It’s time for our weekly tour around the great State of California, highlighting what’s new in Sacramento and what’s happening around the state that affects you, your family and your business. The week before Christmas is usually a quiet one, if not for last-minute shoppers, at least in politics. Not so this year.

The courts have been working overtime and a couple of significant decisions – sure to be challenged – were passed down this week.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s plan to take over significant parts of the Los Angeles Unified School District –scheduled to start January 1st – has been temporarily derailed as Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs has ruled that Assembly Bill 1381 violates multiple provisions of the Los Angeles City Charter and the state Constitution. School Board President Marlene Canter said. “I am gratified that the court struck down AB 1381 in its entirety.” The Mayor will almost certainly appeal this to the California Supreme Court.

In another surprising decision, the California Supreme Court has ruled that Indian tribes in California can be sued for violating the state’s campaign disclosure law. Under federal law, the tribes currently enjoy sovereign immunity from lawsuits, but in a 4-3 decision the Court determined that their growing influence warrants an exception to the law as the state must be protected from political corruption. Justice Ming W. Chin who write the majority position acknowledged that the decision was an “abrogation of the sovereign immunity doctrine” but that “a transparent election process with rules that apply equally to all parties who enter the political fray” trumped those rights.

The decision is almost certain to be challenged, and the final result’s significance will exceed the issue of buying political influence. Will the United States continue to allow “sovereign nations” to benefit from everything this country has to offer, but not be subject to the same laws as the rest of us?

It is worth noting that the Kern High School District in Bakersfield has voted to drop spring and winter break and bring back Easter and Christmas recess. This will almost certainly bring a lawsuit as another round of the ongoing church and state battle begins.

Governor Schwarzenegger has announced that a universal healthcare plan designed to cover the 6.5 million Californians without health insurance is his top priority for 2007. Details of his plan, along with his plans for redistricting and prison reform, will come in his January 9th State-of-the-State speech.

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that this holiday season is a great one for you and your family. That’s it for this week and remember, California is the Alpha State: the greatest state in the world’s greatest country.