It's great to be here blogging with you at the California Majority Report!

I look forward to stopping by regularly and working with you in the weeks and months ahead. As you probably know, I'm running for re-election in 2010, and our June 30th fundraising deadline is rapidly approaching. It's important that we post solid numbers at the end of each quarter to show our potential right-wing opponents that we're ready for anything they throw at us. But this deadline is even more important than most.

Why?

Because we understand that former HP CEO Carly Fiorina is poised to jump in the 2010 Senate race any day now. She'll be the best-funded opponent I've ever faced, with nearly unlimited personal resources to pour into the campaign. We need to be ready to match her deep pockets with the grassroots support of friends like you.

So at this critical juncture, we're going to do something truly unique — and I hope you'll be a part of it! On Tuesday, June 30th, at 6:15pm PT / 9:15pm ET, we'll be hosting our first ever Boxer Virtual Fundraiser.

There's more...

We just had a major development this week in the Democratic race for Governor of California – Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decided not to run. This decision did not come out of the blue, as there had been an increasing number of reports suggesting that he may not run. Still, it is somewhat surprising given the fact that he would have been considered a serious contender. The reality is a politician does not get too many opportunities to run for an open seat governorship in their lifetime, so this could not have been an easy choice for Villaraigosa.

What is very surprising to me, however, is the conventional wisdom that seems to be forming around the idea that Villaraigosa’s departure from the race greatly benefits Jerry Brown (led by veteran Sac Bee columnist Dan Walters in his June 23 column, “Villaraigosa’s Departure Boosts Brown”).

Let me be very clear about my opinion of this growing consensus: I could not disagree more with this misguided and unfounded theory.

Here is why I feel so strongly about this.

There's more...

I don't envy Speaker Karen Bass or Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. Not for a minute.

Both are committed progressives who went to Sacramento to solve problems, help the state's neediest citizens, and move the progressive agenda forward. Instead, they're involved in a budget nightmare, being forced to minimize the shredding of the state's safety net, and do little except hold on to the gains Democrats made over the past decade in improving social services and health access, improving the state's air and water quality, and protecting worker rights.

Both Bass and Steinberg are frustrated. By a Governor who declared for six years that revenues weren't a problem, and suddenly realized this year that they are. By the state's voter-approved 2/3 budget and tax increase requirement. By an increasingly right-wing Republican Caucus that wouldn't approve increasing the tobacco tax, the Reagan/Wislon higher income tax bracket, or an oil severance tax.

But what's probably most annoying is the uber-left that constantly moan about the "lack of leadership" in Sacramento.

It's not a "lack of leadership." Far from it. Both have been effective in holding together their caucuses -- far more than Speaker Pelosi has, for example, in Washington, a town where they print money.

There's more...

"NATION TO California: Drop dead." That is the first sentence of a charming editorial in the June 1st edition of the Alabama Press Register. The editorial's title urges that the federal government "Cut California Loose," rather than provide sorely needed loan guarantees. Well, I guess its pretty easy to scold us for our "profligate" spending. We Californians are such spendthrifts that not only do we burn money on such frivolities as education, transportation, the penal system and healthcare, but then we toss away additional dollars SUPORTING THE ENTIRE REST OF THE COUNTRY. Basically, California has been the piggy bank for states like Alabama and now that the bank is broken, our beneficiaries are telling us to buzz off. They are too busy spending our money to assist us in our hour of need.
 
In 2004, Alabama realized a return of $1.70 in federal spending for every tax dollar it sent to Feds.  Who do they suppose coughed up that extra 70 cent per dollar bonus? Come on Alabama, guess. I'll give you a hint. Look about 1800 miles West. See that crazy state filled with liberals, gays and movie stars? That, Alabama, is where you get the money for your schools and roads and prisons. You, Alabama, and 32 other states receive at least an even return on your federal tax dollars. The other 17 states pay your way. California receives a lower return on the dollar than all but five states. We realize only about 79 cents in federal spending for every tax dollar we send to DC.  
 
Before you, Alabama, criticize us for our inability to balance our budget, think about where you would be if you didn't receive a nice chunk of California's tax dollars. So, Alabama and any other state that receives more than your fair share of federal tax dollars you need to pipe down and stop demanding that you get something out of any bill that guarantees loans for California -- you already have received your something something. Its time to return the favor, because if California goes belly up, you won't be receiving your federal funding bonuses.

California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) responded this morning to Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget address to a joint session of the State Legislature. Bass was joined at the news conference by Senate pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assembly Budget Committee Chair Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland).
 
Bass made the following statement:
 
“The Governor clearly understands the seriousness of the situation and we appreciate his willingness to be a partner in finding serious solutions. Our open Conference Committee is continuing to review the Governor’s proposals in a very public, diligent way. Not all the Governor’s proposals make sense – should we be the only state without a safety net?  Should we eliminate efficient programs that bring in federal money?  There are tough decisions ahead but they have to be smart decisions as well.
 
"Everything has to be considered, but we have to be creative and we have to be courageous in taking the steps to solve this problem.
 
"In addition to closing the budget deficit we’re also getting a head start looking at important reforms so once the deficit is solved we can start looking at ways to keep California from getting in this situation again.”

There's more...

First-term California Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) called Governor Schwarzenegger on the carpet yesterday:
 
"The Governor’s opening statement that the voters in rejecting the special election measures said, “don’t ask us to solve complex budget issues, that’s your job,” is right," she said. "He was wrong however in his assertion that Californians want an all cuts solution ...We have choices. For instance, restoring the top income tax rate on high wealth incomes of $250,000 and above in place under Republican Governors Pete Wilson and Ronald Reagan would allow us to avoid $4 billion of these cuts. Enacting an oil severance fee on oil drilled in California, revenue collected by every state and country in the world that produces significant amounts of oil, could avoid another $1 billion in cuts.
 
"The Governor talked of us acting courageously. Acting courageously is looking at all alternatives and making smart, rational choices that lessen the cuts with some sensible new revenues," she said.

Just yesterday morning, Assembly Republican Bill Emmerson had some advice for legislative leaders: drop everything (including all other legislation) and focus on the budget.

"I propose that both houses of the Legislature halt all non-budget and non-economic stimulus related legislative measures immediately," he wrote. "By doing so, my fellow legislators and I will be able to deliberate reforms such as consolidating state boards and commissions and relaxing regulations that force businesses to flee the state to get California back on track."

Too bad he couldn't take his own advice. Just hours later, Emmerson voted to become  a coauthor on a resolution on "Eating Disorder Awareness Month" and  spent the rest of the legislative day voting on several other less than critical bill, including a dog fighting measure.

So much for practicing what you preach.

First it was former eBay CEO Meg Whitman. And now it's another Silicon Valley CEO -- Carly Fiorina -- who, oops, appears to forgot to make a trip to her polling place (or even to lick a stamp on an absentee ballot) for more than a dozen elections during the last decade.

San Francisco Chronicle ace reporter Carla Marinucci broke the story yesterday that Fiorina has voted in just 5 of 18  elections she was eligible to vote in. Pretty pathetic for someone who wants to vault into the U.S. Senate or another high office.

Sen. Barbara Boxer should have fun with this statistic if Fiorina, who spent most of last Fall defending Sarah Palin, decides to jump into the race against her.

I am horrified by the proposals to cut loose Hastings College of Law, further reduce state subsidies to our public colleges and universities and up the already ridiculous student "fees," as well as cut Cal Grants. I am all too aware that California is in the midst of a deep financial crisis.  And, I know that painful cuts must be made, along with, hopefully, a major restructuring of our budgetary and initiative process.  But, for the life of me, I cannot understand the logic of eviscerating the very institutions that made California great.
 
Yes, perhaps, I am somewhat biased. I am, largely, a product of the UC system.  As a high school senior, I participated in the UCLA Honors Program.  My undergraduate degree is from UC Berkeley and I completed law school at UCLA, after attending Boston University for two years.  For the past twelve and a half years, I have served the people of California as the Executive Director of California's Democratic Congressional Delegation and the Director of Federal Relations for the California State Assembly. Previously, I practiced law at two Los Angeles-area law firms and worked on the Long Term Care Campaign, with turns at journalism and electoral politics. I think its not immodest to say that I am successful and productive.  Without the opportunities afforded me by the University of California, none of that would have been possible.  And, I know that I am but one of many who benefited from the vision of those who created the Master Plan and funded a top-flight education for all eligible Californians.

There's more...