to obstruct Pelosi’s leadership.

With California unable to count on DCCC ad money against any of the very vulnerable Republican Representatives, it is clear California Democrats need to plan to win on our own. Which is why yesterday’s LA Times editorial on the CDP wasting money on Don Perata is so counterproductive. We need the resources to win on our own and we need small dollar donors to get there. Yet the actions of the CDP discourage small dollar donations. The results are clear, including last night, the CDP has only raised $6,630 ALL CYCLE in federal money on actblue. To put in perspective, San Diego County Democrats have raised more than 20 times that much federal money on actblue — from more than 30 times as many small dollar contributions.

It could be another landslide year, but it probably will be yet another year when Democratic Congressional challengers don’t get the support they could and should count on from the CDP. In fact, when taking into account outstanding debt, the CDP Federal Account had less than $300,000 as of the end of May. And Democratic state senate challengers have already seen $450,000 wasted on not helping elect Hannah-Beth Jackson and Lois Wolk. We can trust in the CDP if the goal is to seize defeat from the jaws of victory (which it might be, Perata already called uncle on two state senate races so far this year). Or we can reform and begin fighting to beat Republicans instead of coddle the Democratic Party establishment. The first step is accountability. Again, Senator Don Perata needs to give back the $450,000 and Art Torres should step down as CDP Chair for wasting $4,450,000 not electing Democrats this fall.