In a missive sent out today, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s press team sent out an email for those of you who don’t regularly read the Flash Report.  In it they point to the recent article calling John Chiang “The Union Tool” by none other than John Fleischman himself.  I don’t know if Arnold is trying to promote John Chiang for higher office, because saying that Chiang stands up for the unions is a pretty sure way to win a Democratic primary. But that’s neither here nor there, as it is becoming quite clear that Chiang isn’t one of Arnold’s favorite political chums.

Anyway, Fleischman’s article goes on to point out that Chiang has a bunch of * gasp* union endorsements.  Oooh, that must make him a bad man and totally incapable of opposing a union. Maybe Chiang thought about signing a pledge to make sure his recalcitrance was complete.

A note to all you right-wingers intent on demonizing the (somewhat factionalized) union movement. Democratic leaders support California’s workers, and that is not going to change.  But unlike Republicans who swear an oath to recalcitrance over sound public policy, Democrats aren’t mindless vote zombies. There can be no greater sellout to the state than signng an oath which puts itself over sound policy.  You want to see a special interest tool, just check the Republican Legislative Roster.  We don’t need to name a long string of names to indicate their allegiance.  Special interest, thy name is Howard Jarvis.  

And as for you, Gov. InPocket DeCalChamber, those in glass houses and all that.  

This is a bit of a hail mary:

Now, business groups and like-minded Republicans have added relief from the meal and rest period rules to the list of things they want approved with the state budget.

California businesses, led by the California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber), the California Taxpayers’ Association and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, have spent millions and successfully enlisted the GOP to advocate for their interests over the years.

In California, it takes a two-thirds vote of each house in the Legislature to pass a budget or a tax increase. That gives the minority-party Republicans – and the business community lining up at their doors – far more ability to influence the budget than most other legislation. GOP lawmakers have successfully blocked major legislative tax increases since 1991 because of that power.

This year, with the budget already 28 days late and the state $15.2 billion short of a balanced budget, business groups are pushing to ensure their interests are taken care of as the budget is shaped. With that push comes money.

CalChamber is indeed the most powerful advocacy group with respect to Republicans and the governor.  All of their “job killer” bills are routinely vetoed, the reward for $11.5 million dollars’ worth of lobbying since 2003.  

But I would seriously doubt that they have the juice to overturn labor rules in the budget.  When it comes to influence, labor isn’t exactly a piker. The business community should worry more about their members coping with a failing economy than any of this, but of course CalChamber reflects the opinion of their top-earning members, just as the Republican Party reflects the opinion of their richest contributors.

It’s all posturing, and so is tomorrow’s budget vote in the Senate.  What that vote could be about is beyond me.