Uncategorized

CA-50 Ask Brian Bilbray – May 2 Edition

May 3, 2006 Words Have Power 2 Comments

It is interesting how many members of congress and CIA employees are having a hard time remembering the details of those cigar and booze filled nights over at Brent Wilkes’ “hospitality suite.” Via TPM Muckracker:

Porter Goss never participated.

Dusty Foggo played poker, but never saw any hookers.

Jerry Lewis (CA-41) never hung with Wilkes outside of California.

Duncan Hunter (CA-51) doesn’t drink, smoke or hang out with riff-raff.

John Doolittle (CA-4) doesn’t speak to the press.

What about one of Wilkes other pals in congress, Brian Bilbray? Bilbray received some big money from Wilkes and was active both in congress and as a lobbyist while Wilkes was running his “hospitality” operation for lonely members of congress.

Why isn’t someone from the Pulitzer Prize winning San Diego Union Tribune asking Bilbray about his association with Wilkes?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Budget

Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money! More revenue than expected

May 3, 2006 Brian Leubitz

The Franchise Tax Board raked in a lot more dough ($11.3 Billion) than we expected, actually exceeding the 2001 Bubble amount ($10.5 Billion).

The state is collecting record-breaking tax revenues this year, outstripping even the most optimistic fiscal forecasts and setting the stage for a debate among lawmakers over what to do with the bounty as they craft next year’s budget.
The Franchise Tax Board said it took in $11.3 billion in personal income tax payments this April, an amount larger than the $10.5 billion the state received in April 2001 at the height of the high-tech stock market boom.
***
No single factor – the stock market, real-estate deals, or business growth – seems to explain it, Williams said (SacBee 5/2/06)

And already the fighting has begun over what to do with this new found cash. The problem is that most of the money is going to end up in cost over-runs in a few sectors: prisons (ahem…end 3 strikes), welfare (a lawsuit that could cost the state $500 million is pending), and state employee raises. The Republicans want to start saving a little in a slush fund while the dems want to reverse some of Schwarzenegger’s cuts from his January budget proposal. It’s going to be one hell of a fight.

Blog Roundup

California Blog Roundup, May 2, 2006: Immigration

May 3, 2006 jsw

California Blog Roundup on Immigration is on the flip. No Teasers.

Words

From last Thursday, Julia Rosen asks if Arnold Schwarzenegger has an actual position on immigration or if he’s really just a weathervane. We may never know, as Arnold pulled a Brave Sir Robin on Monday.

Bill Bradley has a thoughtful post on both the political response (none) and his thoughts on the long-term consequences (complex).

Blue Santa Clarita wants to know if the Republican Party thinks that EMTs should be the enforcers of immigration laws: no treatment for the undocumented?

Steve Soto of The Left Coaster suggests that Harry Reid should let the Republicans sort their immigration neuroses out.

Nancy Urban’s guest post at California Progress Report reminds us that we’re all complicit in the inconsistency between our formal and informal immigration policy. The corollary would seem to be that we’re all responsible for helping to fix that inconsistency in a humane and just way. See also Speak Out California.

From Frank Russo, California Dems want to do just that, while Cal Republicans seem far more interested in posturing for nativists.

Marta Donayre speaks out on the nature of law. Kid Oakland has some choice words about “Law Day”.

The Blue Voice replies to concerns about the May 1 Rallies “alienating” people.

Cindylu from Lotería Chicana, on how she decided to go to the rallies.

MsAbcMom pondered the same question as a teacher and a mom.

Craigorian Chant reminds us that undocumented immigrants are not a dead weight loss, any more than anyone else in the country, nativist assumptions to the contrary.