The clock ticking down on the last night in the California statehouse is always a lot like waiting for last call at a rowdy bar around 2 AM -- you wonder how much damage will done before the last shot.
So I took a bit of a break this past month, and I figured by the time I came back y'all would have things sorted out: people would be surely by flying around with jet packs by now, God would have sent fires and floods to smite the unrighteous, and, if I really got lucky, Barack Obama would have "grown a pair".
And now that I'm back, debt negotiations are about to commence between that same Barack Obama and the Republican Congressional Leadership, things like Social Security and Medicare cuts are apparently on the table in order to protect tax cuts for the rich, and certain quarters of the Republican Party aren't even trying anymore to hide their racism.
All of which suggests that I shouldn't be looking for a jet pack anytime soon.
But there is some good news: God is apparently working hard, and states like Oklahoma and Arizona and Florida and Georgia and Texas have been alternately aflame or aflood, apparently as a result of their unrepentant behavior...and on the economic front, New York City's Stonewall Inn is going to make a ton of money this summer hosting weddings.
That gives us a lot to talk about...so let's get right to it.
California's clean air and water, pristine coastline, wild open spaces and public health protections don't happen by accident. They happen because champions for the environment run for office, and once they're elected, they work to pass laws that protect our natural resources and improve our quality of life.
Today the California League of Conservation Voters released our annual California Environmental Scorecard. The Scorecard is the behind-the-scenes look at the battle to protect the Golden State's natural legacy and public health, and reveals how the governor and members of the state legislature voted on critical environmental proposals in the 2010 legislative session. Take action and let your legislators know what you think about their 2010 scores: Visit http://www.ecovote.org/
The story of the 2010 Scorecard is as much about how the environmental community stopped multiple attacks on the environment as it is about how we passed strong laws that protect our quality of life. But the story doesn't end there, because we expect more attacks in 2011 that falsely claim we need to sacrifice the environment in order to improve the economy.
Emboldened by the tough economic climate, anti-environmental legislators introduced dozens of so-called "regulatory reform" bills in 2010 in an attempt to weaken environmental protections. The good news is that, with the help of environmental champions in the state Senate and Assembly, CLCV and our allies successfully defeated the bills that posed the most serious threats to the environment and public health. At the same time, environmental advocates were able to deliver several important proposed laws to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk, including bills dealing with energy storage, recycling, water conservation, pesticides, clean energy jobs, and oil spill prevention.
Schwarzenegger's 2010 score of 56% factored into an average lifetime score of 53 percent over his seven years as governor. The governor received national recognition for leadership on environmental issues. However, he leaves office with a mixed legacy, having championed some issues-notably, bold solutions to climate change-and having proven less reliable on others, including protecting public health and state parks.
How did your legislator perform on the environmental community's priority legislation to protect the environment and public health? Learn your legislators' scores and then let them know what you think! (More after the jump).
Programs that fund state parks, maintain wild open spaces, protect wild lands from forest fires, fund public transportation and more are all on the table in Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget.
Make no mistake, there is a lot for environmental advocates (and everyone else) to hate about this proposed budget. But with a two-thirds majority in the state legislature required to pass new taxes and now (thanks to Prop 26) new fees, and with legislative Republicans refusing thus far to consider any new sources of revenue, Governor Brown must work with the hand he was dealt.
During his campaign for governor, Brown promised voters that he would put a halt to the gimmicks that served as short-term Band-Aids on budget shortfalls in the past. He promised a tough but fair budget that - in closing an estimated $25 billion budget shortfall - would spare few of the state's programs and services. And he has mostly made good on that promise, with the most profound cuts in the areas where the state spends the most - health & social services and higher education. The total proposed spending cuts: a staggering $12.5 billion.
For now, Governor Brown's budget spares the state's K-12 public education system, preferring to allow voters to decide in a special election to agree to a five-year extension of $12 billion in taxes that will otherwise expire this year (including vehicle licensing fees, state sales taxes and state income taxes) or allow even deeper cuts to California's programs and services, including to the K-12 system.
Here's a summary of how environmental programs fared in the governor's first budget proposal:
Natural Resources
As expected, the agency will share in the sacrifice being asked of all levels of state government. On the one hand, we're relieved that the cuts proposed to the agency were fairly minimal (at least as a percentage of the overall budget cuts). On the other, the worst of the cuts are to the already-struggling state parks budget (which totaled $406 million last year). The $11 million proposed cuts this year and $22 million more in ongoing cuts will result in some parks closing and/or more restricted park hours for the public. As the California State Parks Foundation points out, budget reductions over the past few years have already left the parks system operating with 150 partial closures and service reductions.
We're waiting for a more specific list of proposed closures and service reductions before making a complete assessment-according to a state finance department spokesman, Brown asked State Parks Director Ruth Coleman to submit by February a list of the parks that will have reduced hours or will be closed completely. Cuts this deep will magnify the budget reductions already sustained by the state parks in recent years and they are sobering, to say the least.
California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird said it was necessary for his agency to share in the short-term sacrifice:
"This Governor is determined to upright California's budget... Fixing the long-term problem requires sacrifice from each Californian--and certainly the Natural Resources Agency--in the short-term. If California is to achieve a long-term vision for natural resources management that plays a role in restoring the state's economy, the governor's plan is the right path."
Delta Restoration
The Bay Delta Ecosystem Restoration Account was zeroed out in the budget. Questions remain about how to implement BDCP in light of this.
Open Space
The proposal also zeroes out all $10 million in state funding for The California Land Conservation Act-commonly referred to as the Williamson Act. For decades, the Act has helped keep large parcels of land in California as open space by enabling local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. The incentive: lower-than-normal property tax assessments (based on farming and open space uses versus full market value).
The revenue for some rural counties under the Act has been significant. Eliminating funding may force some landowners to allow their lands to be developed for housing or retail, contributing to sprawl and allowing more of California's precious open space to disappear.
Transportation
Surprisingly, transportation fared pretty well in this budget, with funding levels left unchanged from last year. According to the San Jose Mercury News:
Transportation officials say Brown's plan would provide a stable source of funding for transit and highway planning across the state, and that could speed up work on some projects."
Wildfires
Brown's budget proposes changing the way the state battles wildfires, reducing the number of firefighters to pre-2003 staffing levels and shifting a significant amount of fire-fighting responsibility to cities and counties. (This is just one of many areas where Brown proposes a wholesale restructuring of the relationship between state and local governments.) Some experts on wildfires have already reacted warily to the proposal (read more in the Mercury News: http://www.mercurynews.com/bre... Environmental Protection
The $71 million reduction ($12 million from the general fund) is one of the biggest cuts to the environment in the proposed budget. As with much of the above, we await details on these cuts.
Here I will cover the eight constitutional offices, three State Supreme Court justice confirmations, and nine ballot measures. In the second diary, I will cover the U.S. Senate race and the House races, and in the third the state legislature. I will also combine my regular registration updates within the diaries.
Speaking of registration updates, as you will see in the layout of the statewide registration numbers, Democrats are more pumped up here, adding almost half a million voters to their rolls since 2008. The Republicans in comparison added just 13,000 in the same amount of time. So if you are looking for a lethargic Democratic base, look elsewhere because you won't find it here!
Key: I will list the incumbent first, in boldface (in the case of open seats, the incumbent party first without boldface), and all minor parties after the two major parties.
D: Democratic
R: Republican
L: Libertarian
G: Green
AI: American Independent
PF: Peace and Freedom
NP: Nonpartisan
SW: Socialist Workers
Race Ratings Toss-up: Margin by less than 5%
Lean: Margin by 5-10%
Likely: Margin by 10-15%
Strong: Margin by 15-20%
Solid: Margin by more than 20%
Governor: Ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman (R) vs. Attorney General Jerry Brown (D), Laura Wells (G), Dale Ogden (L), Chelene Nightingale (AI), Carlos Alvarez (PF), and Lea Sherman (SW-W/I)
Profile: I see no way Whitman can win. Running as an outsider when the current governor, who also ran as an outsider, is leaving office with 20% approval ratings, is a surefire losing strategy. And pissing voters off by running ads nonstop and spending nine-figure sums of money while they're forced to cut back is not going to help at all. Brown is leading by example, running on a shoestring budget and calling for everyone to sacrifice, meaning no sacred cows. Polls may not yet show it, but in my opinion I think Whitman is finished. In fact, I'll be very surprised if she even manages to make it a low-teen loss.
Outlook: Likely to Strong Brown (D pickup)
Lieutenant Governor: Interim Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado (R) vs. S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom (D), Jimi Castillo (G), Pamela Brown (L), Jim King (AI), and C.T. Weber (PF)
Profile: Here we have quasi-incumbent Abel Maldonado, appointed after John Garamendi went to Congress, running to be elected in his own right against Newsom. While Maldonado is moderate for a Republican (though that is not saying much), being closely associated with Arnold is going to be a huge liability, which I do not think he will overcome.
Outlook: Lean Newsom (D pickup)
Attorney General: S.F. DA Kamala Harris (D) vs. L.A. DA Steve Cooley (R), Peter Allen (G), Timothy Hannan (L), Dianne Beall Templin (AI), and Robert J. Evans (PF)
Profile: This is the only statewide race in California I am worried about, and where my theory (that California has just become too Democratic for even a moderate Republican to win barring unusual circumstances) will be put to the test. Cooley is not that bad for a Republican, having had the audacity to stand against popular opinion of issues such as three strikes and Jessica's Law, though he is also against dispensaries for medical marijuana. Harris is a rising star in Democratic circles, and is a more formidable opponent than any of Cooley's challengers in the past. The wild card is the big enchilada of L.A. County, where Harris' name ID is low and she'd need to win by 18-20% to win statewide. I am of course pulling for Harris because I want our bench to stay nice and full for the inevitable retirements of DiFi probably in 2012, Boxer probably in 2016, and for the open governorship in 2014 or 2018; and also because she has courageously stood up to Prop 8, while Cooley pledges to defend it in court.
Outlook: Toss-Up
Secretary of State: SoS Debra Bowen (D) vs. businessman Damon Dunn (R), Ann Menasche (G), Christina Tobin (L), Merton D. Short (AI), and Marylou Cabral (PF)
Profile: Bowen is a lock for reelection.
Outlook: Solid Bowen
Treasurer: Treasurer Bill Lockyer (D) vs. State Senator Mimi Walters (R), Kit Crittenden (G), Edward Teyssier (L), Robert Lauten (AI), and Debra Reiger (PF)
Profile: Lockyer is a lock for reelection.
Outlook: Solid Lockyer
Controller: Controller John Chiang (D) vs. State Senator Tony Strickland (R), Ross Frankel (G), Andy Favor (L), Lawrence Beliz (AI), and Karen Martinez (PF)
Profile: A rematch from 2006, only with Democrats more pumped up, Chiang will win by a wider margin this time around.
Outlook: Strong to Solid Chiang
Insurance Commissioner: State Assemblyman Mike Villines (R) vs. State Assemblyman Dave Jones (D), William Balderston (G), Richard Bronstein (L), Clay Pedersen (AI), and Dina Padilla (PF)
Profile: In California, when a non-damaged Democrat is up against a generic Republican, the Democrat wins. Take it to the bank.
Outlook: Likely to Strong Jones (D pickup)
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Retired Superintendent Larry Aceves (NP) vs. State Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (NP)
Profile: Torlakson voted against Race to the Top and believes parents, teachers, students, and communities alike all need to come together to improve our schools, while Aceves believes that the problem with public schools is the teachers and hedge funds and billionaires should have more control over K-12 education. This will be a close one.
Outlook: Toss-Up
State Supreme Court confirmation - Tani Cantil-Sakauye: Voters are being asked whether to confirm Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Arnold's pick to replace Chief Justice Ron George. She is seen as uncontroversial, but likely to share Arnold's views on corporate power.
Outlook: Lean Confirm
State Supreme Court retention - Ming Chin: Chin was in the minority that voted to uphold the state's ban on marriage equality in 2008, and is one of the most right-wing justices on the state Supreme Court. I want to see him go, but it doesn't look likely.
Outlook: Likely Retention
State Supreme Court retention - Carlos Moreno: Moreno was the only justice who courageously voted to overturn Prop 8 at the State Supreme Court last year, and has been a reliable vote for equality and so should be voted to be retained.
Prop. 19 (Marijuana): If passed, this proposition would legalize the possession and growing of marijuana for personal use of adults 21 years and older, and allow state and local governments to regulate and tax related commercial activities. This proposition winning may make Washington reexamine its own policy towards marijuana, since what happens in California often makes it way to the other side of the country. Polls have shown Yes leading by single digits, so I'll call 19 a passing proposition.
My recommendation: YES! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Lean Pass
Prop. 20 (Redistricting Congressional Districts): This proposition would amend the state Constitution be amended to have the Citizens Redistricting Commission (prop 11 from 2008) redistrict for the U.S. House of Representatives seats. This initiative calls for each district being composed of people of the same income level and people with the same work opportunities, which to me feels like a backdoor to the old bygone Jim Crow ways. And passing this prop while giving free passes to Republican-controlled legislatures in Texas and Florida to gerrymander the hell out of those states is likely to put California at a disadvantage when competing for federal dollars. In addition, there is no way this commission can be held accountable.
My recommendation: NO! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Toss-up/Lean Fail
Prop. 21 (Vehicle License Surcharge): Establishes an $18 annual vehicle license surcharge to provide funds for maintaining the state parks and wildlife programs, and grants surcharged vehicles free admission to the state parks. Our cash-starved state parks could use the extra funds. In addition, the governor can't take funds from this coffer when other coffers are low. The tough economy may dampen the chances of this prop passing, though.
My recommendation: YES! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Toss-Up
Prop. 22 (Local Government Funds): Prohibits the state from taking funds used for local government services. It is well-intentioned but flawed. The cities and counties would get an immediate payment of over $1 billion, forcing further cuts to vital public services.
My recommendation: NO! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Toss-Up/Lean Fail
Prop. 23 (Suspension of AB 32): Backed by Texas oil interests, this prop would suspend AB 32 until unemployment dropped to an unrealistic 5.5% for a whole year and hurt the state's fledgling green jobs industry, doing the exact opposite of what its backers claim: it would actually kill more jobs than create more jobs. (Here in "business-friendly" Texas, the economic situation is also pretty bad, with unemployment here at its highest level since the late '80s [and me being unable to find a job to save my life] and an $18 billion deficit for the 2011 budget session, which will make 2003 look like the good old days.) Polls have shown a low double-digit lead for the No side.
My recommendation: NO! NO! NO! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Likely Fail
Prop. 24 (Corporate Loopholes): A long-overdue measure that would close corporate tax loopholes, reducing the budget deficit by $2 billion.
My recommendation: YES! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Toss-Up
Prop. 25 (Majority Vote on Budget): Another very long-overdue measure that eliminates the ridiculous 2/3rds rule to pass a budget in the state legislature. This prop is passing by double-digits in the polls.
My recommendation: YES! YES! YES! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Likely Pass
Prop. 26 (Two-Thirds Vote on Fees): Would require two-thirds vote approval for the imposition of certain state and local fees, including those on businesses that adversely impact the local community and environment. The last thing we need is higher vote thresholds.
My recommendation: NO! NO! NO! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Toss-Up
Prop. 27 (Redistricting Commission): This proposition eliminates the Citizens Redistricting Commission from Prop 11, which barely passed, suggesting some voters have some doubts about its effectiveness. This commission also gives Republicans much more power than their current share of the population.
My recommendation: YES! 10/21/2010 Outlook: Toss-Up
Meg Whitman keeps reciting the same misinformation about job loss resulting from California's bad business climate, claiming that businesses are leaving California because of "over-regulation". But the truth is, we have lost fewer jobs than neighboring states that have fewer worker protections and lower taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Arizona, Nevada and Oregon had over 6.5% job loss, while California had 4%.
The "bleeding of jobs" -- the notion that a large number of jobs are businesses are fleeing California -- is a familiar talking point in state politics these days, especially among Republicans. But in the only broad, longitudinal nonpartisan study out there, the numbers don't match the rhetoric.
The annual net employment change in California due to relocation -- a loss of about 9,000 jobs -- represents only 0.05% of California's 18 million jobs.
Not only is Whitman wrong on the big picture, the specifics she cites aren't credible either. She continually points to aerospace giant Northrop Grumman's relocation from Long Beach to Virginia as evidence of businesses fleeing the state. Which would make sense... except that Northrop Grumman didn't actually leave California. They moved their corporate headquarters, which amounts to just 1 percent of their workforce, while over 30,000 employees remain here in California.
The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV, the non-partisan political arm of the environmental movement in California, today announced its endorsement of Jerry Brown for Governor of California. To watch CLCV's endorsement video, visit http://www.ecovote.org/blog/clcv-endorses-jerry-brown-governor
"CLCV is proud to endorse Jerry Brown to become California's next Governor," said CLCV Chief Executive Officer Warner Chabot. "As Attorney General and as a former Governor of our great state, Jerry Brown has a stellar record of protecting the environment and public health through his leadership on and tough enforcement of our state's environmental laws."
"The November gubernatorial election offers clear choices for California voters," said CLCV Board of Directors President Tom Adams. "Jerry Brown is the only candidate for governor with both an unwavering commitment to the environment, and a clear plan for California to lead the nation to a clean energy economy."
"I am grateful to have the endorsement of the California League of Conservation Voters," said Jerry Brown. "Our coastline, farmland, mountains, deserts and urban environments all make up the great and unique landscape of California. I have always believed that environmental protection and California's long-term economic prosperity go hand-in-hand and I will continue to promote both as Governor of California."
A key difference between Brown and his Republican opponent Meg Whitman is their position on Proposition 23, the oil industry-backed repeal of California's landmark clean energy and climate law (AB 32) on the November ballot. Brown joins business and military leaders in opposing Prop 23. He recognizes that California's policies resulted in venture capitalists investing billions of dollars in California's clean tech sector, and vigorously defends the climate law from attacks by out-of-state oil companies.
Where does Meg Whitman stand on immigration? Well, that all depends on when she's being asked, where she's being asked, and who is doing the asking.
* Last year, in an attempt to cater to her Republican base as she prepared for a heated primary, Whitman told reporters she believes the state should "prosecute illegal aliens and criminal aliens in all of our cities, in every part of California."
* When Whitman's primary opponent, Steve Poizner, began gaining traction by veering far to the right on immigration, Whitman's campaign advisor, former Governor Pete Wilson, produced an anti-immigrant radio ad, touting Whitman's opposition to "amnesty" and her plan to block immigrant families the having access to education, driver's licenses and other vital services. He said she'd be "tough as nails" on immigration. Gov. Wilson is the notorious architect of Proposition 187, the initiative that sought to deny immigrant families these same basic rights.
* Whitman's hypocrisy became even more evident when she told a reporter, "You haven't seen an ad from me with the border fence," while at the same time airing TV ads across the state that prominently feature the border fence.
* Just one week after winning the primary, Whitman again changed direction, and began airing Spanish-language ads during the World Cup, indicating she was against the Arizona immigration law.
Meg Whitman just spent $100 million in her bid for Governor of California, $91 of which came from her own pocket. It disgusts me that a candidate who claims she can get California on the right track injects into her campaign millions of her own wealth to fuel her own ambitions and propaganda. What could come of that money? Surely, enough to ease some of problems facing hardworking Californians. For students, this money could actually place importance on the value of our education. It made me wonder what this money could do for the student who couldn't return to college this fall because of a reduction in his financial aid, about the student who couldn't pay the latest UC fee hikes, and about the student whose family cannot afford to send her to college at all.
Attorney General Jerry Brown, on the other hand, knows the issues facing parents and students, starting two public schools in Oakland in his tenure as Mayor. He understands the value of an education and how to engage students with all interests. Brown whole-heartedly agrees that more attention must be due to California's public school system in order for it to survive. Similarly, we must also turn to leaders like Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose City and County of San Francisco shines in California as the epitome of innovative ideas and pragmatic solutions put to practice.
As young people become more disenfranchised by California's political system, it is crucial to change the status quo that is tearing our state apart. Those who place personal ambition over proposing legitimate solutions to fix California must be stopped. As a student who fears the loans awaiting her upon graduation, I highly trust Brown and Newsom's abilities to help students like myself gain affordable higher education.
One of Mayor Newsom's main priorities as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor is to get the public education system back on track, by increasing the quality and accessibility of schools within the CSU and UC systems. He understands every student's desire for a quality education without being penalized by endless fees, finding themselves ineligible for state grants, and carrying a heavy burden of loans upon graduating. Higher education should be accessible to all, regardless of financial background. How else will California move forward with the leaders of tomorrow if they can't afford the rights to an education?
While shaking up San Francisco, Mayor Newsom made unprecedented progress in promoting an affordable and accessible higher education by launching "SF Promise," an initiative that guarantees an college education, with financial support provided, at San Francisco State university to all qualified San Francisco State Unified School District students. Projects like this, which benefits hundreds of students, can easily grow at the state level, spurring enrollment in colleges across the state.
The partnership of Brown and Newsom in Sacramento will bring the Golden State out of a depression it suffers on all levels. Our state will thrive once again through job growth, environmental protection, reduced crime rates, clean energy expansion, a strong education system, and so much more that will rebuild California.
Students of California, this is our election to win. We can no longer sit and watch as unqualified persons are elected to office only to serve private interests. By mobilizing by the thousands, we'll be able to fight for our rights as young people looking towards a brighter future. By electing Gavin Newsom for Lt. Governor, we'll have our voice heard on the UC Board of Regents and CSU Board of Trustees, strongly fighting for affordable education for everyone. No more will students forego a higher education or be prevented from returning to school. Please join students from across the state as we build the movement to reform California at www.studentsforgavinnewsom.com.
Manisha Goud is the Los Angeles Regional Director for Students for Gavin Newsom. Join Students for Gavin Newsom on Facebook at www.facebook.com/studentsfornewsom.
It's no secret that Meg Whitman is wealthy beyond most of our wildest dreams. But few know the true cost of Whitman's wealth. Today, the California Labor Federation launched a new online video and video game that highlights Whitman's job-slashing corporate history.
Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski:
Meg Whitman has made a game of downsizing workers and outsourcing their jobs, and walking away with a very real fortune for herself in the process. The record shows that Whitman is a one-person weapon of mass job destruction. By attempting to buy the California Governor's Office, Whitman wants to take her game to the next level, but we can't forget there are real lives at stake with every jobs she cuts, outsources or downsizes.
While Whitman touts her business savvy as her primary qualification to become governor, a closer look at Whitman's corporate background reveals a troubling portrait of someone who got rich at the expense of her own employees. Whitman is a career corporate executive who built a personal fortune by eliminating and outsourcing jobs and slashing workers' benefits. Everywhere she's been, she's made out with lucrative bonuses, stock options and other compensation. And workers have suffered hardships as a result.
An Ipsos/Reuters poll out this morning shows Jerry Brown leading Meg Whitman 45-39 in the Governor's race and Barbara Boxer leading Carly Fiorina 45-41. http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-p...
Obviously, these races are going to be hard fought and there is a lot of work to do. Brown's lead is very good news, seeing as Whitman has saturated the airwaves for months and Brown hasn't had a presence at all. Boxer's lead is narrower, but as the campaign goes on, Fiorina's tenure at HP will be one of the main focuses and that will give Boxer more of an edge. Brown and Boxer haven't hit the airwaves (at least I haven't seen any ads), so they still have a lot of room to get their numbers up.
Friends, I'm ending my campaign for Governor of California today.
In a spirit of service, I stepped into this race in response to a widespread call for a stronger, more issues-based campaign than Jerry Brown was running at the time. Since then, I've traveled up and down the state, talking with voters and making the case for strong leadership.
In that time, Jerry Brown has begun to do what it will take to win:
* He's been speaking up on important issues, especially clean energy and green jobs.
* He's reaching out more and more to regular voters, such as students at UCSB.
* He's begun confronting the Republicans on their ties to Wall Street.
At the same time, the Republicans in this race are tearing each other apart. They're falling all over each other to attack immigrants in ways that will alienate latino voters, and help Democrats keep winning the votes of this crucial constituency.
On the policy front, there's good news too, in the CA Senate's move toward raising new revenues, as I've called for, along with recent polling showing that the voters support this move.
In short, things are now moving in the right direction.
In this new context, the best way I can be of service is by ending my campaign and endorsing Jerry Brown. I'm doing that today.
It's time for all of California's Democrats to stand united behind our nominee. Jerry brown will be our nominee, with my full support. He's an experienced Governor, and he's been solidifying many of the key relationships that will help him win again in November. Most importantly, he's a Democrat, one who will work with, not against, our Democratic majorities in Sacramento and throughout the state. The best thing we can do for California today is to support Jerry Brown for Governor. Please join me in supporting him.
Note from Robert Cruickshank - Calitics has a policy of promoting diaries from electeds and candidates to the front page when the diaries are topical, important, or provide valuable information to our readers, and this one certainly counts as all three. However, this should not be construed as an endorsement of Peter Schurman.
For nearly twenty years, I've been a bare-knuckled fighter for regular people and common-sense, progressive values. I was the Founding Executive Director at MoveOn.org, America's strongest progressive advocacy organization. Although I've never run for elected office, I am qualified to be Governor and here's why I'll do a better job for California than Jerry Brown.
California needs a fighter right now. Six-plus years of Republican rule have left our state in crisis. We need a leader committed to aggressively confronting and cleaning up the mess the Republicans have made, not someone who wants to split the difference.
Here are three of the biggest challenges facing California. As our party's front-runner, Jerry Brown should be facing these issues head-on. Instead, he's running away from them.
It's no secret that Meg "Wall Street" Whitman served on the board of directors at Goldman Sachs at the same time that the notorious banking giant was engaging in some questionable (and now illegal) business practices. But Whitman hasn't exactly been open and honest about her direct involvement in the mortgage-backed securities and other shady insider deals that resulted in half a million families losing their homes.
Now that the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Goldman's role in the subprime mortgage meltdown, it's more important than ever that Whitman disclose exactly what she knew and did during her 14 months on the Goldman Sachs board. That's why we're calling on Whitman to provide detailed answers to the following questions (which are central to growing concerns about her fitness to lead our state) during this Sunday's GOP gubernatorial debate:
1. Will you admit that Goldman Sachs was wrong to bet that hard-working people would lose their houses, at the same time the company was stacking the deck so innocent families were sure to lose? Will you publicly rebuke Goldman and the Wall Street culture you were a part of -- the same company and culture that made you a billionaire?
2. Knowing Goldman's unethical -- and potentially criminal - activities drove the mortgage meltdown, will you apologize to the half million California families who lost their homes for your role as a Goldman director and investor who profited from their losses?
3. California voters deserve to know what kind of judgment you would display as Governor. Will you come clean with voters right now about what you knew about Goldman's unethical dealings and when you knew it?
4. If you are named in a federal criminal investigation or asked to testify publicly about your knowledge of Goldman's illegal tricks or your profits from the company's scams, how will you remain focused on California's concerns over their jobs, education, and health care?
According to Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski:
The hot water Meg Whitman's in due to her inextricable ties to Goldman Sachs just hit the boiling point. The people of California deserve the honest truth about Whitman's involvement in the practices that are being investigated as part of the current criminal probe against Goldman Sachs. Whitman must immediately disclose all dealings with Goldman Sachs - past and present - and divulge any information she has about the alleged criminal activity under investigation.
Whitman sat on the board of Goldman Sachs in 2001-2002, was engaged in now-illegal insider deals with Goldman Sachs that netted her nearly $2 million in profits, and currently holds a myriad of investments with Goldman worth millions of dollars. Whitman has repeatedly dodged tough questions about her involvement with Goldman, and recently has attempted to distance herself publicly from the firm.
Meg Whitman spent last week crisscrossing California with her Wall Street pal Mitt Romney, pumping up her already overflowing campaign coffers with even more corporate cash. Her campaign strategy is clear: write big checks and avoid a real conversation with voters about her background, her policies, and her plans for the state.
But California's workers aren't going to let Meg and her Wall Street agenda take the express jet to the Governor's office. While Meg and Mitt were rubbing elbows with the corporate elite, an army of nurses, educators, construction trades workers, and others who would be directly impacted by Meg's anti-worker agenda were putting the final touches on our campaign to expose her plans to do Wall Street's bidding and what her Governorship would mean for California's families.
Today, the California Labor Federation launched a massive grassroots campaign massive grassroots campaign that will deploy an army of volunteers to expose the truth about Meg Whitman's Wall Street agenda and her history on the board at Goldman Sachs. The campaign will counter Whitman's avalanche of TV ads and estimated $150 war chest with online tools as well as and person-to-person contact, which is proven to be the best way to reach voters.
In this election, working people don't have a choice. We have an imperative.
Jerry Brown has spent a lifetime fighting for working families. Meg Whitman, on the other hand, has spent her adult life as one of the corporate elite, advancing Wall Street's disastrous agenda. Whitman's plan to corporatize our economy would lead to more devastating cuts to education, health care and the safety net. She'd cut tens of thousands of jobs, making an already severe recession much worse. She'd strip workers of important protections like meal breaks and overtime pay.
More than 500 union members and leaders from across the state gathered in San Jose this morning committing to reject Whitman's hostile takeover attempt of California and elect a proven, experienced leader and fighter for working families, Jerry Brown.
The California Labor Federation today endorsed Attorney General Brown in his bid to become Governor, kicking off Labor's broadest grassroots electoral campaign in California history.
A glimpse at Brown's record shows why he's the right person to renew California's promise and rebuild our middle class. During his nearly four decades of public service, he has compiled an impressive record in support of working families' priorities. Brown fought to:
Protect and improve our wages. As Governor, Brown strengthened the state's equal pay law (SB 1051, 1976), and signed a law that requires the University of California to pay prevailing wage on construction projects (SB 394, 1975).
Ensure a safe and healthy workplace. In 1980, Brown signed a groundbreaking law (SB 1874) that requires employers to provide information to workers on toxic substances produced or handled in their workplace.
Strengthen the safety net for laid off and injured workers. During his 8 years as governor, Brown increased unemployment benefits for laid off workers (AB 91, 1975), and signed several bills to extend and increase workers' compensation for those who were injured on the job (SB 469, 1975; AB 467, 1976; AB 3028, 1978).
Expand and defend our right to form and join unions. Under Brown's leadership, California established collective bargaining rights for teachers, school employees and other state workers (SB 160, 1975), firefighters, police and other local government workers (AB 644, 1978) and farm workers (SB 1, 1975). Additionally, Brown signed a law that prohibits the use of professional strikebreakers in labor disputes (SB 719, 1975). Today, more than a million Californians can bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions thanks to Jerry Brown.
Crack down on employers that don't play by the rules. As Attorney General, Jerry Brown has take legal action against a number of companies that exploit and abuse their workers and violate California's labor laws. Just this month, Brown secured a settlement for construction workers whose rights have been violated by their employer (CA v. Evleth Construction, 4/5/2010). He's never shied away from a fight, even when the odds were against him.
In short, Jerry Brown did more than any governor in California history to build the middle class.
He also knows a thing or two about creating jobs. Unlike Meg's unrepentant job slashing, Jerry Brown has a record job creating. As Governor, he created 1.9 million jobs for California.
From his time as Governor to his work as Attorney General, Jerry's been on our side.
Jerry Brown's life of public service has been about fighting for a fair deal --
Not CEO deals;
Not multinational corporations;
Not the wealthy and privileged.
Jerry fights now for a new generation of prosperity, a new chapter for California -A chapter in which everyone has the right to earn their own way, to a safe workplace, a healthy environment, and good health care.
Meg Whitman is trying to buy the Governor's office to corporatize our economy, to give more power and wealth to the already wealthy and powerful.
Jerry Brown fights to restore for us the California that we knew - when he led it - a California that is unsurpassed in its potential for the future. A California that works for its working people.
He shares our values. He's on our side. We need a leader in Sacramento who we trust, not another corporate crony to do Wall Street's bidding. The contrast between the two candidates couldn't be starker. And there's never been more on the line for California's families than there is this year.
Jerry Brown is leading a new fight for our better future. Now it's time for us to fight for him.
Art Pulaski is executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation, representing 2.1 million union members in over 1,200 unions across the state. For more information, visit www.CaliforniaLabor.org.
In recent days, the San Jose Mercury News, Monterey County Herald, Vallejo Times Herald, and Marin Independent Journal have all called on Meg Whitman to keep her promise and release her tax returns.
Why is Meg Whitman flip-flopping on releasing her tax returns?
We simply don't know what Meg is hiding. But now, you can help us find out.
Today we are beginning a coordinated action campaign to demand that Meg Whitman release her tax returns, and we will be doing it out in the open-unlike Meg-in a place where everyone can see it: on Meg Whitman's Facebook page.
Please visit Meg Whitman's Facebook page right now, become a fan of her campaign (Don't worry, you can remove yourself from her fan list a few minutes later!), and then leave a comment on her wall asking Meg why she hasn't released her tax returns.
Some examples of possible comments are:
"Meg, why haven't you released your tax returns? California voters deserve to see what you are hiding."
Or
"Meg, please don't break your promise to let California voters see your tax returns. We want to know who we are voting for."
And it's as simple as that.
Two weeks from today is tax day. We all have to file our tax returns and we are calling on Meg Whitman to stop flip-flopping and release her tax returns by April 15.
