Friday, September 2, 2011

Block’s Disabled Veterans’ Spousal Benefit Legislation Signed by the Governor

SACRAMENTO—Governor Jerry Brown today signed AB 188, authored by Assemblymember Marty Block, D-San Diego. AB 188 will continue to make available a disabled veterans’ property tax exemption to the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran, who had a 100% disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Administration, upon entering a nursing home or other assisted living facility.

Read the press release here.



Thursday, September 1, 2011

The Dumanis Campaign

Word on the street is that her campaign has reached out to former CRP and SDRCP Chair Ron Nehring to shore up her ebbing support on the Republican side of the aisle.

After her about face on the DeMaio Pension Measure and refusing to reveal how she voted on the sales-tax hike in 2010, her campaign appears to be suffering from policy paralysis. She will need any help she can obtain to remain credible with voters if this continues.

Shepard took advantage of Tierney's vacation to kneecap Dumanis with some downtown types and conservative Democratic voting blocs. With DeMaio claiming the right and Filner taking the left, Fletcher and Dumanis are left with the shrinking middle and Nathan has been working it while watching his flanks.

Dumanis has been firing campaign managers and not answering questions from the UT editorial board. Neither of which inspire confidence in the campaign.

This writer will be surprised if her campaign makes it past this year.

SDUT: New county political maps unveiled


The county’s two alternative maps, scheduled for consideration by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, would create a South Bay district where Latinos and African Americans constitute a majority of the voting-age population.
Read the article here.

LA Times: Goodwin Liu confirmed to California Supreme Court

"It has been a long journey for my family, and it has definitely ended with the most pleasant, enjoyable confirmation," Liu said, marveling that the state process took "a mere 36 days" whereas his federal nomination languished in the U.S. Senate for more than a year.

Read the article here.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

SDUT: Dumanis: Vote on sales-tax hike is personal

Calling her vote personal, San Diego mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis continues her refusal to say whether she voted for or against a proposed sales tax hike last fall.

Read the article here.

VOSD: How Much Money Is Enough in the Mayor's Race?

Political consultant John Kern, the former chief of staff for Mayor Dick Murphy, also gave me an observation I've always kept handy, "You don't need more money than your rivals, you just need enough."

Think of race cars. You can have the fastest car in a race, but if you aren't able to drive well, you won't win.

Read the article here.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

LA Times: State Democrats consider bill to ban initiatives from primaries

Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) confirmed Monday that his caucus may introduce a bill in the final days of this year's legislative session that would mandate initiatives only go before voters in November general elections, which typically have higher participation than primary contests.

Read the article here.

Capitol Alert: Referendum filed to overturn California congressional maps

A referendum has been filed to overturn the new congressional districts created by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the attorney general's office reported today.

The effort joins one already under way to undo the maps the commission drew for state Senate districts.

Read the article here.

SDUT: Hueso moves to block anti-secrecy bill

“We can do as well, or better” in developing new standards, Hueso said during the committee debate. He said he wanted to solicit advice from others, such as the independent legislative analyst and state controller.

“I would support a more deliberative process,” Hueso said.

Read the article here.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

SDUT: How mayor candidates managed campaign funds

The four major candidates for San Diego mayor made decidedly different choices with the money left over in campaign accounts established to help them get elected to their current political office. Technically, that money can’t be used to campaign for mayor unless the candidates transfer the money properly to comply with city campaign finance laws.

All four seem to be in compliance with the rules, but Fletcher’s spending for a possible 2012 re-election run for state Assembly caught the attention of one campaign finance expert.

Read the article here.