Nunez Forced to Recuse Himself from ALL Healthcare Votes??

In a stunning turn, it appears that Speaker Fabian Nunez must recuse himself from any votes on healthcare legislations-including any attempts to revive AB 8, the healthcare bill that Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed this month.

The Sacramento Bee reported this morning that Maria Robles, the wife of Fabian Nunez, has accepted a six-figure salary with Californians for Patient Care, a front group for the hospital industry that receives approximately 99% of its funding from the California Hospital Association.

We’ll take a look at this, and more from the drive for guaranteed, single-payer healthcare…cross-posted at the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association’s Breakroom Blog, as we organize to make 2007 the Year of GUARANTEED healthcare on the single-payer model.

Nuñez has already established a precedent for abstaining on issues affecting another of his wife’s employers. In 2006, Robles accepted a six-figure salary to work as a consultant for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.  As a result, Nuñez pledged not to vote on legislation that affected them that year.

Under California law, “no member of the legislature shall… receive or agree to receive, directly or indirectly, any compensation, reward or gift from any source, except the State of California” with very limited exceptions for certain speech fees and expense reimbursements (California Government Code 8920). This broad provision covers a spouse’s income, as Nunez’ prior actions with the Air Quality Management District demonstrate. Additionally, the law specifies that no legislator shall “participate, by voting or any other action, on the floor of either house, in committee, or elsewhere, in the passage or defeat of legislation in which he has a personal interest.”
I don’t have the penalties at hand for violating this law-add them in the comments if you, please.

But does this mean AB 8 is dead?  Has the insurance industry failed in their attempts to create a “forced market” for their products?

Interestingly, this couldn’t happen at a better time.  It appears that the coalitions of Sacramento insiders pushing the grand Nunez-Schwarzenegger compromise may be breaking apart.  Fabian’s backers are now apparently on the warpath against Arnold.  They’ve hired consultant Chris Lehane, a true-blue Democrat and Clinton/Gore/Clinton operative who has no interest in polishing Arnold’s resume as he heads into the possible 2010 showdown against Boxer.

Of course who knows what’s going to happen? Nunez’ wife is working for Arnold’s plan, and his allies are working against it. 

Meanwhile, Al Gore comes out swinging for single-payer healthcare, in a new Current video.  Go Al!

I strongly support universal, single-payer, government-provided-or, government-funded-healthcare….I think it ought to be a matter of right and our current system just doesn’t work, its way too expensive….And I think that to eliminate the incredibly ridiculous cost of all this unnecessary paperwork and different standards for different companies, it is time to have universal health insurance.

And check out the video of these beautiful, powerful, activist nurses on strike against Sutter.

Finally, superstar columnist David Lazarus continues his advocacy on behalf of single-payer healthcare.

To join the fight for guaranteed healthcare (with a “Medicare for All” or SinglePayer financing), visit GuaranteedHealthcare.org, a project of the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association.

(Check out the comments. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

The main points of Art Torres’ 2007 “58-County Strategy” for the California Democratic Party (CDP) are cited below.  Following each heading from the 58-County Strategy text are comments and/or questions on specific goals.  I would like to know what they are.  I posted this yesterday on a discussion list for delegates to the California Democratic Party (on which lurk Party brass).  No responses so far.  Can anyone fill in the gaps?

VOTER REGISTRATION AND CONTACT

1.  What are the 2008 Statewide numerical goals for:

  A. Number of new Democratic voters to be registered, and

  B. Number of Decline to State voters to be re-registered as Democrats?

2.  How many California voters does the California Democratic Party intend to contact by phone in 2008?

3.  How many California voters does the California Democratic Party intend to contact in person in 2008?

4.  How many voters will the California Democratic Party contact by mail in 2008?

5.  Whose job is it to assure the 2008 goals (if they exist) are met?
COLLATERAL MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

1.  What voter contact system will the California Democratic Party use in 2008?

2.  Will Democratic volunteers have the ability to created targeted lists for voter contact?

3.  Will Democratic volunteers have the ability to update the voter contact system with notes on voters, updated contact information, etc.?

FINANCE/TREASURER’S ASSISTANCE

The California Democratic Party’s commitment to train local Democrats on financial requirements is commendable.

LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE

The CDP’s “liability insurance program” for county committees and clubs to cover events, fair booths, fundraisers and other organizing activities is very helpful.

COMMUNICATIONS

Will the California Democratic Party provide an online interactive feedback service so that average Democratic volunteers can get answers to their questions and offer feedback on best practices?

TRAINING

Does the California Democratic Party have specific goals for numbers of people to attend campaign training in 2008?  For example what are the specific goals for training of the following groups:
1.  Local candidates for non-partisan offices
2.  CDP Regional Directors
3.  CDP County Chairs
4.  CDP County Committee members
5.  Democratic Club Chairs and officers
6.  CDP Delegates from ADs
7.  Appointed CDP Delegates
8.  Grassroots Volunteers
9.  Netroots volunteers

RESEARCH AND RECRUITMENT

1.  Does the California Democratic Party have a commitment to recruiting and supporting a Democrat for every partisan office in the State?

2.  Does the California Democratic Party have a commitment to run a Democrat in a certain percentage (or even 100%) of non-partisan races in which there is a Republican incumbent or a retiring Republican?

In short, we need clear goals and lines of responsibility in order to:

· Build the Democratic brand,
· Obtain a veto-proof majority in the State legislature,
· Infuse California State Government with our professed values, and
· Do our part to obtain a veto-proof majority in the US Congress.

In solidarity with all California Democrats,
Caligal

Last week Arnold announced his health care reform plan for the special session – a plan that Anthony Wright of Health Access California describes as his January plan, except worse. By insisting on an individual mandate with few subsidies and hardly any cost controls or care guarantees, Arnold offered a plan that was certain to satisfy nobody.

As a result of this craptacular plan, as today’s LA Times reports, “Unions give up on governor’s health plan”:

Abandoning their facade of cooperation, a coalition of California labor unions and consumer groups says it is gearing up a campaign to discredit Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s healthcare proposal as too expensive for many workers.

Organizers say they will trail Schwarzenegger throughout California to challenge and rebut him, hold prayer vigils and news conferences, press elected officials to oppose his proposal and run critical ads on television. They plan to deride the governor’s program as the “Arnold Middle-Class Gouge.”

The coalition, which includes most major unions and two prominent consumer groups — Health Access California and Consumers Union — has hired one of the nation’s most aggressive Democratic strategists to run the campaign [that would be Chris Lehane – RinM].

The campaign represents a break from labor leaders’ strategy, which had been to encourage Schwarzenegger’s efforts while gently prodding him in their direction. Leaders say they no longer believe that the governor will ever agree to their priorities without pressure.

Jordan Rau’s coverage of health care in California has been excellent, but I think he’s been saddled with a bad headline here. It’s not the unions who are giving up on the governor – it’s Arnold who gave up on them, and on the state, when he reasserted his non-starter plan.

The article notes that “labor leaders walked out” of a meeting last week with the governor and his staff over healthcare, specifically the insufficient employer fees and lack of subsidies. Lehane is crafting a strategy that points out the obvious – that individual mandates are a recipe for widespread financial ruin:

Starting Wednesday, they plan to publicly argue that Schwarzenegger’s plan is unaffordable for many. It would require individuals earning more than $35,735 and families of four making more than $72,275 to buy insurance without any subsidies for the costs. Unions say those thresholds are at least $10,000 too low.

(Personally I think even higher thresholds won’t help make an individual mandate workable, but the unions are right that these thresholds are not very helpful.)

With the shift to outright opposition, it is difficult to see how a health care deal will be concluded this session – especially as Arnold, captive of the Cal Chamber of Commerce (as Brian and Julia have explained), is highly unlikely to move in the direction that Dems and labor would like him to.

Instead this, like everything else in California politics these days, is headed for the ballot:

The labor groups are threatening to bring their own proposal to the voters in a ballot initiative next year. Itwould place on employers most of the financial responsibility for providing insurance on employers, as did the Democratic healthcare overhaul vetoed by Schwarzenegger last week.

A similar measure that passed the Legislature in 2003 was narrowly rejected the following year in a referendum brought by business groups, but labor groups thinks Californians’ concern about health care has risen to the extent that the public would accept such a measure now.

And of course, when we speak of taking things to the ballot – a costly project in terms of money, effort, and time – it raises the question of why we should not instead expend that effort toward a successful single-payer ballot initiative.

To the tune of 12 for 12. 12 Vetoes for 12 Good Bills.  That kind of record would make even the Colorado Rockies smile. And it's sure making the Cal Chamber of Commerce smile. 

In recent years, the chamber has focused much of its lobbying firepower on an annual list of “job killer” bills. This year, Schwarzenegger complied with 12 out of 12 chamber requests for vetoes on those bills. In 2006, he vetoed nine of 11 bills that the chamber listed as job killers.

“The chamber has had more success than most in getting vetoes,” said Steve Blackledge, legislative director for the California Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocate. “They draw a bright line in the sand and say, 'These bills have to be stopped.' They've got the governor as their backstop.”(LAT 10/16/07)

Some of those bills over the flip.

A bunch of these bills involve green building codes. You see, the California Chamber of Commerce didn't dig on the Global Warming Bill, AB32, and doesn't much dig on any implementation of that bill.  You see, they are into a “wait and see” approach on climate change. You know, “wait” until we have no water left, and then “see” if they can move to Canada to get their water. So, we get a raft of “job killers” on that front. AB 35 (Ruskin) would require new state construction to live up to the standards of the gold rating from the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for buildings after 2010. AB 888 (Leiu): would require that standard for all buildings where planning ends after 2013. AB 1058 (Laird) would require the Dept. of Housing to issue green standards for housing. And somewhat related, the Governor vetoed SB 210 that would have created standards for alternative fuels.

The Chamber really hates workers comp. They think that if you get injured on the job, well, that's the risk you take. Suckas!  SO, the fact that an injured worker got only $45K for a amputated leg seems totally fair to them. Yay! But the Legislature insists on trying to make them pay injured workers, those meanies. So, more job killers like SB 936 (Perata) which would have revised the formula for computing those payments for injuries causing permanent disability. SB 942 (Migden) would have given permanently disabled workers a supplemental job displacement benefit, And a very important piece of legislation, SB 622 (Padilla) would prohibit willful misclassification, as defined, of employees as independent contractors. 

Of course, The Chamber hates when their workers organize, so they blast two Migden bills SB180 and SB650 which affect labor organization, and Asm. Swanson's AB 504 that would have punished fraud in bargaining.

And, of course, they hated the Perata-Nunez health care plan, AB 8.  So, 12 for 12. Good Work Chamber!

It is time for an addition to the Roster of Shame, i.e., your neighbors in the Coachella Valley who provide financial support to the reactionary GOP candidates.  As you probably know already, the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area is a must-see destination for Presidential campaigns.  We know this from the visit from the so-called President when he skulked into Indian Wells in 2006 to raise money on behalf of other Repugnants in the Coachella Valley as well as for his own trough.  What you probably don’t know, that, at least in Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, and Palm Desert, Fred Thompson has raised $0.00 to date.  (It seems that he is as lazy at the money trough as he is on the campaign trail.)  So much for the Thompson factor in the Coachella Valley thus far.

What follows is the money trail as reported by the HuffingtonPost.com FundRace 2008, as of October 15, 2007.  See below the flip to understand who your neighbors support, and, indirectly, what they probably think of you, your politics, and your beloved country.

Click for below the flip….

Here is the information for zipcode 92234 (Cathedral City):

Wayne Goff, Engineer, Self-Employed, 38295 Chuperosa Lane, Cathedral City: $500 to Ron Paul

Dorothy Lundberg, Retired, 320 Coyote, Cathedral City: $600 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Zipcode 92235 (Cathedral City):
No Contributions Found

Zipcode 92240 (Desert Hot Springs):

Patricia McAllister, General Manager, Albertson’s Bakery, 65223 Dunes Pass, Desert Hot Springs: $400 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Zipcode 92241:
No Contributions Found

Zipcode 92210 (Palm Desert):

Holly Merrigan, Real Estate Investments, Self-Employed, 45-395 Espinazo, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Mike Salta, Retired, 75-203 Peppewood, Palm Desert: $2,000 to Rudi Guliani, the Liar

Andre Horn, Retired, 75304 St Andrews Court, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Rudi Guliani, the Liar

Molly Montgomery, Banking, El Paseo Bank, 78745 Montre Sereno Circle, Palm Desert: $500 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Ray Plote, 74-405 Quail Lakes Drive, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

Shirley Carroll, 47-785 Vintage Drive E, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

Richard Carroll, 47-785 Vintage Drive E, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

Mary Milbach, Concierge, El Paseo Bank, 78145 Monte Sereno Circle, Palm Desert: $500 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

James Willingham, Retired, 45695 Sugarloaf Mountain Trail, Palm Desert: $250 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

David Erwin, Attorney, Best, Best, & Krieger, 45525 Navajo Road, Palm Desert: $2,100 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Kevin McGuire, Chairman/CEO, Palm Desert National Bank, 45655 Apache Road, Palm Desert: $2,100 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Dan Finnane, Retired, 46300 Amethyst Drive, Palm Desert: $2,000 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

Russell Davis, Attorney, Self-Employed, 45660 Paseo Coronado, Palm Desert: $500 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Marilyn Tennity, Retired, 47451 E Eldorado Drive, Palm Desert: $1,750 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Marilyn Tennity, Retired, 47451 E Eldorado Drive, Palm Desert: $1,000 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Zach Brinkerhoff, Oil & Gas, Self-Employed, 75900 Carnelian Lane, Palm Desert: $500 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Toni Peebler, Retired, 47200 W Eldorado Drive, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

William McComas, Retired, 75395 Morningstar Drive, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Sam Spinello, Commercial Real Estate, Spinello Co., 75535 Desierto Drive, Palm Desert: $1,000 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Ann Tisdale, 75273 Spyglass Lane, Palm Desert: $375 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Stuart Tisdale, 75273 Spyglass Lane, Palm Desert: $375 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Steven Pfrenzinger, 75395 St Andrews Court, Palm Desert: $1,000 to Rudy Guliani, the Liar

Larry Hatfield, Developer, Steven Ross, 75276 Morningstar Drive, Palm Desert: $2,100 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Stanley Sperling, Retired, 74735 Arroyo Drive, Palm Desert: $2,300 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Fortunee Sperling, Retired, 74735 Arroyo Drive, Palm Desert: $1,900 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Gloria Sage, Business Owner, Self-Employed, 74590 Palo Verde Drive, Palm Desert: $1,000 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Paula Foley, 74-380 Quail Lakes, Palm Desert: $2,100 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

Patrick Foley, 74-380 Quail Lakes, Palm Desert: $2,100 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

James McElvany, Retired, 49-672 Hidden Valley Trail, Palm Desert: $1,000 to John McCain, the BushBootLicker

Evelyn Hall, Homemaker, 75-171 Pepperwood Drive, Palm Desert: $4,200 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

Mary Kay Taylor, Retired, 75-179 Pepperwood Drive, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

Robert Taylor, Retired, 75-179 Pepperwood Drive, Palm Desert: $2,300 to Mitt Romney, the Theofascist

More DownValley info to follow.

Today’s Blog Roundup is on the flip. Let me know what I missed.

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How a Bill Becomes a Law
(or not)

• California Progress Report – Rubber Ducks in a Row as
  Schwarzenegger Signs Ma Bill to Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals
  in Toys
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/rubber_ducks_in.html
• California Progress Report – Bad Weekend for Migrant Farm
  Workers in California as Schwarzenegger Vetoes Bills
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/bad_weekend_for.html
• California Progress Report – Schwarzenegger Vetoes
  Pro-Family Bills as Corporate Interests Trump Family Values
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/schwarzenegger_58.html
• California Progress Report – Digging Through the Pile That
  Has Left Schwarzenegger’s Desk: Bills
  Signed–And the 22% He Vetoed This Year
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/digging_through.html
• Working Californians | No Major Bills Signed
  http://workingcalifornians.com/blog/julia_rosen/2007/10/15/no_major_bills_signed
• California Progress Report – How the Environment Fared:
  California 2007 Session, Signings, and Vetoes
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/how_the_environ.html
• California Progress Report – Absentee Voting Killed in
  California
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/absentee_voting_1.html
• The Mad Professah Lectures: Governor Vetoes Bill To Allow
  Condoms in Prisons
  http://buckmire.blogspot.com/2007/10/governor-vetoes-bill-to-allow-condoms.html

Ba-Da-Bang!

• California Progress Report – Ham–Handed Pro-Gun
  Republicans Induce Anti-Gun Response From Governor Schwarzenegger
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/hamhanded_pro-g.html
• San Diego Politico: You can pry my gun, out of my cold dead
  hand!
  http://www.sandiegopolitico.com/2007/10/you-can-pry-my-gun-ought-of-my-cold.html

Other Statewide

• California Progress Report – Leno to Schwarzenegger on Veto
  of Marriage Equality Bill: “You’re on the Wrong Side of History”
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/leno_to_schwarz.html
• California Progress Report – California Poll Shows Support
  for Clinton, Giuliani, Prop 93 (Term
  Limits), Legal Residency for Undocumented Immigrants, and Even a 1 Cent
  Sales Tax for Health Coverage
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/california_poll.html
• Left In SF » Tribes fight ballot effort by unions
  to organize their workers
  http://leftinsf.com/blog/index.php/archives/2278
• California Progress Report – Much at Stake in California’s
  Redistricting System
  http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/much_at_stake_i.html
• Daily Kos: Fear and Loathing in the California Police State
  http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/15/4457/4075
• Hugo Schwyzer – Schwarzenegger 2007: why the 2003 recall
  is looking better and better all the time
  http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/15/schwarzenegger-2007-a-little-somethin-for-everyone/
• Speak Out California!: While California Dreams- Weekly
  Update Vol.1 No. 19
  http://speakoutca.org/archives/2007/10/while_californi_15.php

Local

• Left In SF » Protest the GAP on Wednesday
  http://leftinsf.com/blog/index.php/archives/2279
• voiceofsandiego.org: Opinion… Poseidon’s
  Desalination Design a Decade Late
  http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2007/10/15/opinion/01geever101507.txt
• San Diego Politico: Meet the Ugly Face of Gaylord
  Entertainment
  http://www.sandiegopolitico.com/2007/10/meet-ugly-face-of-gaylord.html
• BeyondChron » Setting the Record Straight on San
  Francisco Homelessness
  http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=5004#more
• BeyondChron » San Francisco Rents Explode!!
  http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=5006#more
• The People’s Vanguard of Davis: Saylor Carries Water For
  West Yost
  http://davisvanguard.blogspot.com/2007/10/saylor-carries-water-for-west-yost.html
• San Diego Politico: Weekend Recap – Bersin for City
  Attorney?
  http://www.sandiegopolitico.com/2007/10/weekend-recap-bersin-for-city-attorney.html
• SFist: Measure H Math
  http://sfist.com/2007/10/15/measure_h_math.php
• The Ojai Post :: Shell Gas Station Now Powered by the Sun
  http://www.ojaipost.com/2007/10/shell_gas_station_now_powered.shtml

Federales

• Left In SF » Latest on Open Letter to Pelosi on
  ENDA
  http://leftinsf.com/blog/index.php/archives/2280
• DownWithTyranny!: NANCY PELOSI– THE LEADER… OF GOOD
  GERMANS
  http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2007/10/nancy-pelosi-leader-of-good-germans.html

The Rest

• The California Majority Report // Sunday’s Fresh Meat
  http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=9&aid=2351
• The California Majority Report // Today’s Fresh Meat
  http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=9&aid=2352
• skippy the bush kangaroo: don’t go to “b”-school
  http://xnerg.blogspot.com/2007/10/dont-go-to-b-school.html
• The Liberal OC » Thought-Provoking Documentary on
  Gays and the Church Now Showing in Irvine
  http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/10/14/thought-provoking-documentary-on-gays-and-the-church-now-showing-in-irvine/
• cab drollery: Water Shortages Aren’t Just Tomorrow’s
  Problems
  http://cabdrollery.blogspot.com/2007/10/water-shortages-arent-just-tomorrows.html
• The Ruth Group » Monning for CA Assembly
  http://www.ruthgroup.org/2007/10/14/monning-for-ca-assembly/
• Party Line: Report from Region 5
  http://blog.cadem.org/partyline/2007/10/report-from-reg.html
• Elliott Petty @ Courage Campaign: Progressive Economic
  Think Tank Set To Launch
  http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/elliottpetty/BJd