First Take: The mini-budget deal. Whitman’s big spending. Smoking ban passed

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Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers reached a deal on a package that will cut funding for public transit, offer some new targeted tax credits and make a small dent in the state’s $20-billion deficit.

New campaign-finance reports found Meg Whitman had spent more than $27 million since Jan. 1. Steve Poizner spent just $300,000 overall during the same period and had raised just $204,000 since the beginning of the year. Condoleeza Rice is backing Carly Fiorina in her bid for U.S. Senate.

In Sacramento on Monday, thousands of college faculty and students rallied to protest possible budget cuts to higher education.

And the state Assembly passed a ban on smoking in public parks and on public beaches.

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