Once More California Senator and Lt. Governor Candidate Dean Florez Proposed Legislation gains high profile national attention; California is often viewed as leading the Nation. This time the bill that proposes an Animal Abuse Registry is featured in the latest issue of Time Magazine. I have written before about this bill and Time Magazine captures one of the more important arguments for passage of this legislation right up front.
Should There Be an Animal-Abuser Registry?
Cruelty to animals, it is said, is often a precursor to graver crimes. So would there not be some usefulness to a registry of individuals convicted of felony animal abuse? Legislators in California want the Golden State to be the first to establish such a record - just as California was the first in the nation to create a registry of sex offenders.
The popularity of such legislation can be measured in many ways. I noted while reading the Time coverage, even though the story was just released over 2000 Facebook users have noted the legislation and took some type of action.
"We think California is primed for this kind of a bill," says state senate majority leader Dean Florez, who introduced the bill in late February. "We've progressed to the point where we as a legislature are moving in a direction of this bill, which is ultimately, How do we in essence prevent repeat offenses when it comes to cruelty to animals in the state of California?" It is an issue that, Florez says, Californians care for deeply. About 60% of California residents own pets, he says; add in farm animals, and 80% of the population has some kind of ownership of animals.
HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR SENATOR DEAN FLOREZ BILL (AB1277) ESTABLISHING ANIMAL ABUSE REGISTRY IN CA
"He told us that he pinned the dog down by the neck and throat for 20 seconds while the puppy defecated and urinated on itself in panic or because it started to lose consciousness, we don't know," said Lt. Dan DeSousa with SD County Animal Service.
Coco died Friday, one week after CA Senator Dean Florez introduced AB 1277, which would establish an Animal Abuse Registry in California and "make those guilty of Animal Abuse famous for their crimes" and hopefully prevent horrors that Coco suffered.
Coco's owner and alleged puppy killer, David Hale Warner, 50, is currently in the San Diego Detention Center and has been booked on felony animal cruelty charges. The Department of Animal Services has 72 hours to prepare a case for the District Attorney. If convicted, Warner may be punished with up to three years in a state prison, one year in a county prison or fined $20,000.
At booking, it was discovered that Warner had an existing arrest warrant for spousal abuse.
Future animal cruelty cases (and other abuses) may well be prevented if California State Senator Dean Florez, also a candidate for California Lt. Governor, is successful in gaining passage of Senate Bill 1277.
Announcement of historic legislation scheduled to be webcast live Monday
SACRAMENTO - Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) will hold a news conference - also scheduled to be webcast LIVE Monday morning - announcing legislation to prevent cruelty and abuse toward animals in California.
Florez, who co-chairs the Animal Protection Caucus and was a staunch advocate for passage of Proposition 2, will be joined in making his announcement by Stephen Wells of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, strong supporters of the new bill.
Senate Majority Leader urges Schwarzenegger to move on with Maldonado's fate "dicey at best"
SACRAMENTO - With the Assembly's reconsideration vote of Senator Abel Maldonado's confirmation as Lieutenant Governor pending, Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) issued the following statement:
"As the Assembly waits to take up the confirmation of Senator Abel Maldonado for reconsideration, I think it's time for the Governor to begin working on Plan B on the Lieutenant Governor nomination. No matter how much the Governor stomps his foot, crosses his arms, threatens legal action, cries partisanship or commands the legislature to 'obey,' Maldonando's nomination looks dicey at best."
"The Governor operated sloppily throughout the entire process and has created a governing mess. Spending months on court battles is the last thing Californians want from their Governor. Giving Maldonado a handshake and then quickly moving to Plan B is the Governor's best option at this point."
Senate votes to approve appointment of Central Coast Republican for Lieutenant Governor
SACRAMENTO -- Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) broke with many in his party today in voting against the confirmation of Senator Abel Maldonado for Lieutenant Governor. The motion passed in the Senate by a vote of 26-7.
In explaining his vote today, Florez issued the following statement:
"The question for me was whether I would have supported Senator Maldonado if he was on the ballot. I would not be able to vote for him if he was on the ballot, so in my mind it made no sense to support him now."
"I watched the confirmation hearings and I was surprised and disappointed to learn that Mr. Maldonado had admitted to a number of OSHA violations with respect to his farming operation, and I was disappointed that he wasn't prepared or didn't elaborate on the severity or nature of the violations. I think this really needed to be cleared up."
Just minutes ago an endorsement that may well carry with it a huge advantage was made in the 2010 race for California Lt. Governor.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) was proud to receive today the endorsement of the United Farm workers AFL-CIO (UFW) in his race to be California's next Lieutenant Governor.
The endorsement was announced by the UFW today at its complex at 40 Acres in Delano, California. UFW President Arturo Rodriguez said,
"Brave! That's the word to describe Dean Florez. Farm workers have never had a braver, stronger, bolder friend than Dean Florez. We appreciate the support we get from progressives who get elected from progressive communities. But we admire people who support us when they represent areas where big agri-business calls all the shots. We admire Dean Florez. And if you care about farm workers, you will support him for Lt. Governor."
There is nothing quite like pulling over to the side of many California roads and highways to purchase and enjoy fresh picked Strawberries! When I do so, rarely do I make it home with any strawberries left. Like me, it is a pretty good bet that you know little of serious potential health hazards that may be looming from something that tastes so good.
Informational Hearing
"Evaluating the Health and Environmental Impacts of Methyl Iodide:
What Are the Alternatives?"
Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter, who has become the defacto Legislative leader of food safety and consumer protection in the California State Senate, and is also a candidate for California Lt. Governor, will hold a hearing of the Senate Food and Agriculture Committee on Monday morning in Sacramento. The hearing will focus on investigating safe alternatives to the strawberry pesticide methyl iodide - a carcinogen which is believed to induce miscarriages and which poses a threat to groundwater - as state regulators prepare to decide if the chemical should be allowed for agricultural use in California.
In what has to be a major embarrassment to LT Governor candate and LA City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, when it comes to campaign fundraising, it appears she does not have the support of many high profile SOCAL residents she has served and/or live "in her own back yard". While she heads out of town this week headed for Oakland for two campaign fundraisers, Candidate and State Senator Dean Florez, has not not one, but TWO MAJOR campaign events in the Los Angeles area.
The two campaign events in Oakland for Hahn, both arranged by Oakland City Attorney John Russo, are for a $150 per person breakfast at the Cathedral Building Gallery and a $300 a head luncheon at Leavened East, both on Thursday December 10.
Meanwhile, candidate Florez supporters will have a show of force on Monday, December 14th, when top luminaries in their field, from real estate, medicine, and the arts show their support at The Regency Club in Los Angeles.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, back in July:
The 2/3 requirement that we have in this state. I know it's a tired old saw. But when you really think about, that is the cause of so much of the dysfunction in the legislature. you have a minority party that obviously worked in tandem with the governor that cost the state 6-7 billion dollars tonight for no good reason. To somehow improve your negotiating position. It is without question the most irresponsible act that I have seen in my 15 years of public service...I hope that the significance will truly capture enough attention that the people will decide it is time to change the system that allows the minority to essentially rule the day. That's not just the Senate Republicans, it was the Governor too, who was apparently out to prove a point. And he proved a point.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, today:
State Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) released a statement expressing "grave doubts" about the choice. Maldonado needs the approval of the Democratic-dominated Legislature to take the post.
Steinberg cited the $2-million cost of the special election that would be required to fill Maldonado's Senate seat, suggesting the money could be better spent scaling back recent fee hikes at state colleges and universities.
The Senate leader, under pressure to keep the post open for Democrats running for lieutenant governor themselves in next year's election, also suggested he would like to see the job left vacant.
"It may be both fiscally and politically prudent to permit the people to make their own selection for this statewide office next year and avoid the expense of a costly special election," his statement said.
Once again, we see that the State Senate is unwilling to actually do what it takes to overcome the 2/3rds rule that has crippled our state. Instead of seizing a golden opportunity to win one of the two seats we need to get a 2/3rds majority, Steinberg prefers to help coddle a fellow Democratic Senator's unwillingness to face Maldonado in a general election.
Steinberg and other Senators are starting to put out the talking points to defend their weakness. But none of them hold water. The election to replace Maldonado here in SD-15 can be combined with the June primary, saving money. But even if it weren't combined, the $2 million or so is statistically negligible when compared to the billions of dollars in cuts Steinberg is apparently willing to accept by refusing to take the chance to win a 2/3rds majority next year (along with the race to replace Jeff Denham in SD-12, a district with a D+12 registration advantage).
Additionally, voters themselves are going to have the chance to pick the next Lt. Gov., and confirming Maldonado will not change that fact, as Steinberg implies. If Steinberg believes Maldonado is a formidable candidate in the GOP primary or in the general election, he is badly misreading the political landscape.
Capitol Democrats said there was a more calculated political reason for not wanting to let Maldonado go. Democrats were humbled by this year's election results in New Jersey and Virginia, and fear that 2010 could be a bad Democratic year. In addition, a low turn-out special election may make it tougher for a Democrat to win the 15th Senate District seat currently held by Maldonado.
Democrats have a slight 41-35 percent registration advantage in the district. Nearly 20 percent of the district's voters are decline to state. The district has been home to moderate Republicans like Bruce McPherson, and overwhelming voted for Schwarzenegger over Phil Angelides in 2006 - 61 percent - 34 percent. But in 2004, John Kerry narrowly carried the district over George W. Bush - 52 percent - 46 percent.
What the article doesn't note is that Obama carried the seat by 20 points last year. And if it is turnout they're concerned about, a candidate like John Laird will have no problem generating enthusiasm from progressives and Democrats across the state, who will gladly spend a late spring here on the Central Coast to put a good progressive in the State Senate.
More damning is the basic philosophy behind this "gee, winning the 15th is gonna be hard" nonsense. If Democrats are scared of winning a seat where they hold a 6 point registration advantage, a seat Obama won by 20 points, then they really have a serious problem providing the leadership this state needs.
Next year we'll hear Democratic legislators exhorting us to help them in other Assembly and Senate races, saying that we have to help them win 2/3rds. But by refusing to actually go for 2/3rds when given the chance, they're showing the California Democratic base that the Senate is fundamentally unserious about restoring majority rule.
The only conclusion one can draw from this is that Senate Democrats don't actually care about the 2/3rds rule. That they prefer the status quo to having to actually take the opportunities they are given and take a winnable seat, or to set up a hated rival (Maldonado) to spectacularly fail when he can't get elected Lt. Gov. next year.
UPDATE: The Courage Campaign, where I work as Public Policy Director, released this statement today on the Maldonado appointment:
"The best thing we can do right now is to remove Sen. Abel Maldonado from a position of importance where he can do great damage, the California State Senate, and place him in an irrelevant post, the Lt. Governor's office," said Rick Jacobs, Chair of the 700,000-member Courage Campaign. "For once, we agree with the Governor - Abel Maldonado should be demoted to Lt. Governor."
Attention Senator Florez: if concerns about your upcoming election for Lieutenant Governor are in any way influencing your statement that you don't see the Senate you're in charge of confirming Schwarzenegger's appointment of Abel Maldonado to that same seat, I just want to say:
Don't worry, be happy!
See, I can understand that you might be concerned that facing someone who could now put his title as "appointed incumbent" might make a general election campaign more difficult, but the likelihood is that you wouldn't be facing him anyway. You might, after all, recall the story about Maldonado's last run for statewide office, as reported by Robert Cruickshank. If you don't, I'll just reprint it in full.
State Sen. Abel Maldonado, the deciding vote in the big state budget morass, came to see me last week with a very interesting story about his fellow Republicans.
I was telling him what a good name he has, because no one can figure out if it is Spanish, Italian or Portuguese.
He proceeded to tell me that when he was running for state controller in 2006, he commissioned a poll to gauge the feelings of Republican voters in Orange County.
The poll came back showing him losing to the Democrat by almost 2-1.
"This is impossible," Maldonado said. "Orange County is loaded with Republicans."
They did the poll again and the results were the same - the Democrat won.
So Maldonado ran a little test. He had the pollster go back and give voters the same information as before - his age, that he's a rancher and the like - but this time, he said, tell them the candidate's name is Smith.
The result: Smith came out ahead.
So he ran another poll, a Republican named Garcia vs. a Democrat named Smith.
Smith won again, even among Republicans.
At that point, Maldonado said, "We're not spending another nickel - there ain't no way that anyone with a Spanish name is going to win anything in a Republican primary in this state."
He was right, in his case at least - he lost the primary to Tony Strickland.
Keep in mind, of course, that this was in 2006--a few years before the inmates took over the asylum that is the Republican Party. And keep in mind, I'm not just talking about the racial aspect. I'm also specifically referring to the difficulty that moderate Republicans of any ethnicity will have in winning a primary against a more conservative opponent, especially in light of the fact that RNC is in fact on the verge of imposing a purity test that would be pretty hard for Maldonado to meet, compared to a potential primary opponent.
Bottom line: Dean Florez and the rest of the Democrats in the Senate should be licking their chops in anticipation of getting a chance at this seat.
As the Governor has tried to hijack the budget crisis to serve his own ends of punishing union workers and shredding the social services net, over the last couple days we've seen Democrats fighting back. For example, Dean Florez surgically took apart the Governor's idiotic smear attempt on legislators for doing their job of legislation. Considering that the Governor has never invited all 120 lawmakers into his smoking tent for a pow-wow, I think there's room for multitasking here. But understanding that would involve basic knowledge about how government works, as Florez said:
Assembly bill 606 creates a commission to serve the marketing interests of the blueberry industry. Another bill defines "honey" to mean the natural food product resulting from the harvest of nectar by honey bees, and a third bill adopts regulations establishing definitions and standards for 100-percent pomegranate juice.
"Look, we're pro-condiment, we're pro-fruit, but the focus needs to be on the budget crisis," McLear said.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Fresno) called Governor Schwarzenegger's criticism "childish" and said he is fed up.
"The governor's turned from an action hero into just another politician," Senator Florez said. "He should really, really take a course on fundamental government on how the legislature works."
"The fact that he doesn't understand these things worries me," he added.
Asm. Nancy Skinner held a press event with small business owners, again using the imagery of Arnold Antionette smoking a stogie in his Jacuzzi to contrast with the state's struggles:
Skinner called a news conference at the corner of Solano Avenue and The Alameda in Berkeley, outside the vacant storefront formerly occupied by A Child's Place. Near her podium was a poster of Arnold Schwarzenegger with a cigar in his mouth, with the headline "While the state drowns in IOUs ARNOLD DOESN'T CARE" and featuring a quotation from this past Sunday's New York Times Magazine article on the governor's method of coping with the stress of the budget crisis: "I will sit down in my Jacuzzi tonight. I'm going to lay back with a stogie."
Skinner said that's pretty cheeky talk for a governor who nixed bills that would've helped solve the state's cash crisis, avoided the need for the IOUs now going out and kept the deficit from growing by another several billion dollars. And it's particularly distasteful, she said, to small businesses that are struggling through this recession even as Schwarzenegger proudly talks about vetoing a plan to collect sales tax from large online retailers doing business through California-based affiliates.
You can debate AB 178, the plan to collect sales tax on affiliate sales (I don't sell enough in affiliate sales to have much skin in the game, but there are decent arguments on both sides), but aligning with small business to attack a supposedly business-friendly Governor has good optics.
For the wonks, the Assembly produced an analysis of the Governor's so-called "reform" agenda, showing that most of it would be completely irrelevant to the current budget year, and all of it uses math that magically eliminates implementation costs but assumes outrageously oversized savings years down the road. These are cuts to social services pretending to be reform. I guess it's a step up from completely eliminating programs like CalWorks, but it's fundamentally dishonest.
"I've never liked when people pick on the poor because they haven't got the ability to fight back," said John Burton, the state Democratic Party chairman and former Senate leader known as a fierce advocate for the poor. "It's a Republican syndrome. It isn't tough for Republicans to beat up on poor people. When finances are terrible, they go after the poor and blame the poor. Republicans constantly use that and don't worry about all the benefits government gives to businesses." [...]
Welfare advocates countered that nearly two-thirds of recipients are working or participating in training, and that half are making some kind of income. They also said that the governor's own May revised budget proposal estimated an annual savings of $100 million with that reform.
"He's reinforcing negative stereotypes and scapegoating people for the failure of his own administration," said Frank Mecca, executive director of the County Welfare Directors Association of California. "It's a reflection of a bully mentality, to go after the problems of struggling families when he doesn't get his way. The last thing those families need is to have a powerful figure accuse them of fraud, of not trying."
Furthermore, the CA Democratic Party has collected budget horror stories to highlight the human cost of the crisis. Here's one picked at random:
I am on Social Security Disability and with the amounts allowed to get SSI having been cut, it has also cut my income. Also, my medical coverage is being hit as well as so many of the social programs all of us depend on. Fortunately, I am not homeless yet, but it is a good possibility. I just do not understand how you could make all Californians suffer, especially those of us who are very low income, in favor of giving a huge tax break to oil and tobacco. This is not just or right and I believe that the solution is to sign the compromise bill, and tax the big corporations that are not now paying their fair share! - Christine, Victorville
The structural barriers in the state are so high that I'm not sure any of this can work. One thing is certain, however - this aggressive strategy creates energy in the grassroots, inspires changes to the system and can leverage public opinion far better than desperately seeking some compromise behind closed doors.
Sen. George Runner isn't your typically crazy Republican. No, you have to give credit where credit is due, he goes way beyond that. His voter initiatives (some funded by an indicted meth and coke "wharehouser" Henry Nicholas) are really excellent examples of ToughOnCrimeTM run amok. Last year, he actually had one of his initiatives defeated, Prop 6. Usually that type of poor policy pandering is rewarded, but don't cry for Runner as he was able to get an expensive parole measure passed, Prop 9.
But, Runner is always running some game. And back before he passed "Jessica's Law" he was trying to block parolees from other parts of Los Angeles County from moving to his district in the Antelope Valley. Interestingly, he even got the CA Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation to play along:
In what state Sen. George Runner characterized as a "side agreement" with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the prison and parole agency said it would limit assignments of released offenders into the Antelope Valley to those who had "historical ties" to the area. The agreement created an added layer of anti-parolee protection for the fast-growing desert valley communities on the northern fringe of Los Angeles County.
State law mandates only that parolees be returned to the county of their last legal residence. In vast Los Angeles County, for instance, an inmate from South Central Los Angeles could be paroled to Lancaster. (SacBee 6/23/09)
The truly sketchy thing about this whole affair, as Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) pointed out, is that this deal occured a few months before Jessica's Law was approved. If you recall, many inland legislators, like Sen. Florez, were concerned that parolees would not be able to find suitable places under the new law to live except these spread out areas like, say, the Antelope Valley.
Apparently what is good for the goose wasn't really good for Runner's gander. So, while he was running the Jessica's Law initiative, he was also agreeing to "side deals" with CDCR to make sure that parolees wouldn't be shipped to his district. It is some of the most cynical NIMBYism that I've ever seen, and, frankly, that's saying a lot.
If Runner wants to serve his constituents, fine, then do that. But perhaps when he's writing initiatives for the state, he could consider what is the best policy for the state instead of what's best for his political career.
I am thrilled to report that EQCA-sponsored legislation is moving right along, with two bills passing their first key committee votes yesterday, one to establish Harvey Milk Day, and one to protect LGBT victims of domestic violence.
SB 572, the Harvey Milk Day Bill, passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee by a 9-4 margin. Introduced last month by Senator Mark Leno (D -- San Francisco), it calls for a "day of special significance" to recognize slain civil rights leader Harvey Milk.
The far-right wants to stop this bill. The Traditional Values Coalition and Capitol Resource Institute lobbied against it in the hearing, saying it would teach youth about a “controversial lifestyle.”
Sen. Dean Florez from Bakersfield countered by asking where the opposition witnesses were from – they responded Inland Empire, Roseville and Sacramento. He then requested to become a co-author of the bill to demonstrate that people living in more conservative parts of the state also support the measure.
Debra Jones, who served alongside Cleve Jones as an intern for then Supervisor Milk in 1978, also testified: "There are some who say that Harvey's contributions to the civil rights movement should merely be acknowledged locally. With that perspective, Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy would not be known outside of Atlanta, and the legacy of Cesar Chavez would not be known outside of the Central Valley. Hope doesn't know geographic boundaries."
This is the idea that Sen. Dean Florez included in a letter sent to Treasurer Bill Lockyer. The two now plan on bringing the idea to the two largest pension funds in the country: CalPERS and CalSTRS. From the Bee:
Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, has proposed that the California Public Employees' Retirement System purchase the state's looming debt. The money would keep California operating - including paying state employee payroll and funding schools - into next year.
Florez outlined the plan in a letter to state Treasurer Bill Lockyer on Friday. Lockyer spokesman Tom Dresslar on Monday said his boss will also float the idea to the California State Teachers' Retirement System. Lockyer sits on the boards of both funds.(SacBee 10/7/08)
With the market still in the tank and below 10,000, and the credit markets still extremely tight, our long budget feud didn't make things easy. We need to sell these revenue anticipation notes (RANs) or we won't be able to pay our bills. It is that simple. Having CalPERS and CalSTRS do that seems a reasonable idea, save one minor catch.
Both pension plans have a fiduciary duty first to their clients, that is those whose money they hold. Both have lost substantial sums of money over the last 3-4 months, and so both are probably very nervous about their investments. Now, the legislature and governor could get some legislation requiring the purchase of the RANs, but barring that, CalPERS must do what is in the best interest of their shareholders. Or, as the Bee gets an investment guy to tell them:
It's possible that the funds will take a pass, said Keith Brainard, research director for the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.
"If the state can't borrow money from the credit markets, why would CalPERS be interested?" Brainard said.
Yup, that's where it is folks. Welcome to the Aftereffects of the Bush Legacy, where even California pensions don't want our debt. You'll be seeing these effects for a while. If this ploy doesn't work, it looks like Schwarzenegger will have to go to DC, hat in hand, for $7 Billion. Oh, and the Feds are going to get back to us any day on that. Just keep holding your breath, Governor.
As we brace for the Governor's executive order slashing state employee salaries, the Senate Governmental Organization committee wants some answers.
Anticipating that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today will sign an executive order to cut state worker pay and terminate about 22,000 temporary, part-time and contract jobs, the Senate's Governmental Organization committee has called on Schwarzenegger to explain his rationale. The committee, chaired by Senator Dean Florez (D-Schafter), has scheduled the hearing for Monday at 10 a.m. Schwarzenegger is invited. Controller John Chiang and leaders of state worker unions will testify, according to a press advisory.
Florez, who sought the advisory opinion from the legislative counsel about this move (which showed that John Chiang has more than enough constitutional authority to deny the wage cut from going through), said in his press statement: "I think the Governor owes the public a full explanation as to why he has singled out the state's workforce with his executive order to cut their salaries."
Right on. Which is why you should keep calling Arnold and ruin his birthday by demanding an explanation of your own.
This is a good move by Florez, both from the standpoint of policy and politics.
The state of California owns land and structures nearly twice the size of Los Angeles County. Most of that we need, but it turns out that we have a significant amount of surplus property that can be sold off. These are parcels like land CalTrans purchased for roads that were never built. Four years ago the Schwarzenegger administration estimated that we could bring in $5 billion from selling the surplus land.
This is something both Democrats and Republicans are interested in exploring. CCTimes
Sen. Dean Florez, a Fresno-area Democrat who heads the Senate government committee, said he would rather "sell our surplus property, before we sell or lease the lottery."
"We are going to be looking at every single asset and asking the question of whether there is any longer a use for these properties," said Florez.
Republican Sen. Jeff Denham, of Merced, said that "we want to see what can be sold to deal with this year's budget crisis," as well as those of any future years.
There is absolutely no way that the state can or even should try and sell off all of these properties quick enough to raise billions of dollars to help with this year's budget deficit. Rushing would lead to mistakes, ones that could be costly if the state sells off property it turns out we need. Plus, rushing for quick sales will reduce the revenue back into the state.
The fallout from Gov. Schwarzenegger's demeaning comments about small-town Californians continue to reverberate. Chairman Torres weighed in, and noted that rural Californians don't exactly use a horse and buggy to get around, and some of them even have the teevee and the Internets!
"The Governor's comments are insulting," Torres told PolitickerCA.com today. "California does not have villages. This is not Austria, this is California. Voters in Central California and others from small towns have more on the ball than Arnie!"
State Senator Dean Florez, from the small Central Valley town of Shaffer, went a step further, introducing a resolution to have the Governor take the high school exit exam.
Like every other kid around the state, small town students take the same graduation tests as big city kids to show competency. Rural kids can make the grade. Given the Governor's distasteful comments, what's unanswered is whether he can make the grade.
That's why, today, I'm introducing a senate resolution asking the Governor to take the high school exit exam. If the Governor fails the test, then we certainly have a capable Lt. Governor who can assume his duties until the Governor successfully passes the exam.
I hope that he accepts this challenge and that he doesn't cower behind some excuse. This is a serious effort to bring attention to the divisiveness of placing labels on people based on who they are, how they live or where they come from -- or even how well they do on a test.
If it is a good enough test for our twelfth graders, then certainly it is a good enough test for the Governor to demonstrate his competency.
And after he takes the exam, maybe he'll think twice about the massive cuts to education funding he's proposing -- he just may have to return to school to brush up for the test."
I would pay money to sit in while Arnold fills in the bubbles on the Scan-Tron sheet. Can we get this on television? It'd be the first time local news covered state politics all year!
The Assembly Session is now over and a special session for health care and water issues has been convened. The Senate is expected to conclude its session soon as well, but not before hashing out a few more obstacles. Hundreds of bills are headed to the Governor's desk (the Assembly sent 234 before it adjourned in the wee hours). But, it turns out that money does buy you love if you start astroturf organizations, but not so much for the real grassroots. So, the mothers of MOMS rising and other organizations that have been fighting toxic chemicals that are in our everyday environment will have to keep on fighting.
UPDATE: From the commnts, AB 706 is now officially dead. The vote count was 19 Ayes, 20 Noes, 1 Abstain. Dems who voted the wrong way: Correa (Orange County), Ducheny (San Diego), Florez (Bakersfield & Fresno), Machado (Stockton), and Vincent (LA...WTF?). Gloria Negrete McCleod abstained. Sen. Yee flipped his vote late last night. Thank you, Senator.
