This story was reported for San Diego News Network on October 29, 2009.
People surrounding Capitol Hill are wondering whether Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office offered some choice words to an assemblymember, while the state’s chances to qualify for stimulus funds increases.
Increase in charter schools: The number of charter schools in California has risen to 809.
The California Charter Schools Association announced Wednesday that it has opened 88 new public charter schools – adding 56,000 new students to the system. According to the Association, this is the largest single-year enrollment increase in state history.
“California charter schools are experiencing explosive growth, roughly 20 percent growth for two years in a row,” said President Jed Wallace. “This consistent growth is phenomenal given this tough economic climate and it speaks to the choices that both parents and teachers are making and their demand for high-quality educational options.”
The increase in charter schools may look good to President Barack Obama, who has expressed his concern with states who have caps on the number of charter schools. If California removes its cap, the state may be eligible for additional education funds under Obama’s “Race to the Top” stimulus plan.
“As a strong supporter of charter schools I couldn’t be happier to learn that enrollment is breaking records and the number of schools is steadily increasing,” Schwarzenegger said. “Charter schools have proven that their innovative teaching practices are helping California students receive the quality education they deserve and that is why I am working to lift the cap on charter schools entirely – so that parents up and down the state have the option to send their children to a high-quality charter school.”
According to the Association, there are 341,000 students enrolled in the 809 California charter schools.
Confused home care providers and recipients: A new piece of legislation aspiring to reduce fraud with in-home care for the elderly and disabled will be implemented Monday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
But the new law will require the state’s In-Home Supportive Services program to increase background checks on providers are confusing the local governments.
The Chronicle reporter writes:
“The changes, ensconced in legislation passed earlier this year, are anti-fraud measures aimed at increasing oversight of the people who provide at-home care to 460,000 residents through the state’s In-Home Supportive Services program. Sunday’s deadline applies only to new providers, who will be required to complete a new enrollment form, criminal background check and orientation session before they can get paid.
But in letters sent to state officials this month and testimony before a joint legislative committee Wednesday, county officials said implementing the changes by Sunday will be logistically impossible.”
In addition, the legislation has already seen opposition from Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) who told the Chronicle she believes it’s a way for the Governor to save funds.
The article continues:
“She noted that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger originally proposed deep cuts to the program and suggested that the ‘administration is using the chaotic process as a means to cut people off … indirectly accomplishing the programs cuts’ that legislators had refused to approve.'”
Dirty language: And to round up this week’s budget diary is an analysis by two columnists from the Chronicle.
Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross published a column Wednesday deciphering a letter Schwarzenegger wrote to the State Assembly in regards to AB 1176, which was vetoed.
Authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), who has criticized the Gov. in the past, the bill would have changed the financing of the Port of San Francisco.
The letter, three simple paragraphs, explains why the bill was vetoed. But Matier and Ross see something different in the letter (Check out the letter).
They write:
“A straight reading of the guv’s letter laments ‘the fact that major issues are overlooked while many unnecessary bills come to me for consideration,’ and concludes, ‘I believe it is unnecessary to sign this measure at this time.’ But a vertical read of the far-left-hand letters in each of the missive’s eight lines offers a more blunt explanation: ‘I f— you.'”
A spokesperson for the Gov. told the Chronicle it was a “weird coincidence.”
But the columnists question whether it was simply Schwarzenegger’s response to Ammiano’s “kiss my gay ass” remark at a party on Oct. 7.
This wouldn’t be the first time tension has risen between Sacramento’s political parties. In June, Schwarzenegger gave Senate President Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) a metal sculpture of bull testicles to help him make tough decisions. Prior to that, Steinberg gave the Gov. a package of mushrooms after Schwarzenegger called his tax proposals “hallucinatory.”
What’s going on in Sacramento? Who knows? C’est la vie.
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network.