Brown, budget deadline near, woos business

11 February 2011 |permalink | email article

Prior to lobbying over a thousand business leaders at a Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce dinner last night Gov. Jerry Brown, on his plan to cut California’s $25 billion deficit, expressed confidence “there is much good will” among Republican legislators that state finances can be fixed for good. But after two days of talks with both Democrats and Republicans in the state Capitol he admitted that a majority, or two-thirds of each house “is not there yet, so we have to keep working.”

The governor’s other problem, in a second poll measuring voters’ thoughts on his first days in office, is that a growing number of Californians aren’t sure what to make of his early job performance and effort, aside from the budget deficit, to reorder state and local government responsibilities.

The Public Policy Institute poll find that 49.5 percent of adults said they weren’t sure what to make of Brown’s job performance, compared to 33.7 percent who approved of it. Last month 39 percent said they were unsure about his performance and 41 percent approved. Voters had more faith in local government than the state legislature, but just 24 percent had a favorable view of state lawmakers

Right of First Refusal

Arizona Republican Senate Whip Jon Kyle (AZ.) has announced his retirement and, as Talking Points Memo has reported, there may be a significant delay for several months before any Democrats declare for his seat. One of the top possible candidates has been Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, in physical therapy after she was shot in the head during a constituent event last month in Tucson. She had long been viewed to either challenge Kyl or run for the open seat. She has been described by a credible source as the top of the list, with a reputation before the near tragedy “as the best fundraiser, best campaigner, and probably the most respected Democrat in Arizona.” Still, the extent of her remarkable recovery raises questions.

Quotable

“He’s interested in ethnic diversity, he’s looking at academic professor types and also someone young who will stay for awhile.” – Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, getting some hints from Gov. Brown about whom he might appoint as California’s next Supreme Court justice.

“That is certainly an interpretation you can make.” – Egypt’s ambassador to the United States, Sameh Shoukry, telling CNN that Mubarak transferred all his powers as president to Vice President Omar Suleiman. a development which has sandbagged a White House demanding clarification.
 


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