FLASHREPORT

My assignment to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee has given me the unique opportunity to delve into the inner workings of California state government.  Recently an investigation completed by the California State Auditors Office crossed my desk or inbox as the case may be.  This report concluded that poor internal controls in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities are responsible for several instances of overpayment to employees for inmate supervision. 

From March 2008 through February 2009 the State Auditor found five of the six facilities examined overpaid employees who did not meet the requirement for extra pay totaling a lost to the state of $34,512.  Using this data it was concluded by the State Auditor as much as $588,512 was overpaid statewide during the same twelve-month period. 

This is exactly the kind of waste the state cannot afford right now.  Occurrences like these in previous years were a nuisance but could be considered budget dust, money not amounting enough to be concerned about, but now when we are cutting deeply into the Healthcare and Social Services of the most vulnerable of our state's citizenry every penny counts.  Overpaying employees because a facility and supervisors could not be bothered to ensure its own protocols are being followed is lazy in the best of times and theft from those who truly need it now when the state is in crisis. 

It is my hope that these errors, having been brought to light, will be corrected by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations.  It is very difficult for me to understand why every state department has not taking responsibility for its budget in this time of economic crisis to ensure they are not wasting the little revenue the state still has available.

It is time for all those charged with governance of California to take responsibility for improving the current circumstances.  This duty rests squarely on the shoulders of the civil servants and state workers as much as it does the heads of departments and elected officials.  If we in the legislature are working so hard to save their jobs the least we can ask is that they do them. 

There is no magic wand to be waved to solve California's problems.  It is and always has been the greatness of the people of California that make our state such a desirable place to live; their drive and determination for excellence made us great and will again all we need to do is ask.  I am asking now join me to make California the Golden State once more.

In the shadow of the partisan splits on the budget is an interesting bipartisan campaign to go after federal education dollars.  The Obama Administration has set aside $4.3 billion to distribute to states that adopt most of its recommended reforms.  The California State Senate has already passed a reform bill that would constitute California's application and the Assembly is scheduled to meet in special session (hard to remember there ever was a regular session) in December to consider the Senate bill.

I say "consider the Senate bill" because, while the money has been the focus of the headlines, it is the reforms that should have a greater impact on education in California.  First, note the politics: the bill is jointly authored by Democrat Senators Gloria Romero and Elaine Alquist, as well as Republican Senators Bob Huff and Mark Wyland.  Their collaboration is a testament that politicians can work together. The bill proposes several major changes in education.  One of the most controversial is that the bill would permit, for the first time, student test data to be used in helping to evaluate the job performance of teachers and administrators.  It is long overdue to reward and honor teachers and principals who rise above the average. 

The bill would also delete the silly limit on the number of charter schools that can be established. Charter schools are a valued public school option where teachers, students and students' parents can work to establish a local school under a charter that can waive many oppressive state regulations.

While we have a state funded and regulated school system we also have very strict school district boundaries that students cannot cross.  Until now.  This bill would set up a system of open enrollment where parents could apply to enroll their children in any school district in the state.  While this is not the voucher or tuition tax credit that I would like to see, it goes a long way to empowering parents to research and choose the best school for their kids.

The bill goes further than current law in identifying the 5% of the lowest performing schools and brings new focus to their lack of achievement.  It also requires that parents of children attending those schools be given formal notice of the school's lack of performance, thus empowering them to act to do something about it.

A hat tip to the authors for this comprehensive bill, to the Governor for his support, and to the Senate for a timely passage of such an important bill.  Now it is up to the Assembly to ignore the critics and take final action.

Arnold Schwarzenegger likes to drop big political news on Jay Leno's TV show. In 2003, he announced his campaign for governor there. Last night, he followed that tradition by announcing his pick to be California's next lieutenant governor -- State Senator Abel Maldonado, an Hispanic Republican who's the closest thing the governor has to an ideological ally in the legislature.

The job became vacant three weeks ago after Democratic Lt. Governor John Garamendi won a seat in Congress. Mr. Maldonado is a 42-year-old moderate whose family emigrated from Mexico to start their own farm. But he's also viewed with suspicion by conservatives after voting for a tax increase supported by Mr. Schwarzenegger this year. Mr. Maldonado took a lot of heat for his vote because he had signed a pledge not to raise taxes.

Meanwhile, Democrats aren't happy with his appointment either because they fear that his potential status as No.2 in the state would give him a leg up on winning the job in his own right in the 2010 election.

The nomination requires majority approval of both the Assembly and Senate in the next 90 days, or the nomination is rejected by default. Given that four of his 39 fellow state senators themselves plan to run for Lt. Governor next year, you can bet several will be maneuvering behind the scenes to undermine his chances of being confirmed. Should Mr. Maldonado take office, Republicans would hold three of California's seven statewide elected offices, the largest number in over a decade.

Much will be said about the appointment of moderate State Senator Abel Maldonado to be California's next Lt. Governor.  His appointment was not a surprise.  I didn't read one article or column that pondered the Governor's potential LG picks that didn't prominently mention Maldonado.

That said, I only read one commentary that looked at the Governor's LG pick that 100% "nailed it" as to the timing of the appointment.

In his November 5 column, And The Next Lt. Governor Is... (Envelope Please), Fleischman said, "One thing is certain, Arnold Schwarzenegger will make his selection soon.  How soon?  Doesn't he have a scheduled appearance coming soon with Jay Leno?"

Very precient, Flash!

Senator Cogdill's decision not to run for re-election may impact the race to replace Bill Leonard on the Board of Equalization.

Former Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi is seriously looking at a run at Senate District 14. Nakanishi previously ran for Senate against Mike Machado in 2000 and just missed. The race, assuming Mike Villines stays put for Insurance Commissioner, has only one other big name opponent, Assembly Tom Berryhill. Berryhill is oft mentioned as a possible successor to Sam Blakslee as Assembly Republican Leader.

Nakanishi would have to be able to get his money back from the various slates he bought. That would give him the half a million needed to run in the senate race.  Having him change to Senate race changes the dynamics in a race that featured him, State Senator and rumored ballot title "Taxpayer Advocate" George Runner, Former Assemblywoman and Leonard's deputy Barbara Alby and Senator Roy Ashburn.  

His odds to win the Senate seat seem better than beating both Runner and Alby. 

And people say nothing politcal happens over the holidays.