Steinberg on Pension Reform

There is a collective sense of urgency to move on pension overhaul but it will interesting to see what, if anything, happens before the budget.

"There's a desire to do it and get it over with. But it's going to take several months of sustained work to drill down below the ideology and easy sound bites and to actually analyze what the various options mean…. I'd like to get this done before the budget." - Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento)

Source: Skelton, George. "The pension clock is ticking," Los Angeles Times. 1/23/12.

Obama Response to GOP SOTU Response

Leave it to Funny or Die for this faux response.  I'm guessing Governor Daniels is NOT watching. ;)

Pitney on California Republican Woes

While the number of independent voters continues to grow to about a fifth of the electorate, it is still hard to ignore the stark registration advantage throughout the state of Democrats over Republicans--roughly 2.3 million.  Unless there was some serious gerrymandering on their part, how exactly would you create "favorable lines" given the 13% registration disadvantage? 

"The political winds have been blowing against [California Republicans] in recent years, and unfavorable district lines make their position even worse," said Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College

Source: Sanders, Jim. "Supreme Court validation of maps could give Democrats two-thirds Senate majority," Sacramento Bee. 1/28/12.

Cartoon of the Day - Messaging

Greenhut on California

One does not have to be a "declinist" per se to see that California needs to make itself more business-friendly.

"The state's persistent double-digit unemployment rate is not just the result of a housing bust, but of a toxic business climate that regulates the heck out of everyone and everything. It's a result of a tax climate that sends people to other, less-attractive states, such as Texas. Those who point to Texas generally don't do so out of a particular love of that place, but because it is the nation's other megastate, and its officials take a more business-friendly approach, which has created a more dynamic and growing economy."

Source: Greenhut, Steven. "Denying California's plight won't ease it," OC Register. 1/21/12.

Quote of the Week - Governor Jerry Brown

Here's an excerpt from Governor Brown's recent State of the State address outlining his 2012 priorities:

California has problems but rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated.  The year 2012 presents plenty of opportunity and, if we work together, we can:

• Stimulate jobs
• Build renewable energy
• Reduce pollution and greenhouse gasses
• Launch the nation's only high-speed rail system
• Reach agreement on a plan to fix the Delta
• Improve our schools
• Reform our pensions
• Make sure that prison realignment is working -- to protect public safety and reduce recidivism

Simon on Gingrich

Simon calls it like he sees it.  But we're all waiting to see what happens in Florida--the beginning of the Coronation or a protracted primary campaign.

"The Gingrich campaign is based on the notion of perpetual struggle against perpetual peril. ... Anger, umbrage and bitterness are so much a part of Gingrich’s public persona that he likes to attack the very concept of happiness. .. Americans don’t want sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. They want blood, toil, tears and sweat. They want a dependably gloomy man in the Oval Office. They want Newt!"

Source: Simon, Roger. "Newt Gingrich is angry," POLITICO. 1/21/12.