Schwarzenegger calls for $11 billion water bond to be pulled from November ballot

Calif. gov. wants to pull bond measure
Sacramento, June 30 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he wants to pull a water bond issue scheduled for voter consideration off the November ballot. The Governor said the proposal as written has a slim chance of passing in light of California's present dire economic straits and he wants to focus his attention on the Budget, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. "After reviewing the agenda for this year, I believe our focus should be on the Budget -- solving the Deficit,...

Schwarzenegger wants $11-billion water bond off the November ballot
California's Governor says he needs to focus on the Budget Crisis. Polls show voters may not have the appetite for such borrowing when the state is in such dire financial straits. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement: "After reviewing the agenda for this year, I believe our focus should be on the Budget -- solving the Deficit, reforming out of control Pension costs and fixing our broken Budget system." (

Drudge falsely claims Biden compared GOP to Nazis
Drudge: Biden statement that Dems "will be hit with a GOP blitzkrieg" was a Nazi comparison Biden warned of "GOP blitzkrieg" in Fundraising email. The New York Daily News reported on June 30 that in a Fundraising email sent by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Biden stated, "As things heat up, you can expect House Democrats will be hit with a GOP blitzkrieg of vicious Swift-Boat-style Attack Ads, Karl Rove-inspired knockout tactics, thinly veiled attempts at character...

From Cannabis to Climate Change, CA Voters Face 10 Crucial Initiatives in November
The California Secretary of State has officially declared the 10 ballot measures the people of California will decide on this November. California has a history of passing consequential Legislation through ballot initiatives, and this year will be no different. Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010 : The State legislature put this bond measure on the ballot. This proposition would allow the State to borrow roughly $11 Billion to overhaul the California Water system and...

Whitman slams lawmakers for leaving during crisis
ROSEVILLE, CALIF. — Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Meg Whitman said Tuesday lawmakers shouldn't leave Sacramento and return to their districts for a break in the midst of a $19 Billion Budget Crisis. Her criticism came just two days before the start of a new Fiscal Year, with most of the 120 legislators expected to head home for the holiday weekend. "What I would do is take this Legislature and say, OK, 10 of you go find money here, 10 go find money here," Whitman said at a campaign...

Bill for Budget Delay: $50 Million a Day
As the debate over the State's Budget once again drags on in Sacramento -- State leaders have missed the Wednesday deadline for the seventeenth time in the last twenty years -- the delay is costing the State. Starting Thursday, and every day without a new Budget deal after that, the State is estimated to face over $50 million in associated costs according to Treasurer Bill Lockyer . That's on top of the $20 Billion Deficit negotiators are trying to solve. The costs come in the form of bond...

Poll: Close contests in California
From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser A new poll indicates Republican gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman trails Attorney General Jerry Brown. (CNN) - A new poll indicates that the Democratic Candidates hold single-digit leads over their Republican counterparts in California's gubernatorial and senatorial battles. According to a Reuters/Ipsos survey , California Attorney General Jerry Brown holds a 45 to 39 percent advantage over Meg Whitman in the race for Governor, with 14...

A bailout won't solve California's budget deficit " nor will it fix D.C.
Over the past couple of years, Washington has thrown out Bailout after Bailout at the National economy.

A bailout won't solve California's budget deficit " nor will it fix D.C.
Over the past couple of years, Washington has thrown out Bailout after Bailout at the National economy.

ACLU issues travel warnings to Arizona
Phoenix — The nation's top Civil Liberties group on Wednesday issued travel alerts for Arizona, saying the state's new Law cracking down on Illegal Immigrants could lead to Racial Profiling and warrantless arrests. American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in Arizona, New Mexico and 26 other states put out the warnings in advance of the Fourth of July weekend. The Arizona chapter has received reports that Law Enforcement officers are already targeting some people even though the Law...

Crossroads hauls in $8.5M in June
A New political group conceived by Veteran GOP operatives Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie and launched to much fanfare earlier this year had its first big Fundraising month in June, raising millions and also spawning a New partner outfit. American Crossroads, a conservative group created in March to air ads boosting Republicans, combined with a newer offshoot called American Crossroads GPS to pull in nearly $8.5 million in June, according to American Crossroads president Steven Law. “For us...

Senate GOP again kills jobless aid extension
Washington — For the third time in as many weeks, Republicans in the Senate have successfully filibustered a bill to continue providing Unemployment checks to millions of people. But since Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine voted with Democrats to advance the $33 Billion measure, its passage seems assured next month once a replacement is named for Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd, who died on Monday. Democrats would then have a Filibuster-proof Majority for the bill. About...

No more welfare cash at strip club ATMs
Sacramento, June 30 (UPI) -- California welfare recipients can no longer withdraw cash benefits from ATM machines at gentlemen's Clubs, state officials say. Machines in 17 Clubs were on a list of approved sites for using welfare debit cards, posted on a state Web site, the Los Angeles Times reported. Between January 2007 and December 2009, about $12,000 in welfare benefits was withdrawn at those Clubs. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the Club machines taken off the list the day after...

No more welfare cash at strip club ATMs
Sacramento, June 30 (UPI) -- California welfare recipients can no longer withdraw cash benefits from ATM machines at gentlemen's Clubs, state officials say. Machines in 17 Clubs were on a list of approved sites for using welfare debit cards, posted on a state Web site, the Los Angeles Times reported. Between January 2007 and December 2009, about $12,000 in welfare benefits was withdrawn at those Clubs. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the Club machines taken off the list the day after...

House approves financial overhaul
Washington — The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a massive restructuring to the nation’s Financial laws last night, but the Senate canceled plans to vote on the Legislation this week after Senator Scott Brown said he was not ready to pledge support for the measure. The House, voting 237 to 192, capped an intense, yearlong debate spearheaded by Representative Barney Frank, who was hailed with handshakes, hugs, and applause from Democrats after the vote. The new...

SSP Daily Digest: 6/30

Pink Slips Sent to 80 Oakland Cops
Last Thursday, the Oakland City Council voted to approve a plan to help balance the City's Budget Deficit by, among other cuts, laying off 80 Officers from the Oakland Police Department . The pink slips were recently mailed, and the current 776 Officers will be reduced to 696 by July 12th. The Oakland Police Officer's Association opposed the move vehemently, and former State Senator and Mayoral Candidate Don Perata has been using the issue to to set himself apart from challengers like City...

American Austerity
Today's New York Times article on the Irish Economy makes for depressing reading.  Despite swift moves for wage cuts and other Austerity measures (backed by the Unions, no less), the Deficit is almost 15% of GDP, and the spread between Irish and German Debt is about 300 basis points.  Unemployment is high, and long-term Unemployment makes up a significant portion of the problem. Given all that, Kevin Drum asks In the case of Ireland, it's not clear if they had a lot of choice....

Dems Try To Enlist JPMorgan Against Lazio
State Democratic Party Executive Director Charlie King is keeping the pressure on GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Lazio to reveal the details of his compensation as a JPMorgan Chase Lobbyist, sending a letter to the chair of the firm’s compensation committee seeking information about his Salary and non-salary benefits from 2005 through the present. King is asking the chairman, Lee Raymond, to respond within one week, and noted this comes in the wake of his request for Lazio himself to...

Loophole keeps party primaries closed
Tallahassee -- Voters in a Little Havana-based district will have two choices for State Senator in November ballot: the winner of the Republican Primary and a blank line for a write-in Candidate's name. It's the same case in a Tampa Bay Senate district and in 10 House races across Florida. In both Senate races, only about two-fifths of all eligible Voters will choose the person to represent the entire district in the Legislature. ``This is yet another rule that protects politicians from the...

States struggle to pass budgets without stimulus
NEW YORK — For cash-strapped states counting on Federal Stimulus money, the news was a stunning blow: A Deficit-weary Congress had rejected Billions in additional aid, forcing lawmakers into a mad scramble to balance their Budgets. Now, with a new Fiscal Year just days away in most states, many governors are proposing to make up for the shortfall with Tax Increases, Cuts in essential services and potential layoffs of thousands of Public Employees. "I support restraining Federal Spending,...

Obama: Cutting Debt Will Be 'Our Project'
By LAURA MECKLER RACINE, Wis.—President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the rising National Debt is a "real and legitimate concern" and that the U.S. must reorder its priorities to gain control over federal spending. But the president offered no specific ideas for how to tackle the Budget problem. At a Town Hall Meeting, he said that the combination of the economic Stimulus measure and Bailouts for banks and auto companies added up to "serious money" and had contributed to a sense that...

ACLU Issues Travel Warnings To Arizona
The nation’s top Civil Liberties organization has issued a travel alert for Arizona because of its belief that its Immigration Law is Racist and will lead to Profiling and warrantless arrests. American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in Arizona, New Mexico and 26 other states put out the warnings in advance of the Fourth of July weekend. The Arizona chapter has received reports that Law Enforcement officers are already targeting some people even though the Law doesn’t take...

ACLU Issues Travel Warnings To Arizona
The nation’s top Civil Liberties organization has issued a travel alert for Arizona because of its belief that its Immigration Law is Racist and will lead to Profiling and warrantless arrests. American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in Arizona, New Mexico and 26 other states put out the warnings in advance of the Fourth of July weekend. The Arizona chapter has received reports that Law Enforcement officers are already targeting some people even though the Law doesn’t take...

In Praise of Bureaucrats
Brad Johnson at The Wonk Room calls out the "Climate Peacocks" in Congress who are ostentatiously shaking their tailfeathers in mock outrage over the very idea that the Environmental Protection Agency might actually Act as agents of Environmental Protection: Earlier this month, 47 senators - every Republican and six Democrats - voted for Sen. Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) resolution to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's scientific Global Warming endangerment finding, finalized...