SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
James L. Brulte, Chairman
DAILY BRIEFING
Wednesday, April 7, 1999


PETER SCHRAG COLUMN

The UC's New (And Old) Version Of Affirmative Action

From the mixture of statistics and euphemism cooked into the latest admission reports from the University of California, you can conclude almost anything. The news stories chose to focus on the positive side of the statistical donut -- "Minority admissions are up at UC," was a representative headline -- but the real tale may be a lot more interesting, and maybe even more promising. Sacto Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/voices/news/voices05_19990407.html

DAN WALTERS COLUMN

Crime and Punishment

Sue Reams was near tears as she told state legislators Tuesday how her son came to face life in state prison. Son Shane, she said, became involved in drugs and committed some residential robberies, including one of her own home. She turned him in to authorities. Sacto Bee
http://www.capitolalert.com/news/capalert03_19990407.html

BUSINESS

Extra Supply Fails To Lower Gas Prices

California's 12 operating oil refineries now are producing more gasoline than they did a year ago, but motorists shouldn't expect a quick drop in what they pay at the pump, the state Energy Commission said yesterday. SF Chron http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/04/07/MN88122.DTL

ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND UTILITIES

Chevron Is Taking MTBE Out Of Tahoe

A second major oil supplier has agreed to take Lake Tahoe off MTBE-blended gasoline this year at the request of Gov. Gray Davis, who has declared the fuel ingredient "a significant risk" to California's drinking water supplies. Sacto Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/news/news/local06_19990407.html

FAMILY AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Low Skills Hamper State Welfare Reform, Study Says

Welfare reform, which is supposed to push recipients into paying jobs and off the public dole, may never succeed in California because so many people on statewide public assistance lack even basic work skills, a new study warns. SF Chron
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/04/07/MN82606.DTL

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Righ-To-Sue HMOs Bill Advances

Reigniting a major health care debate, a key state Senate committee on Tuesday approved legislation to give Californians insured through private employers the right to sue their HMOs. Sacto Bee
http://www.capitolalert.com/news/capalert06_19990407.html

Spinal Cord Bill Passes First Test

A Fremont assemblyman introduced a bill Tuesday that would create the first permanent fund for spinal cord injury research in California, inspired by a local college football player who broke his neck and was paralyzed four years ago. SJMN
http://www.sjmercury.com/premium/local/docs/spinal07.htm

PUBLIC SAFETY

Dog-Attack Bill Advances

A bill that could allow felony charges to be brought against owners of dogs involved in major attacks on humans was approved Tuesday by the state Senate Public Safety Committee. Sacto Bee
http://www.capitolalert.com/news/capalert04_19990407.html

Bill Would Ban Taping By 'Video Voyeurs'

Assemblyman Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton) is putting forward a simple proposition: Shouldn't it be illegal for men to peer up a woman's skirt or down her blouse--with a hidden video camera? LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/POLITICS/CALPOL/t000031277.1.html

STATE POLITICS

Baugh Elected To Lead Assembly Republicans

Less than two weeks after being cleared of election misconduct charges, Assemblyman Scott Baugh(R-Huntington Beach) on Tuesday unseated Rod Pacheco of Riverside as leader of the house's Republicans. LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/POLITICS/CALPOL/t000031281.1.html

MISC

Short-Term Pacts Ratified

All nine bargaining units in the California State Employees Association have ratified their short-term contracts with the state. Sacto Bee
http://www.capitolalert.com/news/capalert04_19990407.html

$16 Billion Bond Would Fix Highways

The largest bond measure in California history -- $16 billion -- to expand and repair California's aging highway network passed its first legislative hurdle yesterday. SF Chron
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/04/07/MN21031.DTL

SACTO BEE EDITORIALS

Who Gets The Hydros?

The California Legislature, laudably, is now addressing one of Northern California's most intriguing and complex policy questions about water and power -- electric power as well as the political and economic variety. Wildly different courses of action proposed in three separate bills, however, suggest how far this debate has to go before finding a fair and balanced conclusion. Sacto Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/voices/news/voices01_19990407.html

LA TIMES EDITORIALS

Controlling The Payday Sharks

More than 1,500 "payday lenders" have opened shop in California since a 1997 state law let them charge annual interest rates of up to 800% on small, short-term loans. Legislators should pass a bill that would take the bite out of these loan-shark rates. LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/COMMENT/t000031146.1.html

SF CHRONICLE EDITORIALS

Open Primary Clout

Governor Davis was right to hesitate before signing Senate President Pro Tem John Burton's bill aimed at meeting Democratic and Republican Party objections to the state's open primary law. SF Chron
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/04/07/ED89319.DTL

SJ MERCURY NEWS EDITORIALS

Legislature Must Not Limit Charter Schools' Flexibility

Charter schools -- self-governing public schools -- are proliferating in California, as teachers and parents seek freedom from state regulation and, often, from union contracts. But charters' flexibility is under attack from legislators, who don't like to give up power, and unions, which don't like to give up membership. SJMN
http://www.sjmercury.com/premium/opinion/edit/CHRTERUNION.htm

ON THIS DATE