Making Waves

AT JUST A FEW MINUTES before midnight last night in one of the most critical state budget votes in history, Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) just couldn't contain himself. He needed to poke fun at President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's admonition to all senators to sit down before voting on three stopgap measures designed to keep our state from running out of money.

"I'm just checking, Mr. President. I'm not trying to be a pain in the butt," he joked.

And then came the 25-14 party-line vote, with Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria)  abstaining, which turned down three stopgap bills passed by the Assembly last week, which would effectively keep the state from issuing IOUs to contractors, the disabled, elderly and the poor. Passage of these bills, containing $3.3 billion in cuts, mostly to education, needed to happen before the end of the fiscal year that ended Tuesday. As the cuts were allocated to the previous fiscal year, the opportunity to save was lost at midnight. According to the Los Angeles Times, issuing IOUs will cost the state another $3.4 billion in interest.

The moment of levity at a time of fiscal calamity irked Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)  "We're about to lose $7 billion in 6 minutes. ... Folks are joking and it's really just beyond belief."

Later, Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo), who helped seal the bipartisan deal in the Assembly  told John Myers of KQED-Radio that he was disappointed in the outcome in the Senate. "The Assembly acted responsibly..."

ON A SIDE NOTE: The governor of course vetoed the two budget bills presented to him yesterday. (See below) No surprise.

I received this missive from State Democratic Party Chair John Burton just a few moments ago. I think it's important enough to share verbatim:

Please join me in thanking Assembly and Senate Democrats for passing a common-sense budget before the fiscal year ends tomorrow.

Late last night, Assembly Democrats passed a spending plan that minimizes the cruel cuts advocated by the governor by raising $2 billion in new revenue. Just a few minutes ago, Senate Democrats followed suit, passing a plan that requires Big Tobacco and Big Oil to share in the state budget sacrifice.

Speaker Karen Bass, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and their caucuses should be commended for standing firm against the governor's Draconian cuts.

In order to pass the plan, legislative leaders structured it to require a majority vote. That's because Republicans have repeatedly refused to provide the handful of votes necessary to pass the plan with two-thirds support.

Disappointingly, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the Democrats' budget plan, preferring to play a game of chicken with the budget. He and Legislative Republicans would rather strip health care from nearly one million children and close 220 state parks than ask corporate special interests to pay their fair share.

Now, the onus is on the governor and Republican lawmakers to explain to Californians why they would rather drive the state over a cliff than agree to a budget with a mix of cuts and new revenue.

Please, call Governor Schwarzenegger's office today at (916) 445-2841 or (213) 897-0322. Ask the governor to sign this budget plan, which minimizes the cuts by sharing the sacrifice.

Peace and friendship,

John Burton

IT'S A NIGHTMARE that is likely playing over and over in the heads of tourism bureau directors in beach towns around California: how many visitor dollars will go away if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger really shuts down our state parks?

In seaside getaways all along the coast, the lure of the ocean draws tourists and their money, but the parking lots and campgrounds at most state-run beaches will be padlocked in a year if the governor's proposal to close more than 80 percent of our state park system is approved. This will save the state $143 million and will likely put businesses dependent on visitors to state parks under water.

According to the California Travel Industry Association, studies have shown that every $1 that funds the state park system returns $2.35 to the General Fund, largely through economic activity in communities surrounding state parks. This is an estimated $350 million.

Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau Director Jim Luttjohann is finding the possible closures sort of surreal. "It's so huge it's almost unfathomable," he said. He just returned from a state conference on tourism where the mood was very somber. Schwarzenegger, who was scheduled to attend, didn't show up. Other pressing matters kept him elsewhere, his staff explained.

For beachfront hotel owners on state lands, the prospect of fenced-off dunes must seem ludicrous. Luttjohann pointed to one Ventura hotel's positioning near San Buenaventura State Beach, one of those on the closure list.

"We would have a beachside hotel where guests couldn't go to the beach."

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, in July of 2010, 223 of our 279 state parks will be fenced off and closed to the public. In Ventura County and neighboring areas that would mean the closure of the popular San Buenaventura State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, Emma Wood State Beach, El Capitan State Beach, Gaviota State Park, Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Malibu Lagoon State Beach, McGrath State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Point Mugu State Park and Will Rogers State Historical Park.

It will also close access to the majestic beauty of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz area and Anza-Borrego near San Diego, among many other treasured spots.

But closing a state park doesn't necessarily mean people will stay out, Luttjohan pointed out. There will be issues of safety with no lifeguards available in beach areas, no public restroom facilities and no maintenance. Vagrants could easily set up camp and the area will quickly become blighted.

Closures will force more beachgoers to neighborhoods with beach access unaffected by the budget cuts. Pierpoint Beach in Ventura could see an influx of visitors and beach lanes clogged by parked cars.

BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION. It's just not popular with the minority Republicans, who are against all new fees and taxes, even ones which could keep our state's tourism industry from taking a huge hit. Today the Senate Republicans voted against this plan despite polling done last year showing 74 percent of respondents in favor.

A $15 surcharge on vehicle license fees has been proposed which would allow anyone with a California license plate free day-use to our parks. (For example, the $8 entrance fee to San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura would be waived.) This would generate enough to keep all our state parks open with enough left over to pay off debt on past park bonds. But it needs a 2/3 vote by both houses of the legislature to pass.

Go visit a state park today while you can. Take a long walk on the beach or in the woods and ask yourself: is this something I want to live without? And how long do we let a stubborn minority ruin the state for the rest of us without offering any of their own solutions?

IN A MOVE THAT WILL SURPRISE absolutely nobody, State Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) voted in committee last week against a proposal to tack a tax on cigarettes to raise about $1.2 billion annually for the state's ailing general fund.

The senator joined two other Republicans in voting no on SB 600, despite the fact that polls, such as one conducted after the May vote and another done in April by Field Research Inc. say an overwhelming majority of state residents favor an increase in tobacco taxes and don't want to see drastic cuts to health-care programs for low-income and disabled residents and children.

In the last 10 years, tobacco companies have spent millions in California to keep taxes on tobacco products here among the lowest in the nation. Strickland alone has been the recipient of a whopping $91,550 in tobacco contributions since he entered politics.

According to tobacco-facts.net, California's tobacco tax rate of 87 cents per pack is 32nd in the nation. Rhode Island is No. 1 with $3.46 a pack. Some city governments in other areas of the U.S. have imposed their own taxes as well.

The bill, co authored by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) has earmarked the revenue to go toward the general fund, lung cancer research, tobacco cessation and control, school-based anti-smoking programs and tobacco enforcement efforts.  SB 600 is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association.

Besides generating much-needed revenue, the bill is expected to discourage smoking among youth, according to a press release issued by Padilla.

"California needs to do more to keep tobacco away from kids," Padilla said.  "With every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes, youth smoking is reduced by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent. Raising the tobacco tax reduces youth smoking," he added.

The bill's co-sponsor, the American Cancer Society, argues that the increase is long overdue and since California's last tobacco tax increase, 44 states have increased their tobacco taxes. The American Heart Association, also a co-sponsor, argues that this bill will help reduce heart disease, which is the No. 1 killer in the United States.

Assemblymember Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) has introduced a similar bill, AB 89.

STRICKLAND HAS A LONG HISTORY of siding with Big Tobacco on legislation, especially when it comes to sales of tobacco products to minors. Beyond the recent votes against bills to curb youth smoking, while in the Assembly he voted against allowing the Department of Health Services to conduct stings on businesses selling tobacco to minors. It passed into law anyway. He also voted against restricting non face-to-face sales of cigarettes. The measure was signed into law by Schwarzenegger.

In May, he voted against SB 4 which prohibits smoking on any state coastal beach or state park unit, except in adjacent parking lots.

The Ventura County Republican Party has been well funded by tobacco dollars as well, with $50,000 deposited into its account in May of 2008 by Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris.

Other county tobacco donations include $28,650 for Assembly member Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark), $20,900 for Assembly member Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita), and $18,900 for Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster). None of the current Democratic legislators have accepted tobacco money.

Watch to see how all these politicians vote when the bills come before them.

SB 600 is opposed by California Chamber of Commerce, California Black Chamber of Commerce, the Black Chamber of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the California Taxpayers Assn. and the Neighborhood Market Assn. All these groups have received tobacco contributions, according to tobacco-facts.net.

Of the two senators who sided with Strickland in the Senate Health Committee, both have also accepted tobacco money. Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) accepted $26,800 and Sen. Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) took $10,100.

UPDATE: Today Tony Strickland finally added his name to the list of senators willing to take a pay cut. For a look at the list, go here. IN MORE INTERESTING NEWS: It looks like State Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster), who represents the cities of Fillmore, Santa Paula and Piru, has gotten himself into a bit of hot water. Read the story in the Sacramento Bee here.

POLITICS IS A NASTY BUSINESS and nobody knows this like Leslie Cornejo and Katie Teague, the founders of the California Association of Political Centrists.

A moderate Republican, Cornejo spent five years as chairman of the Republican Central Committee until, she says, she was booted in 2006 for endorsing Congressman Elton Gallegly's primary opponent at a time when Gallegly had temporarily bowed out. Gallegly jumped back in the race, but Cornejo stuck to her guns. "It did crack open the door for an ouster," she explained.

"This party chews up women and spits them out," Cornejo said. "But it was not about women. It was really about certain candidates controlling huge funds."

Cornejo dug in her heels until she got a call from the state party honchos. " 'What can we do to get you to leave quietly?' " Cornejo recalls them saying.

She hasn't exactly been quiet since. Cornejo, along with Teague and 12 others, left the local Republicans. The duo founded their Centrist group shortly thereafter. Since that time, they've partnered with the Ventura County Star on candidate forums and every election cycle their group rates candidates on their abilities to reach bipartisan consensus.

I INVITED CORNEJO AND TEAGUE to speak to the Ventura County Chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus last night because I think their message couldn't be any more timely.

"What we have is a system organized and run by extremes," Cornejo told our group. "You have two sides lobbing grenades at each other over red meat issues."

Part of the Centrists' strategy is to make sure voters are informed and to "take the mystery out of politics," Cornejo said. There is a reason why things happen the way they do and it often involves manipulation.

"Proposition 8 was put on the ballot to turn out conservatives," Cornejo said. "I am appalled that so many things on the ballot are about candidates and not about making good laws."

These two smart and gutsy women figure they're doing a good job when both parties get mad at them. "We've managed to step on probably everyone's toes," Cornejo said.

"But we're trying to wrestle politics away from the ideologues and opportunists."

To contact this group go here.

AS I WRITE THIS, my husband, the official BIggest Lakers Fan on Earth, is wearing a 2009 Lakers championship T-shirt and protesting noisily behind my head.

But I just have to say it. I don't care if media moguls finally bailed Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa out of his misguided promise to use $1 million in taxpayer dollars for the grand Lakers championship parade today. I don't care if the Lakers are paying for the other half of it.

I'm just in no mood right now for a $2 million parade to honor guys with $135-million contracts for five years of work. Not while we're poised to cut the heart out of our state. Not while Los Angeles Unified is laying off thousands of teachers. Not while we're proposing to dump health insurance for poor children, cut Medi-Cal, close adult day care centers, state parks and cut off college grants.

IT WAS JUST A WEEK AGO, that I was watching a very different kind of parade organized in Oxnard by the dynamic Roberto Juarez of Clinicas Camino del Real. The health care clinics, started in the very poorest part of Santa Paula in 1971, have grown in numbers to nine and serve as the primary medical provider for those who have nowhere else to turn.

"More than 3 million people will be losing their health care benefits," Juarez told the well-organized group of marchers as they walked through the streets of Oxnard behind a truck blaring music. "In just a few days, we will start to see a great deal of pain."

I have often wondered about how we find ourselves so happy to part with our money for entertainment purposes but not to help out those who have so little. Do we value what makes us forget our troubles more highly than rectifying the wrongs which cause them?

If anyone deserves a parade, it's the impassioned inner-city teachers in Los Angeles who just lost their jobs.

That's something I'd pay to see.

I ATTENDED MY youngest child's "graduation" ceremony from elementary school today. It was a touching morning filled with awards and a montage of baby photos, girls dressed up in their best dresses and boys squirming uncomfortably in collared shirts. As a long-time parent, I've attended quite a few of these affairs.

But at the end came something that was markedly different from any ceremony I've attended before. We bid goodbye to a favorite teacher. My son's beloved part-time health teacher received a pink slip this spring. In good years these "temporary" teachers find themselves with a job again after the budget issues have settled down. But this is not to be this year.

A cheer went up among the children when her name was announced along with the other teachers. She's a favorite with the kids. My quiet little son, who seldom relays details of his school day, often came home with stories about the great discussions he's had in her class.

Clearly this is a teacher who is making an impact. And yet we seem to be unable to afford her salary any longer. This is the grim reality of state budget cuts. A family without a second income will be making fewer purchases in the community. Next year's students will not receive the benefit of her instruction.

It is a chain of ruin with profound impacts on the future of our children and the economy.

I went up to her afterward and assured her she would land on her feet. Unable to find child care today, she had her small daughter with her. She thanked me for my words of support and I could see the tears forming in her eyes.

I think back to the day I watched the TEA party protesters in Ventura gleefully patting their wallets in giddy celebration of taking down the government.

This is the government: a now unemployed health teacher who really gets through to her pupils, holding the hand of her 3-year-old.

A RECENT POLL conducted by True North, Inc. confirmed what I already knew: Ventura voters are content here and are willing to invest in their city.

Despite a round of new temporary taxes from the state, nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said they would likely vote for a temporary 1/2-cent hike in the city sales tax to support public safety, libraries, local infrastructure, economic-generating activities and building financial reserves.

This figure has held steady through surveys conducted in May of 2007 and December of 2008. True North talked to 400 likely voters between May 27-31 of this year. (The survey had a 4.86 point margin of error.) The sample was "a perfect representation of your voting electorate," True North President Timothy McLarney explained.

What else did they find? Seventy-five percent are somewhat or very satisfied with the job the City of Ventura is doing to provide services. Sixty-one percent feel things are going in the right direction in our city, compared with 22 percent who weren't sure and 21 percent who thought they were going in the wrong direction.

The state didn't fair as well in the poll, however, with only 11 percent responding that California in general was going in the right direction.

And just who is the typical Ventura voter? She's more likely to be female, over age 50, own her own home and have lived in the city at least 15 years. She isn't too worried about finances and is a Democrat. She doesn't own a business here.

"If we choose not to put this on the ballot ... then we will be surrendering our destiny to the vagaries of Sacramento for the next few years," Councilmember Bill Fulton said.

Update: All the questions for the survey and the sampling method used can be found here:

REPUBLICAN PUNDITS would like you to believe that the defeat of Prop. 1A was all about taxes. Democrats will tell you that the dysfunction leading up to the defeat of the propositions is all about the two-thirds requirement to pass a budget.

But it's more complicated than that.

Researcher David Binder's recent widely quoted poll shows an electorate which was in no mood to sign off on the labyrinthine measures but had no taste for the draconian cuts which are in our future, either. Of the 1,008 voters surveyed, 603 voted in the special election and 405 did not. Of those respondents, only 36 percent of those who voted wanted a cuts-only budget. Of those who did not vote, only 24 percent preferred such a scenario.

Polling by the Public Policy Institute of California also supports this notion.

But what Binder's poll really proved is that the voters overwhelmingly considered the special election a failure of the legislature and the governor to do what they were elected to do.

BUT WHY IS THAT? Most Democrats I talk to put the blame squarely on the aforementioned two-thirds dilemma. But this requirement has been in place since 1933. What has changed? Research shows that over the years the two parties have grown farther and farther apart in ideology, making it difficult to reach the sort of compromise needed to pass a supermajority budget on time.

Adding to the blockade, last year most of the state's Republican legislators signed Grover Norquist's "No Tax Pledge," and ostracized those who broke ranks in February.

While good legislation gets passed every week in Sacramento with bipartisan cooperation, it is the highly publicized budget battles which paint a picture of total dysfunction and linger in the voters' minds.

MOST OF US BELIEVE in a system of checks and balances. But what do you do when one party will not compromise in budget negotiations? Democrats tried an end-run budget last January which didn't need a two-thirds approval. The governor vetoed it.

So now the talk is of a Constitutional Convention with the hope of reducing the majority needed to pass a budget to 55 percent. We are only one of three states which requires the two-thirds. The Republican "my way or the highway" mentality may just end up depriving them of the only power they have.

And this is unfortunate because undoing the two-thirds will not help foster the spirit of bipartisanship, the ultimate goal of our legislative process.

"California's day of reckoning is here," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in his address today. "We have 14 days to act before the state runs out of money."

Fat chance.