California Senate leader reshuffles committee chairmanships

With last month’s election replacing a quarter of the state Senate, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) on Friday reshuffled committee chairmanships and plugged holes in the leadership ahead of the new two-year session.

Steinberg gave committee chairmanships to four of the 10 rookie senators, including former Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), who was appointed chairman of the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee and the Democratic Caucus.

Another new senator, former Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani (D-Tracy), was appointed chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee, while former Assemblyman James Beall (D-San Jose) was named to head the Public Employment and Retirement Committee.

The assignments, set for confirmation by the Rules Committee next month, also put new Sen. Richard Roth (D-Riverside) in charge of the Legislative Ethics Committee and a subcommittee on the budget regarding state administration.

 Steinberg’s removal of Republican Sen. Mimi Walters of Laguna Niguel as head of ethics comes after she became the subject of an investigation by the state Fair Political Practices Commission. That agency is looking into phone calls made by her office to prison officials regarding a billing dispute involving her husband’s medical contracting firm, which until recently did business with the prisons department.

Asked whether the investigation affected Steinberg's decision, spokesman Mark Hedlund said "The pro tem made his decision based on who he thought was the best person for the job.''

Reelected Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) kept the chairmanship of the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, and Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) takes over the powerful Appropriations Committee from Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) who left office because of term limits.

Steinberg kept Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Los Angeles) as chairman of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee that oversees gambling issues even though Wright is currently battling criminal charges of  voter fraud and perjury. "That's yet to be adjudicated,'' Hedlund said.

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Court decision a boost for California's budget

Sanchez dances close to "fiscal cliff" on holiday card

More valuable gifts, contributions allowed to politicians in 2013

-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Photo: Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D–Sacramento), left, shakes hands with Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), after a budget vote in June. Steinberg retained Leno as chairman of the powerful Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on Friday. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press.

California Electoral College formally casts its 55 votes for Obama

California’s Electoral College made it official Monday: casting all 55 of its votes in the election for President Obama and Vice President Biden to reflect that the majority of Californians voted for the Democratic candidates Nov. 6.

As electors gathered in other states across the country to cast their votes, California's contingent took its official vote on paper ballots in the state Assembly Chambers in Sacramento.

In the November election, Obama received 60.2% of the vote in California, and Republican challenger Mitt Romney was supported by 37.1% of voters, according to the official Statement of Vote by Secretary of State Debra Bowen. The third-place finisher was Libertarian Gary Johnson, who garnered 1.1% of the vote.

The youngest elector to participate in the vote was Christopher Tumbeiro, 18, of Simi Valley. The student at Royal High School was named as the elector from the 25h Congressional District by Lee Rogers, that area's unsuccessful Democratic candidate. Tumbeiro also was selected to serve as a "teller,'' a position that distributes and collects the paper ballots during the meeting of the California Electoral College.

"It's a very humbling experience and a very exciting experience,'' Tumbeiro said. "Since I am the youngest, I want to inspire other young people to become involved.''

ALSO:

Court decision a boost for California's budget

Sanchez dances close to 'fiscal cliff' on holiday card

More valuable gifts, contributions allowed to politicians in 2013

-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Photo: In October presidential debate, Republican nominee Mitt Romney sparred with President Obama. Credit: Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press

 

 

L.A. Council gives Tony Cardenas emotional send-off

Los Angeles Councilman Tony Cardenas, who was elected to Congress last month, got an emotional send-off at City Hall on Friday, his last day on the council.

Members of Cardenas' large family looked on as community members, state and local officials, city staffers and members of the City Council paid tribute to Cardenas in videos and speeches that made references to  his devotion to his East San Fernando Valley constituents, his work to steer youths away from gangs, and his efforts to create jobs and stick up for animals.

Much was made of Cardenas' tendency to tear up when talking about issues important to him -- Council President Herb Wesson playfully threatened to shut off Cardenas' microphone if he started to cry during his final remarks as a councilman.

Cardenas had been considered an underdog when he won an Assembly seat in 1996. But he was heavily favored when he launched his successful campaign for a new congressional seat drawn to reflect the area's surging Latino population. He will be sworn in to the 29th congressional district seat Jan. 3.

ALSO:

Court decision a boost for California's budget

Sanchez dances close to 'fiscal cliff' on holiday card

More valuable gifts, contributions allowed to politicians in 2013

-- Jean Merl

Photo: Councilman Tony Cardenas reacts to a video made for his send-off from City Hall as his wife, Norma, watches. Credit: Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times

 

 

Berman-Sherman House race sets spending record

    
WASHINGTON --To no surprise to San Fernando Valley voters who were inundated with campaign ads, robo calls and political mail, Reps. Brad Sherman and Howard Berman set a record for spending by candidates in a California congressional race, shelling out  more than $11.7 million between them, according to new campaign finance reports.

     When spending by outside groups is added, the total outlay in the bitter contest won by Sherman was $16.3 million, making it one of the most expensive congressional races in the country, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics. 

    Although the Berman-Sherman race set a Golden State record for spending by the candidates, the San Diego congressional race won by Democrat Scott Peters over Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray was the costliest in California – $16.8 million – because of the more than $8.7 million spent by outside groups, including the political parties.

    Spending on the Berman-Sherman race surpassed the $11.5-million record for a California House race, set in 2000 when Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) ousted Republican incumbent James E. Rogan. But there was more outside spending -– an estimated $7.5 million -- by the political parties and interest groups in the 2000 race.  The race between Berman and Sherman, both Democrats, drew $4.5 million in outside spending.

   Sherman outspent Berman, $6 million to $5.7 million.

   Bill Bloomfield, a Manhattan Beach businessman running as an independent who lost a bid to replace Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), spent the most of any California House candidate, more than $7.9 million, much of it his own money. The Waxman campaign spent $2.6 million.

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Lawmakers want to change Proposition 13

Rural counties seek bigger share of prison money

New Assembly members already eyeing seats in Senate

--Richard Simon in Washington

Photo: Reps. Howard Berman, left, and Brad Sherman at a candidates forum in January. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times

 

 

Online voter registration boosted turnout, data suggest

Online voter registration may have done more than simply lengthen voter rolls -- it also seems to have boosted turnout on election day in California, according to new data released Friday.

Political Data Inc. has been crunching the numbers from the Nov. 6 election, and found that voter turnout was higher among Californians who registered online.

For example, in Sacramento County, turnout for online registrants was 84.7%, 10 points higher than the county average. There was a similar gap in Orange County, and an even wider difference in Fresno County.

[Updated 11:25 a.m.: Political Data Inc. collected the data directly from county officials, who identified which voters registered online, according to the company's vice president, Paul Mitchell.]

The numbers were released by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), who wrote the bill allowing Californians to register to vote online.

“I could not be more pleased with the results of online voter registration,” Yee said in a statement. “The numbers are overwhelming."

Yee is hoping his election-related legislation will slingshot him into the California secretary of state's office -- he plans to run for the position in 2014 when incumbent Debra Bowen leaves because of term limits.

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California launches online voter registration

Number of California voters reaches record levels

State Sen. Leland Yee to run for California secretary of state

-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento
twitter.com/chrismegerian

Photo: Voters cast their ballots as swimmers take laps at Echo Park pool on election day in Los Angeles. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Lawmakers make plans to spend $2.5 billion in new energy funds

With the passage of Proposition 39 this fall, California voters set aside $2.5 billion over the next five years for energy efficiency projects. Now, it’s up to the Legislature to spend the money.

On Tuesday, Sen. Kevin DeLeon (D-Los Angeles) and Tom Steyer, who bankrolled the Yes on 39 campaign, will join with political and education leaders asking that a large portion of the new money be spent on schools.

DeLeon will introduce legislation calling for energy retrofits of thousands of public schools, and using money raised from Proposition 39 to pay for the projects. In a brief interview Monday, DeLeon said his bill would provide a boost to the economy by creating thousands of new jobs, update outdated school buildings and reduce districts’ future energy costs.

He said spending the money on schools would show voters that the new money will be spent responsibly.

Proposition 39 will raise an estimated $1 billion per year by changing the way corporate taxes are collected. As part of a budget deal in 2009, corporations were given a choice between two different tax formulas. Proposition 39 eliminated that choice, and created one mandatory formula for corporate taxes.

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Skelton: Capitol lacks compromise and camaraderie

Bob Huff reelected as California Senate Republican leader

State's sprint to wind, solar power could trigger crisis, panel warns

— Anthony York in Sacramento

Photo: Tom Steyer, co-founder of Advance Energy Economy, makes his way to the podium to address the Democratic National Convention back in September. Steyer helped bankroll the Yes on 39 campaign. Credit: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

With Assembly win, Democrats bolster their supermajority

California Democrats appear to have bolstered their historic supermajority in the Assembly.

Final election results released Sunday by Los Angeles County elections officials showed Democrat Steve Fox beating Republican Ron Smith by 145 votes in a Southern California swing district that spans three counties.

The victory gives Democrats 55 seats in the lower house -- one more than a two-thirds supermajority -- and some padding as Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) seeks to maintain his caucus' tenuous numbers. Assembly members are expected to run for the seats of two state senators who are leaving the Legislature for Congress next year.

Fox, however, could prove an unpredictable vote. According to the Sacramento Bee, the attorney and teacher ran as a Republican in a 2008 Assembly contest and has signed an anti-tax pledge.

The final Los Angeles County vote count Sunday also showed the winner in another upset widening his margin of victory. In District 50, Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom bested incumbent Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) by 1,705 votes.

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Democrats face pressure from left to use new powers

Supreme Court lets providers continue suing to stop Medi-Cal cuts

James Humes, Brown's executive secretary, described as affable and decisive

-- Michael J. Mishak

Twitter.com/mjmishak

L.A. County expects to finish vote count Sunday

Los Angeles County  expects to finish tallying the ballots left over from the Nov. 6 election on Sunday--two days ahead of the secretary of state's deadline for counties to  certify and report results.

 Officials in California's most populous county found themselves with nearly 800,000 ballots that couldn't be counted on election day and have been working seven days a week (including Thankgsgiving) to get the job done.  The county Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office in Norwalk has been updating vote totals every few days.

On Friday,  election officials tallied an additional 45,642 ballots.  Results for offices and ballot measures can be found at lavote.net.

In one especially close race, for an Assembly seat that spans three counties, attorney Steve Fox, a Democrat, on Friday pulled closer to Lancaster City Councilman Ron Smith, a Republican.

Smith now leads Fox by just 273 votes in the GOP-leaning 36th Assembly District.  Results in that race can be found at sos.ca.gov.

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California sees strong October for tax revenue

Federal budget standoff could hurt California economy

Proposition 30 win no guarantee of fiscal safety for California

 --Jean Merl

Photo: Voting at an Alhambra fire station on Nov. 6. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

 

 

One California Senate race not to be decided until January

When new legislators take the oath of office Monday, Republican Jim Nielsen will not be among those raising their hands. He decided not to run for reelection to the Assembly with hopes of instead winning a special election to the state Senate this month.

But Nielsen, of the Northern California city of Gerber, fell just 1,662 votes short of the majority vote needed this month to win the 4^th Senate District seat in Northern California outright, so he must compete in a runoff election Jan. 8 against Democrat Michael "Mickey" Harrington, a labor council leader from Magalia.

The seat representing the heavily Republican district was vacated when Sen. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) decided to run for Congress.

Nielsen received 188,207 votes to second-place finisher Harrington’s 104,572 in a crowded race that featured four other candidates. The runoff was necessary after Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue garnered 11% of the vote to finish third, even though he had dropped out of the race because of health problems.

"While we finished with nearly double the number of votes of the second-place candidate, this outcome is indeed bittersweet," Nielsen said Wednesday in a fund-raising appeal to supporters that noted there are just 40 days before the election so it will be a sprint to the finish.

ALSO:

Proposition 30 win gives Brown a major boost

California sees strong October for tax revenue

Proposition 30 win no guarantee of fiscal safety for California

--Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Photo: Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, right, speaks at a press conference last month alongside other officials urging a "no" vote on Proposition 34, which sought to abolish the death penalty in California. Credit: Greg Barnette / The Record Searchlight

Bloom declares victory in tight Westside Assembly race

The latest ballot count prompted one of the contenders in a close Assembly contest to declare himself the winner.

The Wednesday afternoon update by Los Angeles County election officials led Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom to declare victory in an email thanking supporters after his lead over Assemblywoman Betsy Butler grew to 1,246 votes.  Both candidates are Democrats.

The Butler campaign could not be reached for immediate comment Wednesday.

[Updated at 7:32 p.m. Butler campaign manager Parke Skelton said Wednesday evening that he did not expect Butler to be able to make up the difference. "It's over," Skelton said.]

County officials plan another update Friday as they work to finish counting ballots from the Nov. 6 election.  Counties must finish and report results to the secretary of state's office by Dec. 4; legislators are to be sworn in Dec. 3.

Countywide, fewer than 100,000 ballots remain to be counted, according to some unofficial rough estimates.

In another close Assembly race, Lancaster City Councilman and former Sheriff's Deputy Ron Smith, a Republican, held a 969-vote lead over Demoratic attorney Steve Fox. The 36th Assembly District tends to vote Republican, although the registration is nearly evenly divided.

ALSO:

Proposition 30 win gives Brown a major boost

California sees strong October for tax revenue

Proposition 30 win no guarantee of fiscal safety for California

-- Jean Merl

Photos: Betsy Butler and Richard Bloom. Credits: Butler campaign and, for Bloom, Danny Moloshok/Associated Press