Meg Whitman

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 29, 2010

The state’s biggest farm organization, the California Farm Bureau Federation, announced its unanimous endorsement this morning of Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.

Federation President Paul Wenger said in a statement released by the Whitman campaign, “Meg Whitman will curb regulations that are straining agriculture, update the state’s workplace laws to benefit both employees and employers, and address California’s water problems.”

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Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 29, 2010

With two days left in April, California needs $3.4 billion in income tax revenues to meet Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s projection for the month.

The most the state has received on any given day this month is $777 million on April 16, according to state Controller John Chiang’s online revenue tracker. The state so far has collected $6.8 billion in April, while Schwarzenegger’s January budget projected California would receive $10.2 billion.

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Ramos

www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
April 29th, 2010 at 10:46 am

As mentioned last week, I submitted a California Public Records Act request for a copy of any one of the tape recordings made when San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a loud party complaint in Mentone.

During that call a very drunk District Attorney Mike Ramos confronted deputies and told them to leave. He could have been arrested for Penal Code Section 647(f) or 148(a). However, he was not. At least one of the deputies recognized him.

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A review of online court records shows the case against Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and Former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin slated for the courtroom of Assigned Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse for all purposes.

Rouse is already assigned to the case filed against Erwin more than a year ago.

Rouse is currently under challenge from Erwin due to his ties to the law firm of Gresham, Savage, Nolan and Tilden, where Rouse was a partner until 2004.

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Sun / Daily Bulletin newspaper Editor Frank Pine put in some extra effort over the past few weeks.

He even inked an op-ed column on the subject.

Pine and his newspapers spent their time hammering away at the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors over their slowness to waiver “Attorney-Client Privilege” protecting documents and lawyers involving the $102 million Colonies Settlement from being accessed by state and county investigators.

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www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
April 28th, 2010 at 12:12 pm

Friday shall prove to be interesting.  Former San Bernardino County Assessor will be back in court regarding the appointment of the Public Defender’s Office to handle his defense.

There is a little bit of a problem with Doreen Boxer’s office handling the Postmus defense.

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It’s really getting deep here.

While I’m glad to see the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors make available to prosecutors materials related to the Colonies settlement, the legal premise is kind of interesting.

I can’t seem to find any licensed practicing attorney that buys the restrictive limited waiver story.

The uniform response seems to be a waiver is a waiver.

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In getting the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to approve their massive 11,350-home Villages of Lakeview project, did the Lewis Group of Companies hang the board out to dry?

This just might be the case.

Since the project’s approval Riverside County has been slammed by three separate lawsuits filed by the City of Riverside and a combination of four environmental groups over impacts of the project.

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Paul Cook

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2010

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO – Boards of local government appointees, such as Riverside County’s transportation agency, someday could eject members facing criminal charges under a bill approved Wednesday by a state Assembly committee.

The measure is designed to ensure that regional agencies comprised of local government officials won’t be tainted by a member’s trouble with the law and lose out on federal money.

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10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2010

By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise

The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians has elected a new tribal chairman, ending more than 30 years of leadership from former Chairman Robert Salgado.

The tribe elected Scott Cozart as its new chairman Friday. Salgado stepped down last year following a federal indictment on bribery charges. His trial is now scheduled to begin Oct. 15.

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Williams

R.C. councilwoman gives nod to mayor of Redlands
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 04/28/2010 08:37:38 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Councilwoman Diane Williams has thrown her support behind Redlands Mayor Pat Gilbreath in the 63rd Assembly District race, an unexpected endorsement that leaves Mayor Don Kurth without the backing of his colleague.

Williams announced her endorsement at a meet-and-greet event on Tuesday at Etiwanda Gardens.

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Poizner

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 04/28/2010 08:38:11 PM PDT

CHINO HILLS – Meg Whitman may have a better chance of getting the Republican nomination for governor, but that’s not stopping Steve Poizner from telling people why he’s the better candidate.

Poizner, the state’s insurance commissioner, outlined his plans at a luncheon sponsored by the nonpartisan Inland Empire Chamber Legislative Alliance at the McCoy Equestrian Center in Chino Hills on Wednesday.

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Devereaux warned, Biane cleared in private-jet ethical probe
April 28, 2010 4:26 PM
Natasha Lindstrom

SAN BERNARDINO • Two top San Bernardino County officials investigated by the state campaign watchdog for possible ethical violations related to a cross-country trip on a private jet will not face any penalties.

The nonpartisan Fair Political Practices Commission has cleared 2nd District Supervisor Paul Biane of any violations and issued a warning to County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.

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April 28, 2010 10:43 AM
Brooke Edwards

APPLE VALLEY • After less than two years on the job, Town Manager Frank Robinson is apparently looking for another position.

Robinson was announced as one of eight finalists to take over as president July 1 of the Center City Commission, an agency aimed at bolstering development in downtown Memphis, Tenn.

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Paul Biane

Race for supervisor turns negative
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/28/2010 06:35:12 PM PDT

The campaign for San Bernardino County’s Second District supervisor seat became decidedly more contentious this week.

Incumbent Paul Biane went on the offensive in a campaign mailer, calling Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford – his chief challenger in June’s election – a “big spender” of public dollars.

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James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/28/2010 08:51:40 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Republicans running in the 63rd Assembly District race spoke about their widely diverse backgrounds and much less diverse political priorities and views Wednesday evening at a candidates’ forum.

Six of the seven Republicans running for the seat, which will be vacated later this year by termed-out Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Rancho Cucamonga, spoke about reining in state spending, lowering taxes, creating a more friendly business climate in California and reforming public education.

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California Watch
A Project of the Center for Investigative Reporting
Money and Politics

April 29, 2010 | Lance Williams

Her ties to Goldman Sachs may have slowed her momentum, but GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is coming off an extraordinary successful quarter – at least when it comes to campaign finance.

In the three months ending April 26, Whitman raised an astonishing $43.38 million, state records show.

That’s an equally astonishing $480,000 per day.

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Carly Firoina

Returns show that the GOP U.S. Senate candidate and her husband had joint income of more than $2.75 million that year.

April 29, 2010

Following the lead of her two Republican rivals, GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina released her 2008 tax return Wednesday showing that she and her husband had joint income of more than $2.75 million that year.

She and her husband paid $375,557 in state and local income taxes and $87,157 in real estate taxes in 2008. Fiorina has received an extension on her 2009 taxes and has not yet filed a return, campaign officials said.

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The dispute over California public employee payouts is growing. Republicans blame Democrats, who see the problem but fear alienating labor.

By George Skelton Capitol Journal

April 29, 2010

No question: California public employee pensions are a big problem — especially for Democratic politicians.

Republicans pound them on the issue, claiming it’s emblematic of the majority party’s extravagant spending and subservience to patron labor unions.

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