As if the prison expansion mandates weren't enough, California's people now face yet another unfairly created, unfunded liability.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Following a battle that some likened to a struggle between "machine" and "grassroots," Democratic state politics, Prop. 1A-- the core of a six-measure initiative package on the May 19 specialelection ballot -- failed to receive the official endorsement of theCalifornia Democratic Party at its annual convention this weekend inSacramento.

A glimmer of light hassuddenly entered the oppressive darkness of California's specialelections prospects, though it is a feeble one indeed. Against allexpectations by politicians both Left and Right (to say nothing ofcommentators), one of the ballot measures is beginning to gather speed.Ordinarily, such a thing is hardly cause for celebration (bills arewritten with the express intention of being appealing, after all), butin this case, the choice of propositions reveals aninteresting moral trend in California voters, a trend which is eithercommon sensical or profoundly dangerous.

ALAMO -- Not able to withstand the mighty gravitational pull thatis the chance of attaining higher office, freshman Assembly Member


Joan Buchananannounced Thursday that she too would be vying to replace U.S. Rep.Ellen Tauscher, who has accepted an appointment as Undersecretary ofState in the Obama Administration.

Elected last November to represent the 15th Assembly District,Buchanan (D-Alamo), said the opportunity was just too good to pass up.

Heads of the Pacific Coast side of the Fishery Management Council decided on Wednesday, April 8 to basically call off this year's salmon fishing season, after fears that the King/Chinook salmon population may be undersized and may be threatened by the additional fishing season, after a smaller number of the Sacramento River and Klamath River Chinooks migrated to California and Oregon this year.

Although they lost by a wide marginlast November, you have to give officials with the National RepublicanCongressional Committee credit for having the gumption to pickthemselves up off the canvass and get back in the fight.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)announced recently that they will target 43 "vulnerable" HouseDemocrats by using infamous automated or robocalls to voters in thosedistricts, including two members of Congress representing Californiadistricts.

It is no secret by thispoint that California faces a truly nightmarish situation fiscally, notto mention political roadblocks of gargantuan proportions. However,there is also a substantial problem circulating that nobody wants toaddress - namely, California's divisive concessions to environmentallobbying.

California felt about a 20 percent drop in exports through the month of February, which means that only a little over three-quarters of the amount of goods typically exported from California, were actually exported during the month of February.

This isn't great news for the Golden State, which has also recently found itself in a more than $40 billion mess of a budget situation, using what can only be affectionately referred to as half-baked schemes, to get out of it.

I've been trying to understand where the airlines came up with the cost of $50 per person to pay for the capital improvements proposed under Destination Lindbergh. If I recall correctly, it is information that has also been made public in Union-Tribune editorials as well as at today's Chamber Public Policy Committee meeting.

SAN FRANCISCO -- In an announcement thatshocked few in the Golden State political world, San Francisco MayorGavin Newsom announced that he will run for governor in 2010 onTuesday morning.

Newsom ended an extended period of explorationfor the office after conducting a series of town hall meetings acrossthe state. Newsom made his announcement nearlysimultaneously via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.