Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-LA) spoke to SacBee reporters, who published portions of the interview.  What I found most interesting was a tidbit about the debate over the bond packages:

A: I can’t tell you whether it’s going to be in June or November. … But here’s what it’s going to take to get it done for June. It’s going to take political will, not just on the part of the Assembly Democrats. It’s going to take the Senate Democrats, and it’s going to take the Republican legislators. … The thing that you’ve got to understand is there are a lot of issues on the infrastructure bond that come into play when trying to figure out what ought to be in the bond, what ought not be in the bond. One really needs to take their time and make sure that it’s done right. And, really, a lot of it is about people putting their cards on the table early and saying, “Look, this is what I can live with and this is what I can’t live with.”

And what the Democrats apparently can’t live with is a large bond package.  Nunez is balking at the $68billion that the Governor is asking for:

Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez said Tuesday that his caucus cannot support a $68 billion package of general obligation bonds that is a linchpin of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 10-year “strategic growth plan.” (Sac Bee 2/15/06)

As I’ve discussed before, we need to take a look at how we are going to spend these bonds.  We’ve neglected our infrastructure for so long, it isn’t even possible to estimate what kind of money we need to expend to improve it.  There

There are many infrastructure projects that will need money in the next ten years.  Obviously, the LA and SF Bay areas need attention, but the booming economy of the Central Valley requires massive infrastructure improvements as the roads around the major Central Valley city are too small for the current population.  But, as I’ve stressed before, the levees around the SF Bay Delta need a major overhaul.  While this should be a combined state/federal project, the state needs to ensure that we have the funds for that.

Which brings me back to the issue of timing.  The Governor, and some Democrats, are aiming to get the bond issue on the June Primary election ballot.  Why the rush?  The statewide conversation on these issues just began.  Perhaps what would be more wise is a statewide prioritization of infrastructure needs.  A rapid task force would probably also be helpful, but perhaps that delay would turn off voters.  However, we are going to have to have this discussion before any money is spent anyway.  Why not wait for this election until we are sure of our needs? $68Billion is a lot of money, we need to make sure we know where it’s going.

There was more, mostly about the assisted suicide bill, a topic that I plan on tackling in the near future.

Yes, that most terrible of disease, Abramoffitis, has beset the California GOP once again.  And this time it’s one of our favorites around here: Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Tracy).  The LA Times has a profile on Pombo in today’s paper, and it has some very illuminating passages:

A Massachusetts tribe and client of Abramoff’s that donated $20,000 to Pombo received the congressman’s help seeking federal tribal recognition. Pombo supported the resumption of commercial whaling while accepting thousands of dollars in international travel from a private foundation funded by the seafood industry and a whaling association.

Also interesting is the data on the special interests from which Pombo has taken money…lots of money.

According to data compiled by the Campaign Finance Analysis Project, Pombo has, during his congressional career, collected more than $800,000 from agriculture, timber and fishing interests. The building industry has given him $205,000; oil and gas, $169,000; mining, $55,000; and casinos and gambling, $147,000.

Don’t forget that Pombo is being challenged by Republican former Congressman Pete McCloskey as well as the favorite for the Democratic nomination Jerry McNerny.  For more information on Pombo, see Say No to Pombo.  While not a prime Congressional target due to gerrymandering, taking Pombo out should be a priority.  His corruption combined with the efforts he has put in to allowing ecological harm should be enough to clue the voters of CA-11 in.  Mr. Pombo does not represent California nor his district.

A few more choice tidbits on the flip…

Well there were so many, it’s hard to choose.  But, choose I must.  Pombo certainly needs to go

Pombo’s critics have focused on his campaign’s reliance on donors from industries that stand to benefit from his legislation. Just months before the mining proposal made it out of Pombo’s committee, a former committee aide who once worked for Abramoff’s firm and is now a lobbyist for mining interests hosted a $1,000-a-head fundraiser for Pombo.

The Times reported earlier this year that Pombo joined forces with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas in efforts to squelch a federal banking investigation of Texas financier Charles Hurwitz. Pombo, who had previously received a campaign contribution from Hurwitz, has contended that the investigation was unfounded and abusive.

Interesting article in today’s LA Times about Steve Westly:

In some respects, Westly is a veteran politician —calculating, averse to risk, calibrating public remarks to maximize personal appeal. In others, he is a novice — too inexperienced as a candidate to maneuver sure-footedly through a day of campaigning.

A 49-year-old dot-com mogul who built his fortune at EBay, Westly hopes to show Californians he is both a pro and a neophyte — not too much of a political insider, but not too much of an outsider either.(LA Times 2/12/06)

Of course all politics is a balncing act, but when you are trying to present yourself as an outsider.  Add the fact that Westly is intimately familiar with politics and has been politically active for over 20 years and you are walking on a tightrope.  That being said, Westly generally does a good job of the tightrope thing.  He understands the power plays that go on in politics and does them himself occasionally.  He’ll be fine…

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Barbara Boxer has politely suggested that Cindy Sheehan not run for Senate against Feinstein:

Washington — California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer on Tuesday urged anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan not to challenge the state’s senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, in the June Democratic primary.

But Boxer, a liberal former Marin County supervisor who strongly opposed the war in Iraq, said Sheehan might actually hurt her anti-war cause by jumping into the race against Feinstein, who is entering her 14th year in the Senate.

“I don’t think having (Sheehan) in the Senate election helps her at all,” Boxer told a roundtable of California reporters on Tuesday. “I think it might have the opposite effect.”
(SF Chron 2/8/06)

Well, I suppose Boxer’s protecting her friends, and I think Sheehan’s right.  Sure doesn’t sound good, very establishment.

(Don’t forget, the GOP taint certainly goes well beyond Doolittle. – promoted by SFBrianCL)

By now we all know that Richard Pombo (R-Tracy) has been going after the Endangered Species Act (for more info, see the wonderful blog Say No to Pombo).  Another of his favorate past times is to open up federal lands for mining of all sorts.  Yes, Mr. Pombo is all sorts of environmentalist.

And why was a developer so interested in opening federal lands for mining?  Why, he took a big donation from a mining lobbyist, a lobbyist who happens to have some of that Abramoff “taint”.  The LA Times did an excellent job covering the story. As I don’t have time to delve more thoroughly, I will reproduce a small portion here, just to tease you enough to check out the full article. 

WASHINGTON — Duane Gibson, a Washington lobbyist under federal scrutiny in the Jack Abramoff scandal, helped raise money for a California congressman who championed legislation that would benefit Western mining interests that Gibson represented.

Last fall, Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy), chairman of the House Resources Committee, attached an amendment to a budget bill — without hearings or floor debate — that would have opened national forest and other public land to mining. The so-called Pombo provision passed the House, but was deleted from the bill in the Senate when several Western state senators and governors complained that it would endanger vast portions of federal land. (LA Times 2/7/06)

( – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Treasurer Phil Angelides accepts the endorsement of the California Teachers Association.

So, who is Phil Angelides, you might ask?  Well, the immediate answer is the current Treasurer of California with a long history in the California Democratic Party.  However, more than the biographic details of his upbringing in Sacramento or his development of a “sustainable community”, what really tells the recent, and relevant story of Phil Angelides is his fight against Arnold Schwarzenegger:

For more than 30 years, Phil Angelides has stood up for the principles of responsibility, fairness and opportunity.  Over the past two years, Phil has grown increasingly concerned about the direction California is heading under Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership.  Schwarzenegger’s proposals to cut education and health care for families have threatened California’s quality of life, compelling Phil to stand up to lead the opposition to Schwarzenegger.  Now, Phil Angelides is running for governor to take back this great state, put it to work for working Californians and build a better future for our children.Phil Angelides.com

Check the flip…

Angelides has fought Shwarzenegger consistently, and from the beginning.  And for that, the Democratic Party establishment has lined up to support him:

[California Professional Firefighters President Lou] Paulson told Angelides that the firefighters, a nemesis of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, would back him for governor. Angelides said he was so thrilled — “honored beyond belief” — that he had goose bumps. “I’d love to be able to announce this publicly with you,” he said. “Can we do something tomorrow morning?” He grinned and thanked Paulson. “Bye-bye, buddy.”
***
Just more than four months before the Democratic primary for governor, Angelides has commandeered the party establishment. He has lined up support from more than three dozen unions, 200-plus elected officials and hundreds of other party insiders. In most years, that would seal his victory. (Contra Costa County Times 2/5/06

Phil Angelides must now be considered the “insider’s” candidate for the Democratic nomination.  He has too much support.  However, Angelides is no typical insider; he is quite the firecracker.  I like to compare him to Howard Dean minus “The Scream.”  Like Dean, he is a fighter.  Like Dean, he is attempting to line up improbable endorsements.  Dean had Al Gore and the SEIU; Angelides has the Senators, the CTA, and now the CPF.  He is a formidable candidate, especially for the Democratic nomination. 

However, he can be brash.  It’s why Carole Migden is strongly supporting Westly (even giving up her chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee).  She believes that Westly is the stronger of the candidate.  It’s hard to argue that Westly isn’t more to the center of Angelides.  But, like most primaries, Angelides has an edge in the primary even if Westly might be more closely centered with the California electorate.  Angelides is running to the left, which would certainly help his cause during the primary.
So, Angelides is trying to make his nomination inevitable.  Certainly a good strategy.  It worked for John Kerry in the presidential primary, and it might work here.  However, it is a gamble: (Note that the author of this Capitol Weekly article is working for Steve Westly)

But the dirty little secret is, there is nothing in Angelides’ electoral career that should lead anyone to believe he is an 800-pound gorilla, politically speaking–or that he is the best Democrat to run against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In fact, despite the perception that he’s been around forever, Angelides essentially still is a relatively untested candidate.

But when it comes to the issues, Angelides is a solid liberal.  As I discussed, he has the CTA endorsement, primarily because he has promised a big increase in education funding, restoring Prop 98 funding the Governator took away.  He would be a visionary leader, somewhat in the mold of Dean.  Thus, like Westly (i.e. Westly’s connections to Ahnold), Angelides’ big question is unrelated to the issues: Electability.  The question for the California Democratic Party is whether they believe he would be the best candidate to face Arnold Schwarzenegger in November.