Redistricting measure backers blast prison guards, Perata

Backers of November's political redistricting measure took the state prison guards union to task Wednesday for giving State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata $602,000 to help defeat the measure.

The four contributions to Perata's Leadership California committee since late May have come as the California Correctional Peace Officers Association lobbies the Legislature — where Perata, D-Oakland, still holds sway — for a pay raise, Proposition 11's supporters said.

Lawsuit over McCain citizenship should be tossed, GOP lawyers say

Lawyers for John McCain and the state and national Republican Party on Thursday asked a federal judge in San Francisco to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the candidate's place on California's Nov. 4 ballot.

Markham Robinson of Vacaville, chairman-elect of California's American Independent Party, sued McCain, the GOP and California Secretary of State Debra Bowen on Aug. 11, arguing the presidential candidate's birth 72 years ago today in the Panama Canal Zone means he's not a "natural-born citizen" — a Constitutional requirement to be president.

Lawsuit over McCain citizenship should be tossed, GOP lawyers say

Lawyers for John McCain and the state and national Republican Party on Thursday asked a federal judge in San Francisco to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the candidate's place on California's Nov. 4 ballot.

Markham Robinson of Vacaville, chairman-elect of California's American Independent Party, sued McCain, the GOP and California Secretary of State Debra Bowen on Aug. 11, arguing the presidential candidate's birth 72 years ago today in the Panama Canal Zone means he's not a "natural-born citizen" — a Constitutional requirement to be president.

Lawmakers push ban on electronic bingo

The state budget crawl drags on, but on some things the Legislature can still hustle.

Lawmakers are moving fast on a bill that would help gaming tribes, churches and some big nonprofit groups, but smaller bingo charities fear it will dry up their fundraising lifeblood.

The bill, SB1369, would ban electronic bingo games that a growing number of charities now operate in murky legal waters, games that casino tribes say violate their statewide monopoly on slot machines. In exchange, charities could link multiple facilities across California for weekly paper bingo games that could generate what one backer described as "life-altering prizes." Some say those prizes could exceed $100,000, compared with the $250 top prize per game state law now permits.

East Bay women celebrate expansion of women in politics

DENVER — History arrived on Angela Ramirez Holmes' cell phone in an e-mail early Tuesday morning.

The message from St. Mary's College professor Denise Witben reminded the 32-year-old delegate from Pleasanton to celebrate the 88th anniversary of women's suffrage.

Holmes, in Denver at the Democratic National Convention as a delegate for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, needs no reminder.

She read the e-mail as she sat at the national Democratic Women Caucus meeting, one of dozens of events Tuesday centered around the expanding role of women in American politics in the nearly nine decades since they won the right to vote.

Bay Area delegates celebrate women in politics

DENVER — History arrived on Angela Ramirez Holmes' cell phone in an e-mail early Tuesday morning.

The message from St. Mary's College professor Denise Witben reminded the 32-year-old delegate from Pleasanton to celebrate the 88th anniversary of women's suffrage.

Holmes, in Denver at the Democratic National Convention as a delegate for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, needs no reminder.

She read the e-mail as she sat at the national Democratic Women Caucus meeting, one of dozens of events Tuesday centered on the expanding role of women in American politics in the nearly nine decades since they won the right to vote.

No regrets for Perata, Swanson for missing convention

SACRAMENTO — Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata warned several weeks ago that it could come to this: If there was no budget resolution by Monday, lawmakers would be forced to skip the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The Oakland Democrat made good on his word, scheduling sessions for every day this week to work on policy bills while he continues his search for two Republican votes he needs to pass the budget, which is now 57 days late. While this is going on in Sacramento, Democrats in Denver are gearing up for Thursday's crowning moment: making Sen. Barack Obama the nation's first black presidential nominee.

Clayton allowing veggie stand -- for now

CLAYTON — Clayton leaders decided Tuesday night that two girls can re-open their vegetable stand — the one city staffers said two months ago violated zoning regulations and was immediately shut down.

As early as Wednesday, the Fisher Price card table could be back in front of the Lewis house on Mitchell Canyon Road, with 11-year-old Katie Lewis and sister 3-year-old Sabrina sitting behind it. They'll once again sell produce like the $1 melons and 50-cent radish bunches grown in their yard.

UC Berkeley students return to school -- especially Michael and Jessica

BERKELEY — More than 35,000 students began arriving at UC Berkeley for the new school year Monday, including two 13-year-old undergraduates and two others older than 60.

The 4,300-member freshman class is 55 percent female and 42 percent Asian-American. Nearly 30 percent of the first-year students have parents without a four-year college degree.

And, the school notes, Michael and Jessica are the most popular names among this year's freshmen. The class boasts about 50 of each.

After court ruling, UC employees question whistle-blowing

Lawmakers and University of California employees are pushing to overturn a court ruling that essentially declared UC exempt from most whistle-blower lawsuits.

The California Supreme Court ruled last month that UC employees cannot seek damages in court if the university properly investigated their whistle-blower claims. That exemption does not apply to other state agencies, including the California State University system.

Critics have called UC "the fox guarding the henhouse," and even some Supreme Court justices suggested that the Legislature amend whistle-blower laws to better protect university employees.

Rednecks, white voters and blue-state excitement

DENVER — Lee Spencer is a gun totin' redneck who loves to hunt and fish.

It says so right on his shirt, at least about the redneck part.

He's a Missouri good ol' boy, about 60. He comes from a town call Rolla, smack in the middle of the Missouri, between Springfield and St. Louis.

Right now, though, he's standing with his buddy Tony outside the entrance of the Pepsi Center, the site of this year's Democratic National Convention, holding a sign reading "Rednecks for Obama."

End-of-session frenzy for campaign cash

SACRAMENTO — The appeals lawmakers make for cash can sometimes have the feel of a carnival bark: "Start your morning right!" one fundraising letter announced, "Mimosas, bloody Marys and a light breakfast!"

Others promise a night of luxury: "Private box, fabulous food, special commemorative gift," at a minor-league baseball game in Sacramento — for only $1,000.

Even amid the constant hunt for greenbacks in the Capital city, the prowl for campaign contributions has been particularly intense in the past few weeks. It is, after all, the traditional end-of-session frenzy, when budget negotiations are still roiling and lawmakers are tackling hundreds of bills, while lobbyists and their clients make their case, often supplemented — separately, of course — with a little cash.

Four vying for two Pleasanton City Council seats

PLEASANTON — The city's political campaign season officially begins Monday when the four candidates running for council and the two competing for the mayor's seat will give voters a preview of their platforms.

All six are expected to speak today at 6 p.m. at the ninth Biennial Candidates Forum hosted by Pleasanton Gardens.

"We set ours up early in order to not conflict with the campaigning schedule," said Pleasanton Gardens administrator Bruce Fiedler, whose nonprofit senior housing group puts on the event. "So it's been sort of a campaign kickoff."

Bay Area sends volunteers to Denver

Three Bay Area Salvation Army volunteer teams from Concord, Napa and San Francisco leave early Friday for the 1,200-mile drive to Denver, where they will serve as part of a large disaster preparedness contingent at the Democratic National Convention.

Armed with three large, mobile, full-service kitchen rigs — they resemble those ubiquitous "roach coaches" — the dozen Bay Area volunteers are prepared to help feed thousands of evacuees in the event of a terrorist attack or other major incident that forces conventioneers to flee downtown Denver.

Animal researcher protection bill passes state Senate

A bill to shield academic researchers from harassment by animal rights groups and others who oppose their work passed the state Senate on Friday.

The Researcher Protect Act, submitted after a home invasion attempt at the home of a UC Santa Cruz scientist who uses mice in cancer studies, would make it a misdemeanor to publish the personal information or photographs of researchers with the intent to threaten or harm them or their families.

Lawsuit highlights conflicted views on "guest workers"

COURTLAND — On the eve of a weekend farm labor convention starring Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Salvador Gonzalez was hit with the worst mess of his career.

In late July, after months of preparation, the labor contractor brought 180 workers from the Mexican state of Colima to pick pears, apples and wine grapes in the farms of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. After a month, 24 of those legal guest workers sued him in federal court, accusing Gonzalez's family business of broken wage promises, filthy living conditions and other mistreatment.

Feds subpoena Oakland for personnel records

OAKLAND — A federal grand jury has subpoenaed the city for the personnel records of former City Administrator Deborah Edgerly, her closest City Hall adviser, and four of their relatives, sources said, less than two months after Edgerly was fired amid allegations of nepotism and interfering with a police investigation.

The criminal subpoena is the clearest sign yet that federal authorities are interested in investigating City Hall, in a probe seemingly aimed, at least partially, at determining whether Edgerly gave preferential treatment to relatives during her tenure as the city's top nonelected official.

Walnut Creek council to go through big changes

The decisions of Walnut Creek Mayor Gwen Regalia and Councilman Charlie Abrams to step down in November will mean the biggest change on the five-member council in 17 years.

The last time two new members joined the council at the same time was 1991, when Gene Wolfe and Ed Dimmick were elected, following heated growth wars in Walnut Creek a few years earlier.

Now, the council faces tough budget decisions as it embarks on building a $42 million library and parking garage, while trying to cut back in other areas and "restructure" the way it does business in the wake of sagging sales tax revenues and escalating costs.

Moraga opponent targets mayor's resume

Moraga Mayor Lynda Deschambault has less than four months left in office, but that won't stop former Town Council candidate Lee Bren from asking the council at next week's meeting to remove her from the mayor's chair. Some of the many recipients of Bren's frequent e-mail tirades against Deschambault may join him.

His stance: She lied on her 2004 candidate statement by saying she had a California teaching certificate and that she taught at Los Perales Elementary School in Moraga. She was an instructional aide, not a full-time teacher.

Democrats vow to change two-thirds requirement

SACRAMENTO — Assemblyman Sandre Swanson is convinced that the only way to avoid lengthy budget stalemates in the future is to strip the minority party of what he calls its out-sized influence.

The Oakland Democrat is among a handful of East Bay lawmakers who want voters to overturn the constitutional requirement that two-thirds of the Legislature must approve the budget. Now in its 50th day, the budget standoff is threatening to spill into next month as both parties remain far apart on finding a solution to the state's estimated $15.2 billion deficit.

DVC suspect a scapegoat, attorney says

A Benicia man accused of changing grades at Diablo Valley College has been made a scapegoat, swept up in a larger scheme that did not involve him, his attorney told a jury Wednesday.

In opening statements in the trial of former student employee Erick Martinez, public defender Karen Moghtader agreed that her client's grades had been changed, but said someone else with a grudge may have altered the transcript.

"The question is, who changed Erick Martinez's grade and why," Moghtader told the Contra Costa Superior Court jury of 10 women and two men. "What the district attorney has to do is prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that Erick Martinez was the one who changed his grades."

Assembly passes contentious for-profit college bill

The Assembly on Tuesday approved a long-debated proposal to renew oversight of California's 1,700 for-profit and vocational colleges.

The 43-to-32 tally came one day after the same measure, SB 823, failed to attract enough votes, and it brought the 123-page bill significantly closer to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk.

The Senate, which passed an earlier version last year, must first agree to subsequent changes.

For-profit schools have gone without state oversight since July 1, when an agency that watched the industry expired. Lawmakers had been discussing a replacement agency for three years.

Concord council race will be quiet this time around

Walk into Concord City Clerk Mary Rae Lehman's office these days and you might hear silence. She's busy with her regular job, but the craziness that usually marks the pre-election months is absent this time around.

There is only one challenger in this year's City Council race in Concord — Contra Costa's largest city, and a city known for producing candidates in the double digits or close, along with piles of glossy, expensive election fliers.

Legislature passes DVC-prompted grade bill

The state Assembly on Monday gave final legislative approval to a bill meant to avoid college grade-changing scandals like the one that shook Diablo Valley College last year.

The legislation, AB1754, would encourage the state's 110 community colleges to adopt a standard policy for changing students' grades. The bill's only requirement is that the state chancellor's office distribute the model policy to each college.

But the measure has nevertheless attracted opposition. The California Department of Finance, worried about forcing an unfunded mandate on the state chancellor, submitted a letter opposing the legislation, and the Community College League of California also criticized it.

No end in sight for budget battle

SACRAMENTO — A vote will be held today on the state budget, but East Bay lawmakers don't expect the standoff — now in its 48th day — to end any time soon.

Heading into today's 3 p.m. Assembly session, a wide chasm still divides Democrats and Republicans on the major sticking points in negotiating a budget that must pare down an estimated $15.2 billion deficit.

"I think it's a 50-50 chance this could go into September," said Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, D-Oakland, "because some of us are not willing to balance the budget on the backs of children, and Republicans have not abandoned their cuts-only approach."

More crosses to be added to Lafayette memorial

Lois Hood's mother is dying.

And when you are face to face with something like that, she said, you think about death a lot, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and all of the soldiers killed there.

The Danville dancer thought of these things Sunday — her mother, the troops, her son who served in Iraq — when she put on paint-splattered overalls and went to the Lafayette Crosses memorial on a steep hillside along Highway 24 near a BART station.

November ballot offers mix of hot and cold

It's a good year to be an incumbent on some East Bay boards: No one wants your job.

The filing deadline to run for local nonpartisan offices in the November election came and went this week, and quite a few races will go uncontested, while other incumbents face largely unknown or scant opposition.

Pittsburg's two councilmen have no challengers, the city's first uncontested City Council election in 60 years. The city's two school board incumbents will sail into office.

Voter registration drive at the county jail

OAKLAND — Many visitors who came to the Glen Dyer Detention Facility on Saturday said they were unaware that some of their loved ones serving time inside the county jail have the right to vote.

All of Us or None, a national initiative of formerly incarcerated people, prisoners and their families sponsored a voter education and registration drive at the jail, 550 Sixth St.

The group's goal was to inform people in the jail or those on probation and off parole about their right to vote. The only prisoners who are not allowed to vote in the jail are those who have been convicted of a felony and are awaiting transfer to state prison.

County considers in-custody drug treatment program for parolees

Contra Costa is a step closer to providing low- and medium-security jail space for a state-funded in-custody drug treatment program offering profits and some drawbacks.

Law enforcement officials hope providing up to 90 beds at the West County and Marsh Creek detention facilities to mostly Contra Costa-based parolees will drop the recidivism rate by as much as 20 percent.

There are concerns, however, that the program could deny treatment to law-abiding people with substance addictions. Those addicts would compete for limited residential-based treatment beds against parolees with the state's better funding, Contra Costa's alcohol and drug services director said Thursday.

All Contra Costa employees' salaries, benefits listed online

Contra Costa County has put the total salaries and benefits of more than 8,500 employees on its Web site, angering many workers who say it violates their right to privacy.

Tucked away on the site the county launched last month, is a 198-page document listing employees' job classifications, salaries and 19 other benefits categories, including health, workers' compensation and overtime totals. The board of supervisors approved the action in March and the online disclosure may be the first detailed compensation posted by a government agency in the state. The list does not include employees' names.

November ballot offers mix of hot and cold

It's a good year to be an incumbent on some East Bay boards: No one wants your job.

The filing deadline to run for local nonpartisan offices on Nov. 4 came and went this week and quite a few races will go uncontested while other incumbents face largely unknown or scant opposition.

Pittsburg's two councilmen have no challengers, the city's first uncontested City Council election in 60 years. The city's two school board incumbents will sail into office.

Feinstein takes jab at own party on water politics

SACRAMENTO — A couple blocks away from her potential next job site — the state Capitol — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday betrayed little about whether she intends to run for governor in 2010.

But after an address to regional officials at the downtown convention center here, she did take a swipe at her own party for blocking a $9.3 billion bond measure that she called critical to averting a major water crisis.

"I'm frustrated," the California Democrat from San Francisco said of her party's opposition to the measure, which must get a two-thirds vote in the Legislature if it is to make it to the November ballot. "I hope they will not (block a vote on it)."

Republicans want more aggressive forest thinning

SACRAMENTO — The state needs to be more aggressive in thinning out forests — and less concerned about conserving trees — if they are to contain wildfires, Republican lawmakers said Wednesday at a Capitol hearing of rural lawmakers.

The group, which included members of Congress, sent a letter urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to resurrect last year's agreement with Nevada, which would require intensive logging in rural areas.

Crowded field vies for seats on Moraga's Town Council

Three open seats. Six candidates. Only one incumbent in the race.

In Moraga, the two open space initiatives won't be the only showdown on the November ballot; the Town Council race has a crowded field with divergent views of where the town's priorities should lie.

One-term incumbent Michael Metcalf will be joined on the ballot by Howard Harpham, Janice Kolbe, Brad Kvederis, Karen Mendonca and Dennis Wanken.

Incumbent Councilwoman Rochelle Bird did not file candidacy papers, though she said in July she would run. This week she said she changed her mind because of her nine-year-old daughter.

Contra Costa employees' salaries online

Contra Costa County has put the total salaries and benefits of more than 8,500 employees on its Web site, angering many workers who say it violates their right to privacy.

Tucked away on the site the county launched last month, is a 198-page document listing employees' job classifications, salaries and 19 other benefits categories, including health, workers' compensation and overtime totals. The board of supervisors approved the action in March and the online disclosure may be the first detailed compensation posted by a government agency in the state. The list does not include employees' names.

Feinstein takes jab at own party on water politics

SACRAMENTO — A couple blocks away from her potential next job site — the state Capitol — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday betrayed little about whether she intends to run for governor in 2010.

But after an address to regional officials at the downtown convention center here, she did take a swipe at her own party for blocking a $9.3 billion bond measure that she called critical to averting a major water crisis.

"I'm frustrated," the California Democrat from San Francisco said of her party's opposition to the measure, which must get a two-thirds vote in the Legislature if it is to make it to the November ballot. "I hope they will not (block a vote on it)."

State auditor suggests textbook pricing reforms

Colleges, professors and campus bookstores need to do more to slow rapidly rising textbook prices, the state auditor said Tuesday.

In a 102-page report requested by California legislators, the auditor's office concluded that persistently ascending prices haven't been properly addressed by colleges and universities, despite laws intended to force the issue.

Among the auditor's recommendations:

Require professors to submit textbook information to campus bookstores on time, which would allow the stores to collect more used books from students and pay students more for those textbooks.

Contra Costa supes to discuss deeper budget cuts

After almost $52 million in Contra Costa County budget cuts in May, the county administrator will warn the board of supervisors today that they need to slice about $17 million more due to lower than anticipated property taxes and higher energy and health care costs.

"Things changed quite rapidly on the fiscal front, primarily from assessed valuations taking a drastic decline," county administrator John Cullen said Monday, referring to $12.3 million less in property taxes than May's already dreary estimate. "When you take this amount of money on top of the cuts already made, it will certainly be much deeper impacts for programs already starved for resources."

Most local school districts will have board races this fall

Nearly every district in the Tri-Valley will host a school board race this fall, according to a newly updated list of candidates for the November elections.

Both the Pleasanton and Dublin districts already have six candidates each vying for three open seats on their respective school boards, and the filing periods for those districts does not technically end until Wednesday.

Of the three Pleasanton school board incumbents, only one, Chris Grant, is seeking re-election. He is being challenged by Valerie Arkin, Jeff Bowser, Jami Yee Hintzke, Prasad V. Rallapalli and Carla Schuman-Butler. The filing deadline is extended until Aug. 13 for races in which eligible incumbents are not seeking re-election, which means more Pleasanton school board candidates could emerge before it's all over.

BART lifts ban on contractor campaign contributions

Four BART Board members have filed to run for re-election, kicking off the first board race in 12 years in which incumbents can accept campaign contributions from contractors seeking business with BART jobs.

Board President Gail Murray of Walnut Creek, Bob Franklin of Oakland, and Tom Radulovich and Lynette Sweet, both of San Francisco, all filed by Friday's deadline to retain their seats in their districts.

Board member Zoyd Luce of Dublin decided not to run. Filing for his seat remains open through 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Ugly week portends lengthy standoff

SACRAMENTO — It was an ugly week at the Capitol, where the only promise that emerged was that the state's budget crisis will likely linger for a while longer.

Lawmakers traded accusations over who was stalling budget negotiations. Tensions mounted as legislative leaders from both parties appeared ready to dig further into their trenches. For now, they've stopped talking with one another in what looks like a waiting game.

Democrats want to beef up revenues with taxes on the wealthy to close the $15.2 billion deficit. Republicans favor spending cuts over taxes and are insisting on budget reform that limits spending in the future as part of an overall budget agreement.

Hiroshima/Nagasaki commemoration planned for Saturday

LIVERMORE — Hundreds are expected to gather Saturday outside Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to support nuclear disarmament and mark the 63rd anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Nagasaki, Japan.

Organizers said the protest has been put together by 17 groups, and will feature a "Nuclear Maze" exhibit depicting the detrimental effects that nuclear weapons production and testing have on the environment.

"This is an educational display to help people understand the dangers of nuclear weapons," said Jackie Cabasso, executive director of the Western States Legal Foundation in Oakland.

Walnut Creek's Regalia to step down after 21 years

Walnut Creek Mayor Gwen Regalia said late Friday she would not seek re-election to the City Council, thus stepping down after serving 21 years, including five stints as mayor.

The deadline for filing to run for Walnut Creek City Council, therefore, was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

That was the case, too, in Moraga and Pleasant Hill, where incumbents also did not file candidacy papers by 5 p.m. Friday. First-term Moraga Mayor Lynda Deschambault has said she would not seek a second term; likewise, Walnut Creek Councilman Charlie Abrams and nine-year Pleasant Hill Councilwoman Sue Angeli also are not running for re-election for their respective seats.

Republican leader: Democrats stalling on budget

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines on Thursday accused Democrats of stalling budget negotiations so they can avoid having to agree on a spending cap as part of reforms Republicans are seeking.

If the Legislature fails by midnight Aug. 16th to approve budget reform legislation — which would have to be done by a constitutional amendment — it would fail to make it onto the November ballot.

"I think they're trying to wait out the deadline to put anything on the ballot," said Villines, a Fresno Republican. "I believe this has been going on for a while. They're serious about it and they're showing it. They won't even bring up their own budget. I think you'll see them try to move the budget right after the deadline.

Democrats pan Carly Fiorina as possible McCain VP pick

The Democratic Party opened fire Thursday on a former Silicon Valley executive who's rumored to be on presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's vice-presidential short list.

California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres; Rep. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte, and Democratic National Committee Research Director Mike Gehrke held a conference call to roll out a Web page criticizing former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina, a prominent McCain economic adviser, fundraiser and media proxy.

Republicans see opportunities in budget crisis

SACRAMENTO — Where there's a budget crisis, there's opportunity. At least, that's how many Republicans view the current standoff, now in its 38th day.

As both parties appear to be waiting each other out in a high-stakes game of chicken, GOP activists are cheering on Republican lawmakers to continue to hold out for budget reform that would cap spending in good economic years and give the governor new powers to cut spending when the state is facing a deficit.

Council races to be contested across Lamorinda

For the first time in years, all three Lamorinda cities appear likely to host City Council elections in November.

In Orinda, two of the five City Council seats are up for grabs. The two incumbents, Steve Glazer and Victoria Smith, will run again. A third candidate, Robert Larsen, has pulled papers from the city clerk's office but as of Wednesday was unsure if he would file by today's 5 p.m. deadline.

In Lafayette, all three incumbents — Mike Anderson, Carl Anduri and Carol Federighi — plan to run again. One other candidate has also filed papers — Gabriel Froymovich, a consultant and winemaker whose Web site says he wants to avoid new taxes and to limit growth downtown.

For Chinese-Americans, Beijing Olympics bring mixed emotions

Amelia Lam, a 36-year-old teacher's assistant, emigrated from Hong Kong to San Jose five years ago. When she talks about how proud she is that China is hosting the Summer Olympics, she almost glows.

For Cher Fu of Santa Clara, all the hype about the games is a daily reminder of her family's nightmare. Three years ago, she says, her parents were thrown into a Chinese forced-labor camp, tortured and brainwashed. Their crime: belonging to Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that the communist Chinese government has outlawed.

Hancock bill would hike lobbyists' fees

SACRAMENTO — Lobbyists will continue to dominate the influence-peddling game with or without campaign finance reform, but Assemblywoman Loni Hancock thinks they should at least pay their fair share for the privilege.

The Berkeley Democrat is proposing to increase the registration fees that lobbyists, lobbying firms and lobbyist client/employers are charged as a way to pay for a pilot program for public financing.

Hancock's bill, AB583, held over Monday to review costs in the Senate Appropriations committee, would offer public financing to candidates for secretary of state. If approved by voters in 2010, it would apply to the 2014 elections.

Buchanan outraises Wilson in Assembly race

The two candidates running for the Assembly District 15 seat not only have a difference in political views but also in their campaign bank accounts.

Democrat Joan Buchanan raised $390,722 from Jan. 1 to June 30, according to campaign disclosure forms. In the latest reporting period, from May 18 to June 30, her campaign raised more than $106,000.

Buchanan also received two $7,200 contributions last week, one from the Solidarity Political Action Committee of the Central Labor Council of Alameda County, and one from the California Political Action Committee of the State Building & Construction Trades Council.

Congress newcomer caused flurry in hurry

WASHINGTON — On her first day in office, Rep. Jackie Speier criticized the Iraq war and John McCain, eliciting boos from Republicans. By her own count, three committee chairmen have chastised her for her questions during recent hearings.

And her first bill won national attention with its effort to mandate lower speed limits to save gas.

At 58, Speier, a San Mateo County Democrat who replaced the late Tom Lantos in April, is not your average new member of Congress. By speaking bluntly, rocking the boat and not shying away from controversy, she has established a higher profile in three months than some representatives manage in years.

Hancock bill would hike lobbyists' fees

SACRAMENTO — Lobbyists will continue to dominate the influence-peddling game with or without campaign finance reform, but Assemblywoman Loni Hancock thinks they should at least pay their fair share for the privilege.

The Berkeley Democrat is proposing to increase the registration fees that lobbyists, lobbying firms and lobbyist client/employers are charged as a way to pay for a pilot program for public financing.

Hancock's bill, AB583, held over Monday to review costs in the Senate Appropriations committee, would offer public financing to candidates for Secretary of State. If approved by voters in 2010, it would apply to the 2014 elections.

Congress newcomer from Bay Area caused flurry in hurry

WASHINGTON — On her first day in office, Rep. Jackie Speier criticized the Iraq war and John McCain, eliciting boos from Republicans. By her own count, three committee chairmen have chastised her for her questions during recent hearings.

And her first bill won national attention with its effort to mandate lower speed limits to save gas.

At 58, Speier, a San Mateo County Democrat who replaced the late Tom Lantos in April, is not your average new member of Congress. By speaking bluntly, rocking the boat and not shying away from controversy, she has established a higher profile in three months than some representatives manage in years.

Obama, Clinton address union delegates in SF

SAN FRANCISCO — Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and his former primary rival, Hillary Clinton, brought thousands of cheering union members to their feet Thursday with messages of Democratic solidarity and strength.

Clinton appeared in person to address the national convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, while Obama addressed the convention a short while later, live via satellite from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

House passes overdue higher-ed bill

The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed legislation to control rising tuition and textbook costs.

Among its wide-ranging provisions, the bill would require states to maintain higher-education funding and to justify fee increases, and textbook publishers would need to provide more information on lower-priced options.

Thursday's 380-49 vote sent the latest incarnation of the Higher Education Act, which expired in 2003, to the Senate. It is expected to approve it today. The long-debated law was last reauthorized in 1998.

Obama, Clinton address union delegates in SF

SAN FRANCISCO — Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama and his former primary rival, Hillary Clinton, brought thousands of union members to their feet cheering Thursday with messages of Democratic solidarity and strength.

Clinton addressed the national convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in person, and Obama addressed the convention a short while later live via satellite from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Slim majority supports offshore drilling

SACRAMENTO — As gas prices remain above $4 a gallon in most of the Bay Area, Californians are more open to the idea of offshore drilling for oil than they have been in the past.

A slim majority — 51 percent to 45 percent — approve of offshore drilling, according to a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. It's the first time since the institute began asking the question in 2003 that more residents favor drilling than oppose it. A year ago, 41 percent favored drilling.