It’s piling on time for Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands).  There are subpoenas flying in the multitude of investigations into several earmarks.  We’ve written about Lewis’ ethics problems in the past (here and here), but it seems now that the Feds might be closing in on there man.  The noose is tightening on ol’ Jerry.:

Riverside County and the Cal State Bernardino Foundation have been subpoenaed in the federal investigation into the ties between Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, and a Washington, D.C., lobbyist, it was reported Saturday.
That’s in addition to subpoenas of San Bernardino County and Redlands, Calif., that were confirmed earlier this week. The subpoenas are asking for records of contacts between the recipients and Lewis and Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton, & White, which employs former Rep. Bill Lowery, R-Calif.
Lowery is a close friend of Lewis’ whose firm’s clients include a number of municipalities, businesses and agencies in or around Lewis’ inland Southern California district. Some aides to Lewis at the House Appropriations Committee, which he chairs, have also gone to work at the firm, which helps clients get federal dollars “earmarked” for projects.(AP 6/3/06)

Now, I understand that in the rush to earmark that there will be some deals that look questionable.  (Of course one way to completely get rid of these shady deals would be complete public financing of campaigns)  However, during the 12 years that the GOP has been in control of the House, the corruption and quid pro quo arrangements of the Representatives has been despicable.  But, don’t worry, Jerry Lewis welcomes you to look at his record.  But be careful, your eyes might burn…

“I encourage a thorough review of any project I have helped secure for my constituents,” the statement said. “Throughout my career, I have also made every effort to meet the highest ethical standards, and I am absolutely certain that any review of my work will confirm this.”

The down-ballot Field poll was released this morning. So, I’ll run down the numbers, starting with the Constitutional offices.

Lt.Gov

Jackie Speier has moved into a small lead over John Garamendi, apparently all those billboards aren’t paying off for him like he would have hoped.  Liz Figueroa has continued to slide into oblivion.  Currently, Speier has 30%, Garamendi 25%, and Figueroa 8% with 37% undecided. It was thought by some that Figueroa would act as a spoiler for Speier, but that doesn’t seem to be playing out.  Figueroa has only 7% of women and only 5% in Speier’s and Figueroa’s home region of Northern California.  She is a bit stronger in Southern California at 10%, but this is probably just due to Latino identity politics.  Speier’s large lead amongst women might push her over the top in a primary that is dominated by women.  She currently leads 33-21-7 on that figure.  On the GOP Side, Tom McClintock is running unopposed.

Attorney General

Jerry Brown‘s name recognition, (and a Time Magazine feature story didn’t hurt on that account), without much in the way of campaign spending, has allowed him to retain his large lead over Rocky Delgadillo.  Currently Brown has 51%, Delgadillo 24%, and 25% are undecided.  I would go deeper into the numbers, but Brown seems to be dominant in all the crosstabs.  On the GOP side, Poochigian is running without siginificant opposition.

Controller

This race has flown under the radar, with a huge 63% undecided.  Joe Dunn is clinging to the slimmest of leads with 19 points, while John Chiang has 18.  Unsuprisingly, Dunn is doing better in Southern California (21-14) and Chiang better in Northern California (25-15).  This one will probably get a lot fewer people voting on it that the gov race, and name recognition just might push a state senator over a BOE member.  But, at this point, it’s too close to call.  And on the plus side, both campaigns in this race have run great campaigns.  I’m excited to see either man win.  On the GOP side, Strickland has a 43-32 lead over Maldanado.

Treasurer

Bill Lockyer is running unopposed.  On the GOP side, Keith Richman is leading small government loon and current BOE member Claude Parrish at 18-17 with 65 undecided.

Secretary Of State

Deborah Ortiz narrowly leads Debra Bowen at 25-19.  However, this might be merely identity politics as 65% is undecidided.  Ortiz seems to be holding her home region of Sacramento and NorCal (28-15), but with undecideds so high, it’s hard to glean much from the poll.  And another thing, am I totally missing something, or does Ortiz not have a campaign website?  That would be pretty crazy, and if so I would definitely have to publicly give my support to Bowen.  C’mon folks, technology is a big part of that job, get with the 21st century.  McPherson is running unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Prop 82

Prop 82 has been crashing in support recently.  And the news today is not good either.  Currently it’s losing by a margin of 41 Yes to 46 No.  The scare tactics used by the No on 82 folks seem to be working.  And I must admit, I’ve heard several very progressive people admit that they are a bit nervous about voting for the program.  I think at some level people just don’t like instituting such a large program via direct democracy.  Also, part of this is the additional taxes.  Those on the right jsut hate government, those on the left seem to want to use those taxes for other purposes.  However, I think it’s going to be a close race for 82.  The SacBee notes that:

Despite the new poll numbers, supporters say they believe they will win. They expect to do well among Democrats, who will be more likely to go to the polls to vote in the gubernatorial primary and other hotly contested Democratic races, said Nathan James, a spokesman for the Yes on 82 campaign.

“We always knew this election was going to come down to the wire,” James said. “We have a number of advantages going into this election.”

But opponents of Proposition 82, including the California Chamber of Commerce, have been pushing the arguments that the program would be too costly and would potentially drive private preschools out of business.

Pamela Zell Rigg, president of the California Montessori Council, said opponents were hoping voters would turn against the measure as they learned more about it. (SacBee 6/3/06)

So, obviously turnout will be key in all these races. But for Prop 82, where both parties get to vote and Ds are skewed in favor of 82(53-33) and Rs are skewed against 82 (25-65), the “who” of turnout will be key.  If many Republicans stay away from what is an otherwise uninteresting primary election for them, it might allow 82 to pass.

Look, look! Something positive to come out of the campaigns.  But, well, it’s not really coming out of the campaigns.  But, be that it as it may, Phil Angelides, as the state treasurer, sent Barbara Boxer, a letter requesting her support for the Net Neutrality Bill.  The money quote:

We cannot allow the next generation of entrepreneurs, artists, and civic groups to be slowed down by corporations erecting tollbooths on the Internet Superhighway.  Continued innovation and access demand protection of Network Neutrality.

The full text of the letter is on the flip.  I haven’t heard anything from the Westly campaign, but I expect that he also supports Net Neutrality.  In fact eBay CEO Meg Whitman sent out an email to members encouraging them to contact their representatives in favor of Net Neutrality.  If anybody knows of something that would indicate Westly and/or Schwarzenegger’s position, let me know.

May 23, 2006

The Honorable Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C., 20510

Dear Senator Boxer,

I am writing to urge your continued support for strong provisions for Network Neutrality when the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology this week considers S.2686, the Communications, Consumer’s Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006.

The Internet is the most dynamic and innovative means of communication and commerce developed in the last fifty years. We need to ensure that the Internet’s very nature of open access remains protected. However, the effective duopoly that controls broadband access for consumers, content providers, and applications developers––the largest telecommunications and cable corporations––threatens the very nature of the Internet. The business model they are promoting for the Internet would create a fast lane for those content and application providers able to pay for privileged access and a slow lane for small businesses, start-ups, and grassroots groups.

As Stanford Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig testified to your committee in February 2006, “By effectively auctioning off lanes of broadband service, this form of (access) tiering will restrict the opportunity of many to compete in providing new Internet service.” (2/7/06)

Open access has been one of the key drivers of the Internet economy over the last ten years.  It has been vital to the success of Silicon Valley and the creation of hundreds of thousands of California jobs. We cannot allow the next generation of entrepreneurs, artists, and civic groups to be slowed down by corporations erecting tollbooths on the Internet Superhighway.  Continued innovation and access demand protection of Network Neutrality.

Sincerely,
Phil Angelides
California State Treasurer

Open access has been one of the key drivers of the Internet economy
over the last ten years.  It has been vital to the success of Silicon
Valley and the creation of hundreds of thousands of California jobs.
We cannot allow the next generation of entrepreneurs, artists, and
civic groups to be slowed down by corporations erecting tollbooths on
the Internet Superhighway.  Continued innovation and access demand
protection of Network Neutrality.

Sincerely,
Phil Angelides
California State Treasurer

ReadyReturn is a tax return program that simplifies the filing of tax returns.  Kid Oakland wrote about this a while ago. 

Legislation to permanently authorize ReadyReturn, a state program that prepares simple income tax returns, died without a vote in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 2905 was proposed by Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Los Angeles, and was sponsored by state Controller Steve Westly.

ReadyReturn, a pilot project, offered free income tax returns last year to 50,000 Californians with uncomplicated personal finances.

AB 2905, or similar legislation, is required for the pilot program to become permanent. … Unable to muster the 41 votes needed, Frommer let AB 2905 die Wednesday night.(SacBee 6/2/06)

It’s a good idea.  It especially helps low-income workers who often don’t understand their taxes and take them to paid preparation services.  So, why do you think it died?  Well, I’ll give you 3 guesses, and the first two don’t count:

Helping to lead the charge against AB 2905 was Intuit Inc., which sells Turbo Tax, a tax preparation software program.

We sure wouldn’t want Intuit to lose a few bucks.  While Intuit might have put a more pleasant face on the tax lobby, keep in mind who is really behind this: H&R Block.  ReadyReturn would put a crimp in their lucrative loan shark refund anticipation loan programs.  Bill Lockyer is already suing Block for these programs that charge interest rates that can be as high as 700%!  Similar providers such as Jackson Hewitt prey on the low-income market.  The loans carry almost no risk unless they botch up the tax returns, yet they still charge astronomical rates.

ReadyReturn saved money for the Californians who most need the assistance, but the legislature chose to side with the large corporations who give their campaigns more cash.  These companies can’t stand in the way of progress for ever.  The bill should be passed as soon as possible.