SF News Updates - 5/8/10

[Matthew Stevens]

Hey Everyone, 

I'm going to be putting together a newsletter that summarizes the day's news and happenings. Cinthia Flores and I came to this idea earlier today. I don't think I'll be able to everyday, but my goal is to send this out at least 3 times a week. I'm open to any suggestions for focus. Also, please send me any news stories you think may be relevant. It's to our benefit to be aware of what's going in the world ... hopefully this newsletter helps bring everyone up to speed.

And if you have any questions/comments/concerns, please let me know. I'm new at this, so bare with me as I get myself up to speed. I do hope this is helpful though, and please forward this along! 

Thanks!

Matthew "Not the one on DB Editorial Board" Stevens

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SF! News

Saturday, May 8th 2010

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Economy/Budget

Plunge in state revenue dashes hopes of an easy budget fix - State tax collections plummeted unexpectedly in April, wiping out months of steady gains that legislators hoped would ease their budget troubles and restore California's economy faster than experts predicted. LA Times

Prop 13 causes a higher burden for homeowners -Across California, businesses are paying a far smaller share of property tax than homeowners since Proposition 13 was approved because of legal loopholes that allow companies to avoid a reassessment upon a change of ownership, a new study says. Capitol Weekly

Mythbusting: High taxes don't drive people from California - The claim that high-income people flee California for states with lower personal income tax rates amounts to nothing more than yet another urban legend California Budget Project

U.S. Adds 290,000 Jobs - Despite growing unease in the financial markets, the American economy is gathering steam, adding an unexpectedly large number of jobs last month ... the largest gain in four years New York Times

Progress! - Barack Obama

Domestic/California Politics

Elana Kagan likely Obama Supreme Court Pick - President Obama is expected to nominate Solicitor General and former Harvard Law dean Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court on Monday. Huffington Post

Healthcare law already helps millions - President Barack Obama said Saturday that millions of Americans already are reaping benefits from the new health care law, including tax breaks for some small businesses and help for families with young adults. USA Today

Democrats reframe the debate on immigration - The outline for an immigration overhaul unveiled by Democratic senators this week lays down a new starting point for any national debate: tough immigration enforcement. New York Times

Schumer: Put Arizona immigration law on hold - In a letter to Gov. Jan Brewer, the New York Democratic Senator expressed both sympathy and disgust for her decision to sign the immigration bill, while suggesting they share the common goal of fixing a broken system. Wall Street Journal

GOP Candidates Poizner, Whitman risk tilting too conservative for California - Whoever emerges from the June 8 primary must pivot away from the conservative tag in the months that follow. Winning the general election will require substantial support from independent voters in California with GOP voter registration below 31 percent. Sac Bee

Suspension of AB32 headed to state ballot - California voters will decide the fate of the state's landmark global-warming bill in the November election after a big-bucks battle that may break records for political spending on an initiative ... a group heavily backed by Texas oil giants Tesoro Corp. and Valero Energy Corp. plans to submit signatures for an initiative seeking to suspend AB32. SF Gate

Education

UC Davis funds to promote diversity, fight intolerance - After several swastikas and anti-gay graffiti appeared on the UC Davis campus earlier this year, Chancellor Linda Katehi vowed to make her campus safe.

Katehi put her money where her mouth is Friday, announcing that she will allocate $230,000 in discretionary funds annually to promote diversity and "combat hate and intolerance." Modesto Bee

UC Berkeley hunger strike over SB1070 - The UC Berkeley hunger strike urging university officials to publicly denounce Arizona's illegal immigration bill that began Monday at noon has garnered strength over the last few days. Berkeley Daily Planet

UC minority recruitment to intensify - The University of California will try to recruit more minorities and provide more diversity training, the president of the UC system told students last week at an annual conference in Riverside. Valley News

Schwarzenneger's proposed budget increases UC funding - Schwarzenegger's proposed budget restores around $370 million in funding for the UC system, though it cuts $45 million from the Cal Grant program. Daily Californian

Environment

Offshore Drilling - In the wake of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a poll by Rasmussen has found that support for offshore drilling has “fallen dramatically." Climate Progress

Oil spill may fatally wound Gulf fishing industry - Most fishers operate on thin margins, with only enough in the bank to buy equipment and ready their boats for May. "The spill could not have come at a worse time ... We out of luck," he says. Grist

Jon Stewart slams BP, oil-defending politicians (Video) - Grist

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Please forward! And pass along any suggestions to me at mstev...@gmail.com

Thanks,

Matt Stevens

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