Matt Ortega

Remainders

Posted on January 13, 2010

Los Angeles Times noted Carly Fiorina's flat-lined fundraising operation and her $2.5 million loan to nowhere:

Fiorina noted that she raised more than $1 million in November and December, despite the dormant period around the holidays. But critics point out that without her loan, Fiorina would have had only $158,000 after debts at the filing deadline. That would have put her only slightly ahead of DeVore.

Steve Poizner, far behind in the polls for governor, says polls don't matter. Calitics points out that there's some truth to a statement like that but Poizner must raise his numbers before it is too late. The departure of Campbell from the race may be his only shot to win.

Tom McClintock, the standard-bearer for carpetbagging, will endorse Richard Pombo for Congress in the 19th District.

Abram Wilson, San Ramon mayor and candidate for State Assembly, says the city "will have to do more with less."

Proposition 8 witness, Harvard professor Nancy Cott, says marriage is not defined by procreation. An impassioned plaintiff testifies to his love for his partner and pleaded to be treated like anyone else. The Supreme Court halted, for two days at least, a judge's plan to post trial footage to YouTube just an hour before the trial began on Tuesday.

Gas prices in the Bay Area jumped and analysts believe $4 a gallon this summer could be a reality at this rate.

Speaking of transportation, dozens of Californian bridges may be faced with the same eyebar issue that closed the Bay Bridge late last year.

San Francisco 49ers stadium plan heads to the ballot in Santa Clara while the Fremont City Council present a new plan to bring the Oakland Athletics to Fremont.

Jermain Taylor pulled out of the Super Six boxing tournament after suffering a bruising knockout to Arthur Abraham in Germany. Taylor was expected to fight Oakland's Andre Ward on April 17. Ward defeated Mikkel Kessler for the WBA middleweight championship last November in Oakland.

CA-11: McNerney Brings Home the Goods

Posted on January 12, 2010

Kim Santos of the Contra Costa Times reports:

The following will receive funds: Operation Peacekeeper Youth Gang Outreach Program, $200,000; Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) Alignment Project, $300,000; Give Every Child a Chance Job Mentoring Program, $500,000; San Joaquin Regional Operations Facility construction, $500,000; Interchange at 1-5 and French Camp Road, and Arch-Sperry Road construction, $800,000; Metro Express-Airport Way Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, $2.8 million.

These projects mean jobs.

Californians Receive More for Tax Dollars

Posted on January 11, 2010

Californians receive more for their tax dollars for the first time in more than 20 years. In his State of the State address delivered last week, Arnold Schwarzenegger claimed the state received less per tax dollar spent and proceeded to demand the federal government fill the state's $6.9 billion budget deficit.

Commissioned by Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, the study determined that California in 2008 and 2009 received more from the federal government than the state sent to Washington in the form of taxes. However temporary, that reverses a trend of more than 20 years.

"(We) have really worked hard to send more dollars to our state," Boxer said Friday, adding that "of course, we want to do even more." [...]

Boxer's staff economist determined that California received approximately $1.02 back in federal spending for every $1 in tax revenue it sent to Washington in 2008. The economist further estimated California received $1.45 back in federal spending for every $1 in tax revenue the state sent in 2009.

Remainders

Posted on January 10, 2010

Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget plan would strip cities and counties of cash. Darrell Steinberg, top Democrat in the State Senate, uttered, "You've got to be kidding" in response to the plan. Cuts to welfare support would be added pain to the state's poor. Meanwhile, the Governor's idea to get the federal government to fill-in the $6.9 billion gap in the state budget did not receive the kind of support he would have wanted from Nancy Pelosi, nor the state's Senate delegation.

Sacramento and San Joaquin County experienced all-time highs in bankruptcies and the Bay Area residents struggle to keep their heads above water, too.

The GOP candidates for George Radanovich's seat are so similar on the issues that the race is bound to get personal and nasty.

Jerry McNerney delivered $238,000 for a women's center in San Joaquin County.

George Miller, a Democrat from Martinez, and John Garamendi joined together to issue a call for a new direction on trade policy.

A sizable 6.5 earthquake struck northern California on Saturday. Early reports show no injuries or fatalities but minor damage and power outages. The event marks the third day in a row for the state. The quake, apparently, did not damage the Calaveras Dam, crews say.

Manteca Bulletin profiled Pombo-lite Brad Goehring with yet another Republican puff piece.

Hayward City Council unanimously passed a ridiculous measure that fines parents on a sliding scale for their children cutting class.

Schwarzenegger will appear on tomorrow's Meet the Press.

Remainders

Posted on January 8, 2010

John Perez is the next Speaker of the Assembly and also the first openly gay official to hold the post.

Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered his final State of the State address this week with the help of a former Reagan speechwriter. Contra Costa Times reporter Josh Richman liveblogged the event. In the speech, the governor outlined a jobs plan estimated at roughly $500 million.

The state is moving closer towards resuming executions in California.

San Jose Mercury News and other Bay Area New Group papers seek copies of the four gubernatorial candidates' federal and state tax returns from the past decade.

Alberto Torrico, a candidate for state's top cop gig, takes on the role as the chair of the Assembly's prison reform committee. Chris Kelly, an executive officer at Facebook, donated $2 million to his campaign for attorney general. The pool of Democratic candidates tallies half a dozen, including Kamala Harris, district attorney for San Francisco.

It is not like billionaires Steve Poizner or Meg Whitman need his money, but major Republican donor Rick Caruso is backing Jerry Brown for governor.

Jeff Takada, a Republican seeking the nomination to challenge Jerry McNerney, says his fellow candidates "leave me with a lot of questions."

Marriage equality activists sought to have the proceedings of the Proposition 8 trial televised. It looks like they will have to settle for delayed video.

Several Bay Area educators were honored at an event held at the White House.