Links:

• After forcing pay cuts on State workers, now we’re trying to force 15-20% cuts on to state contractors.

• Here we go again with the old blame the brown people response from the xenophobic right in response to an economic downturn and budget issues.  If Republicans want to dishonestly start another fight that could lead to them backing a Prop. 187-style solution, go ahead.  It cost them dearly in this state the last time.  The article at least provides the arguments that immigrants are, in fact, a net positive on the economy.

• Carly Fiorina is having a few record-keeping issues. Apparently, she’s failed to register either her non-profit or her “small business.” Wow, somebody who engages in espionage, can’t keep her records straight, and was fired for incompetence. Where do I sign up?

• Good for Loretta Sanchez from breaking with her Blue Dog counterparts and supporting a robust public plan because it can lower costs.  Her colleagues in the Blue Dog Coalition have incoherently argued that they want to lower overall health care costs but not support the kind of public insurance option that could actually do it.  This has been an emerging pattern of independence from the conservative wing of the Party for Sanchez.

• Sen. Yee’s bill for more legislative control over the UC system has been shelved, and is likely dead. It was, shall we say, very controversial in the UC community.

• Assemblyman Anthony Adams is still facing a recall for voting for the February compromise. The organizers say they’ll only turn in signatures when they have all of them, rather than turning them in as they go. However, they claim to be having no problem getting signatures. Should the recall move forward, the election could be quite interesting.  It would draw some sort of line between the kinda crazies and the real crazies in the GOP.

• BART avoided a strike while unions consider whether to accept a contract proposal from BART management. The old agreement expired yesterday at midnight, but the union says they’ll hold off for a few more days on striking.

• As part of the continuing game of musical chairs resulting from the recent Los Angeles municipal elections, City Council District 2 is currently vacant owing to former Councilmember Wendy Greuel’s successful campaign for City Controller.  Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (AD-43) announced his candidacy today for the open seat, which will be filled in a special election on September 22.  Tomorrow is the last day to file a declaration of intention for candidacy, so we’ll know next week who Krekorian’s competition is, though current LAUSD Boardmember Tamar Galatzan and Chris Essel, a Senior Vice President at Paramount, are currently rumored to be the other main competitors for the seat.  Should a runoff occur, it will be held on December 8.