Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today submitted his proposed budget for 2008-09, which addresses the systemic problems that drive California's chronic deficits. At the same time, Governor Schwarzenegger issued proclamations declaring a fiscal emergency and calling a special session of the legislature to address the current year $3.3 billion budget gap. He has also proposed the Budget Stabilization Act (BSA) which limits spending. Governor's Office Press Release 1/11/08
The budget proposes slashing payments to schools by billions of dollars, releasing tens of thousands of "low risk" inmates from prison early, and closing dozens of state parks as part of a plan to fill a $14.5 billion hole in the state budget. CC Times 1/11/08
Caltrans was spared major cuts in the budget since it gets few dollars from the general fund. In addition, the governor left money from the sales tax on gasoline in the transportation account. And money for dozens of new projects was approved in the $20 billion bond measure a year ago. SJ Mercury 1/11/08
Congressional critics launched an offensive against the Bush administration Thursday for denying California and other states the right to adopt strict curbs on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said she would consider issuing a subpoena for documents that might show White House interference in the Dec. 19 decision to deny California a waiver to enact its own rules under the Clean Air Act. LA Times 1/1/08
The amount of construction material moving through the Port of Redwood City has dropped 15 percent, due to declines in new building across California. Construction of single-family houses declined 49.5 percent in November 2007 compared with November 2006, and in turn levels of building materials being shipped dropped dramatically. SF Examiner 1/11/08
Cultural and heritage tourism — travel directed toward experiencing the traditional and contemporary culture, arts and special character of a place — is among the fastest growing segments of the tourism market, said organizers of a three-day symposium on the subject in Monterey this week. The symposium, organized by the California Travel and Tourism Commission and the California Cultural and Heritage Tourism Council, is the first of its kind in California. Monterey Herald 1/11/08
A barge struck the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Thursday evening, according to the Coast Guard. The extent of damage, if any, was not immediately known. The bridge was not closed following the 6:20 p.m. accident, and no pollution has been detected in the water. SJ Mercury 1/11/08
A Los Angeles-area air quality agency on Thursday petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately set tougher standards on global-warming pollutants for ocean vessels calling on U.S. ports. If the EPA doesn't curb global warming pollutants within six months, the South Coast Air Quality Management District may sue the federal agency, said Barbara Baird, an attorney with the air quality district. Reuters 1/11/08
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