Abel Maldonado is running for LG, whether or not he gets confirmed by the Legislature. Just going on resources, Maldonado should have a big leg up. Sen. Sam Anestad, the only serious threat to Maldonado in the primary, had less than $100K at the end of last year. At this point, the race is his to lose.
So, in his speaking slot, Maldonado is trying to recast the framing of Latinos in his party.
"They agree with us more than they agree with the Democrats," Maldonado told the delegates. "But we don't talk to them. Ronald Reagan, our great president, what did he say? 'Hispanics are Republicans. They just don't know it.' We can't put up a bumper sticker during an election that says 'Viva the candidate's last name' and expect that they're going to vote for us. It's not going to happen. We can't go out and have a fiesta and have tequila and mariachis and tacos and think they are going to register as Republicans. That's not going to happen." (LA Times)
Of course, there's a lot to parse here. Of course, he's right that the republicans need to do more than just have a Cinco de Mayo party and expect voters to come running. The way he said it was rather blunt, but true.
But where most of us would take issue would be the first two sentences in that paragraph. While Maldonado might be able to point out a few issues that Latinos might vote a bit conservatively on, there is a reason that Hispanics voted overwhelmingly for President Obama, both here in California and throughout the nation. To this day, the party harbors and tosses red meat to nativists who ignore the hope and promise of America for the disfavored. Their immigration policies are more than strict, they are insulting. You can't threaten to arrest community servants who help the sick and poor and expect to get votes from those who you demonize.
But beyond the simple immigration issue, the Republicans also need to take a long, hard look at their policies towards the middle class. Their refusal to support services don't do any favors for working man. They claim to fight taxes, yet want to tax students with ever-increasing "fees." They fight to protect corporations and the rich.
Look, I won't argue with Maldonado's statement that Latinos are dedicated to the pursuit of the American dream. But since Teddy Roosevelt left the Republican party, the Republicans haven't had a real champion that speaks to anybody in the middle class, let alone the growing Latino electorate.
And frankly, Abel Maldonado isn't that voice either. He plays every side of every issue in public. But when the rubber hits the road, he ends up going with the corporatist, moneyed side every time.
So, remember how John Garamendi was elected to Congress out of the LG's office? Well, that election will change the course of many others. Interestingly, many of the dominos are falling in the Fresno area, far from the Congressional district. A rough guide from the Fresno Bee:
The first domino to fall was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's selection of state Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, as his nominee to replace former lieutenant governor John Garamendi, who left the post when he was elected to Congress.
*** *** ***
Denham's options grew last week when Assembly Member Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto, announced he was running for the state Senate seat of Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, who is leaving after his first term. Some Valley Republicans want Denham to remain in the Legislature and think he would be a good match to replace Berryhill, the source close to Denham said. Denham would have to move however, because he lives just outside the district. (Fresno Bee
Now, much of this is to do with some hand-wringing in the Republican party over a primary fight for the LG race. But whether Denham runs or not, Sam Aanestad is still in the LG race, and has not indicated whether he would be willing to step aside for Arnold's handpicked LG, Abel Maldonado. If there is a single conservative candidate in the Republican primary, Maldo is in even worse position. A split vote amongst conservatives could allow St. Abel to cruise through. If there's only one conservative, Abel is in for more of a dogfight. Of course, Arnold would like to clear the field for Abel, but it isn't like Arnold has much sway in the GOP these days.
You have to love (or not) the twisted game of musical chairs in Sacramento these days.
Last week I discussed the legislative fixes being made to save half a million kids from being dropped from the Healthy Families rolls. This fix would push more costs onto the families, making the program less affordable and the coverage stingier, and would extend a gross premiums tax on insurance companies, which was set to phase out in October, at a lower rate than they are now paying. Keeping that tax at the same rate would have spared families from increased premiums and co-pays.
But saving the program is saving the program, and yesterday the State Senate took the first step.
State lawmakers pushed forward Wednesday with a $196-million plan to keep nearly 700,000 children from being yanked off a government health insurance program for the working poor.
The state Senate passed a measure to create a new tax on insurance companies and bring in federal money to rescue the decade-old Healthy Families program, which had been cut deeply in recent months as lawmakers scrambled to balance the state budget.
Assembly officials expressed confidence that they would garner the needed two-thirds vote in the lower house, where the bill is expected to be taken up today. Administration officials said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would sign the measure.
Again, not quite right. The "new tax" on insurance companies is an extension of an existing tax at a lower rate than before. This is why the insurance companies support the bill; they're getting taxed at a lower rate, keeping 600,000 kids on their insurance rolls, getting the families to pay more, and being credited with saving the program. It's a neat trick. Not only that:
The new tax would replace an existing 5.5% levy set to expire in October, prompting some lawmakers to quip that the new levy is actually a tax reduction. It would expire at the end of next year, and the insurers would be reimbursed for most of their cost.
"Of course the insurance companies want this -- it won't cost them a penny," Aanestad said.
Keeping the premiums tax in place does net $97 million in federal matching funds, which certainly helps matters. And keeping the program alive helps children in tangible ways. But this is a very strange conception of "shared responsibility," when the families participating in the program will have to pay more for premiums and co-pays, with less coverage overall, and the insurance companies get a lowered tax, which they will get reimbursement for down the road.
And the craziest part of all of this is that Sam Aanestad of the Yacht Party, while admitting this is a lowered tax and that insurers will not pay anything in the final analysis, voted against the bill because it "raises taxes on California business."
"Who pays is the bottom line here," said state Sen. Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley), who voted against the bill.
Sam Aanestad in this paragraph should read Sam Aanestad from the other paragraph.
...the Assembly passed this today without a no vote. The Governor will sign. Insurers will get their tax cut. Huzzah.
(Well worth thinking about. The Republicans already are... P.S. Vote for Charlie! - promoted by juls)
(cross-posted from Daily Kos)
With the impending implosion of John Doolittle, it has occurred to me that it might be good to start paying attention to likely Doolittle replacements. At the very least, Doolittle will face a tough primary fight in 2008 (connections to the Placer County Republican Central Committee have confirmed that they are searching for another candidate). Of course, Doolittle may also be booted from office or forced to resign before then, in which case we will have a special election.
Below is a list of possible Republican candidates, with a quick paragraph for each one. We should be working to find out more about these people and also make sure we are aware of any other possible candidates not listed here. It is crucial that we make sure that Charlie Brown wins this seat in 2008 (or sooner).
Also, there are possible Democratic spoilers in the event of a special election. People to definitely keep an eye on.
If I left anyone out, please let me know. I am not as familiar with El Dorado County politics, so I am sure I am missing at least a couple of credible contenders. I'll update this as needed based on the comments.
