The news in brief

Today is one of the busier news days in recent memory. First, there is the Democratic primary heating up (see below). Then, Frank Russo on the California Progress Report has a letter from Sen. Perata supporting AB 583, the publi financing of campaigns measure. Then there's John Garamendi, who underwent surgery earlier this week, getting the endorsement of the Teamsters. In a Senate hearing, yesterday Democrats killed an attempt to fully fund the Fair Political Practices Commission. The bill, SB 1120, was sponsored by Sen. Deborah Ortiz. Sens. Kevin Murray and Gloria Romero voted against the bill, committee chair Debra Bowen voted for it. Sen. Chuck Poochigian did not vote, and Sen. Jim Battin was absent. This from Ortiz's office: CORRECTION:In the item on the FPPC yesterday, I misreported the vote. Murray voted for the bill, and Romero, declined to vote. The FPPC’s current funding ($6.1 million in 2005-06) is about the same as its funding fifteen years ago ($6 million in 1990-1991). But because of increases in salaries, benefits and expenses, the FPPC has one-third fewer employees than it did in 1990 (91 versus 60 currently). At the same time, the number of complaints the FPPC has received has risen: The FPPC averaged 858 cases a year during the past seven years, compared to 675 cases per year during the prior seven years. The lack of resources forced the FPPC last fall to close 225 cases that it had investigated and deemed prosecutable. It also meant the FPPC’s Legal Division was able to meet a 21-day statutory deadline in only 40% of the 213 advice letters sent in 2004. And a note from the opposition to the reelection of Schools Superintendent Jack O'Connell, Grant McMicken. He is a teacher running for the seat and has commented on this blog before, and now has received the endorsement fo Assemblyman Tim Leslie, who briefly considered a run for the post. Check out his campaign site here. Lastly, the California Budget Project has released a report responding to Gov. Schwarzenegger's campaigning last week on strong job growth in the state. The report is titled: "California’s Job Growth Was Strong, But Wage Gains Were Weak Between 2003 and 2005."