Tag Archives: California Politics

Blog Roundup, Budget, Environment

July 20, 2007 Blog Roundup

Today’s Blog Roundup is on the flip. Predictably, lots of budget stuff, but also education, poverty, labor, and environment.

If I missed something, let me know in comments.

Budgets Are (Sometimes)
Moral Documents

Land, Air & Water

Infrastructure

People

Blog Roundup, Budget, Environment

July 17, 2007 Blog Roundup

Today’s Blog Roundup is on the flip. It includes the experiences of a couple bloggers with arguments against impeachment (or evasions regarding the same), a few pieces on our environment (including our farms and fisheries), land use, another attempt at treating our gay and lesbian citizens fairly, and a smorgasbord of other items.

As always, let me know what I missed in comments.

Impeachment Experiences

Environment and Land Use

Basic Fairness

All The Rest

Blog Roundup, Budget, Environment, Health Care

July 16, 2007 Blog Roundup

Today’s Blog Roundup is on the flip. Some budget posts, and then (seriously) not more than one post on any other topic. Let me know what I missed.

Budgets Are Moral
Documents

Seriously, I can’t really
group the rest of  these in any meaningful way, so here they
are in no particular order

Blog Roundup, Environment, Health Care, Prisons

July 13, 2007 Blog Roundup

The Blog Roundup is on the flip. LOTS of stuff about Health Care and the Environment. Also a couple less-noticed stories about voting machines, the sanitation workers in the East Bay, and unionization at the LA Times.

Budgets are Moral
Documents

The Health Care Battle

Our Little Corner of the
Planet

The Dignity of Labor

Purty Much Everything Else

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blog Roundup, Health Care

July 7, 2007 Blog Roundup

Blog roundup on the flip. The labels should be self-explanatory.

Schwarzenegger’s Air
Resource Board Shenanigans

Health Care

California Politics


Local and Labor

Republicans Are What They
Are

Uncategorized

Without mental reservation or purpose of evasion…a call to Sacramento Activists

7 Comments

(another great post! – promoted by Brian Leubitz)

(cross posted at Dkos)

Yesterday I had my first swearing in, ever. I pledged to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California and protect them against enemies, foreign and domestic. I pledged to uphold my duties in office without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.

I am one of the newest members of the Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee. It is a committee that has done almost absolutely nothing and became so entangled in itself at one point, that it was completey destroyed and is being revamped.
Saturday we had the first retreat of the SCDCC. It was basically a 9 hour meeting where we really did get things done, an incredibly rare accomplishment. It took us about 2 hours to form a vision statement, but after that things ran pretty smoothly.

Being on the SCDCC is about as “local” as it gets in local politics. It’s an organization that *should* have power, but hasn’t in the last few years and our surroundings are becoming incredibly more red every election, even though we’re the capital of one of the bluest states in the union. We’re out to stop that, but of course, it won’t be easy. There were about 40 leaders from the sacramento area there, and I was honored to be there seeing as how, compared to the others there, I’m not that great…

There were leaders from every aspect of democratic politics, every local democratic club. Half of the members were women, there was every sexual orientation represented and there was someone from every ethinicity that I can think of. It was an inspiring group to be a part of.

Most of the day was spent in subcommittees – finance, outreach, organizational development and campaign outreach. Every subcommittee spent 4 hours discussing it’s purpose, mission, goals and responsibilities. After those 4 hours, every committee came out with incredibly ambitious goals. These goals include raising enourmous amounts of money, registering thousands of new democrats in the next two years and making sure that every local organization is coordinated as too maximize democratic victories, eventually being able to mobilize enough volunteers to help out in nevada and arizona, including much more.

These are goals that will require hundreds of other activists and central committee members. These goals will require every member to over commit themselves, attend every meeting from here on out, fulfill every single one of their responsibilities. Can this happen? Probably not. Will that stop any of us from taking action? No. There is just too much at stake. Now, in 2008, in 2012 there is everything at stake. Even if we don’t accomplish everything we’ve set out to do, even if we achieve just a fraction of what we hope to, it will be significant progress. I’m glad to be a part of it, and I hope I can hold up my end of the bargain.

And with that, if you aren’t already, I’d like to encourage you to get as local as you can in government. Whether it be a local democratic club or your local central committee – show up to a meeting, see what you can do to help. Probability says that your local government is a tragic mess and that your first meeting will scare the hell out of you and keep you from returning. But keep going back. We must all keep going back, because it is at the local level that we can, as individuals make the most difference.

If you live in the Sacramento county area and are not involved please contact me off list. We’d be more than glad to have you helping out and making a difference here in CA’s capital.

And with that, a picture of my swearing in.

pic

I’m the goofy lookin’ one in the red =)

California

First 100 Days — How Did Your Representative Vote?

4 Comments

(Good question! – promoted by atdleft)

The LA Times had a good article last week about the so-called “First 100 Hours” agenda, which comprised ethics reform resolutions and several bills that had long been stalled in Congress. Here’s the Times’ graphic about those measures and the roll call vote. Go to the flip to see how each individual California rep voted.

The 100-hour Agenda

One hundred fifty-two Republicans voted against a bill to end secrecy on earmarks. One hundred fifty-nine (and 4 misbegotten Dems!) voted against a bill to end tax breaks for oil companies.

Now, I can forgive the Reeps for voting against an increase in the minimum wage and against funding for stem cell research. I don’t agree, but those things run counter to GOP philosophy. I respect that.

But ending secrecy on earmarks? Tax breaks for oil companies? What the blazes is up with that?

The Times’ article started me wondering — how did each of our California Representatives vote on these measures?

I went on thomas.gov and copied down all the votes by the California representatives. Here they are, for your viewing pleasure.

First 100 Days

I didn’t bother with the first 3 items the LA Times listed since they were all but unanimous. As you’ll see, the names of California’s Dems are in blue and the Reeps are in red. The “yes” votes are blue and the “no” votes are red.

Uncategorized

California Returns

3 Comments

(Ok, that’s it for now folks. I’ll be back early in the morn. Garamendi and Bowen are coming on strong. 90 is fading. Yay! – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Things look pretty good in the rest of the country, and it’s time to start checking the West Coast returns.

The official Secretary of State elections results are here:  http://vote.ss.ca.gov/

8:18 pm : The polls just closed, and it looks like some early voting is in.

Everything else is and will be on the flip:

Statewide
Offices as of 11:27

Governor-Called for Arnold
Angelides  (D) 36.7%
Schwarzenegger (R) 58.5%
Lt.
Governor
Garamendi (D) 47.6%
McClintock (R) 47.0%
Atty
General
Brown (D) 54.6%
Poochigian (R) 40.1%
Sec.
of State
Bowen (D) 46.4%
McPherson (R) 47.1%
Controller
Chiang (D) 49.1%
Strickland (R) 42.1%
Treasurer
Lockyer (D) 53.1%
Parrish (R) 38.9%
Ins.
Commissioner
Bustamante (D) 37.3%
Poizner (R) 52.1%

Selected
Propositions as of 11:27

Proposition Yes No
85: Parental Notification 46.9% 53.1%
87: Energy/Oil Tax 43.6% 56.4%
89: Campaign Public Fund 24.7% 75.3%
90: Regulatory Takings 48.4% 51.6%

SelectedHouse
Races as of 11:32

CA-04
Charlie Brown (D) 44.8%
John 15% Doolittle (R) 50.2%
CA-11
Jerry McNerney (D) 51.6%
Richard Paid-For Pombo (R) 48.4%

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blog Roundup, California, Health Care

California Blog Roundup

4 Comments

Today’s California Blog Roundup is on the flip. Teasers: Phil Angelides, Arnold Schwarzenegger, CA-11, CA-04, John Doolittle, Richard Pombo, Proposition 89, redistricting, health care, minimum wage, reform.

Governor’s Race

Jerry McNerney / Paid-For Pombo / CA-11

Charlie Brown / 15% Doolittle / CA-04

Health Care

    SB 840, a plan for universal health care, is coming up for a vote. This PowerPAC contribution explains why it’s important and has a link for you to contact your rep.

Propositions

    The Prop 89 folks are having a blast showing why clean money is necessary.

Reformalicious

The Rest

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blog Roundup, California, Health Care

California Blog Roundup for August 16, 2006

Today’s California Blog Roundup is on the flip. Teasers: Phil Angelides, Arnold Schwarzenegger, CA-11, CA-04, John Doolittle, Richard Pombo, Republican corruption, Proposition 87, Proposition 89, redistricting, term limits, health care.

Governor’s Race

Jerry McNerney / Paid-For Pombo / CA-11

Charlie Brown / 15% Doolittle / CA-04

Other Republican Paragons

Health Care

Propositions

Goo-Goo Stuff

  • OK, here’s the deal. Redistricting lives for now, but won’t be combined with term limit reform.

  • The Mad Professah on the 2001 redistricting deal and reforming it. Have a read, but remind yourself that anything involving spending requires a 2/3 majority, so a gerrymander into a simple majority is nice, but not ideal.

  • Cathy Feng from Common Cause on redistricting. If people want to redistrict the state in some nonpartisan way, that’s fine (subject to endless caveats about the way it’s done), but for California to redistrict Congressional districts that way when Texas doesn’t is just stupid unilateral disarmament.

  • Oh, and term limits? Basically useless for anything except putting control of government in the hands of staff and lobbyists.

The Rest