THE NOONER for March 28, 2012

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TWEET DU JOUR: @toddzwillich- "ATTN POLITICIANS: You're pre-authorized to be clear. No need to keep asking permission."

HOUSEKEEPING:

• About 1,000 new subscribers since I last included the super-simply-anonymous-survey link. This is your chance to say what you'd like more of, less of, or to otherwise vent.
• I know that for some of you, the maps on the district pages overlap the analysis and candidate lists. That's because you're super lucky with a large monitor. Simply make your browser window more narrow as I work on a permanent fix.
• All Assembly, Senate, and Congressional candidates are finally posted with their ballot designations, campaign finance info, and web sites.
• After spending time in the building yesterday, yes, I am "that Scott Lay," and, yes, I really write this between 4:30-7:30 in the morning, usually with a workout somewhere in there.

GEEKFEST: Today's data looks at the breadth of support for campaigns, through the looking glass of the number of individual contributors. I have eliminated contributions over $7,800 (max for primary/general) to try to keep large personal candidate contributions from skewing the results.

The full list is on ElectionTrack.

FAREWELL, SO-LONG, AUF WIEDERSEHEN, GOODBYE: Nathan Fletcher Leaves GOP Weeks Before Mayoral Election [10News]

THE END: Kinde Durkee likely to plead guilty in $8M embezzlement case [John Bresnahan & Jonathan Allen @ Politico]

ICYMI: In October, the Register had a great article about how it all went down. [h/t Torey Van Oot]

ONE MORE TWEET DU JOUR: @tedlieu - "Kinde Durkee admits embezzling $8m; Jeremy Lin still dunking; Nathan Fletcher leaves GOP; & Ron Paul wants to use gold coins. Am I dreaming?"

ODD BALLOT LABEL: For Loretta Sanchez, "United States Representative - 47th District"  

Sanchez is running in the new CD46. 

BILL BONANZA: Today is the last day of bill hearings before Spring Break. Charge up your video camers and get ready for Legislators Gone Wild.

YOLO COUNTY CELEBRITY FASHION SHOW: Tomorrow night, the third annual Yolo County Celebrity Fashion Show will give politicos and other VIPs from the County to the West a chance to ham it up and don clothes bought locally. Yesterday, a preview was on Good Day Sacramento, which gives you a chance to see West Sac Mayor and longtime Capitol presence Christopher Cabaldan strutting it up as a mechanic. 

DAMN YOUTUBE: Sorry about that broken link to our Taiwanese animation friends take on Herman Cain's bunny-killing. Take two...

SUPER COOL KID SUBSCRIBERS: Today's RPData question is "Nathan Fletcher Edition: Which city in California has the highest percentage of Decline to State voters?" Tweet answer with #RPdataCA hashtag or send to info@redistrictingpartners.com.

Before I get to AD41-80, I skipped over Michael Breyer, son of SupCt justice Stephen Breyer in my AD19 listing. Of Breyer's $160k, $100k came from his bank account. Ting hasn't reported any self-financing.

And, now...the last of the Assembly races. All races can be viewed on one page, or on the individual district pages.

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California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez Drums Up Support For "Middle-Class Scholarship" Plan
Jim Sanders @ sacbee.com

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez is drumming up public support for legislation touted as a billion-dollar relief plan for college students that is sure to be a Democratic centerpiece this year.

Skeptical Kennedy Signals Trouble For Obama's Healthcare Law
David G. Savage and Noam N. Levey @ latimes.com

The Supreme Court's conservative justices sharply attacked the insurance mandate that is at the heart of President Obama's healthcare law, strongly suggesting Tuesday they are prepared to strike it down as unconstitutional.

UC President To Act On Executive Pension Demand
Nanette Asimov @ sfgate.com

University of California President Mark Yudof, who spoke out last year against a threatened lawsuit by 36 executives demanding fatter pensions for UC's best-paid employees, will ask the regents on Thursday to rescind...

Judge Tentatively Rules For California In School Funding Suit
Kevin Yamamura @ blogs.sacbee.com

In a court battle that could shape how schools are funded, a judge tentatively ruled Tuesday that California lawmakers can reduce education funding by diverting state revenues into new pots of money.

States File Challenge To Arizona Immigration Law
Bob Egelko @ sfgate.com

California Attorney General Kamala Harris has joined officials from 10 other states in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Arizona's immigration law, saying the law exceeds state authority, conflicts with national...

John A. Pérez Launches Fight To Alter Tax Formula For Scholarships
Jim Sanders @ blogs.sacbee.com

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez is drumming up public support for legislation touted as a billion-dollar relief plan for college students that is sure to be a Democratic centerpiece this year.

Legislative Mischief On 'Trailer Bills' Becomes Easier
Dan Walters @ sacbee.com

Two years ago, when unions and Democratic politicians sponsored a ballot measure to reduce the required legislative vote on the state budget from two-thirds to a simple majority, this column and others raised the possibility of ancillary mischief.

State Teachers Union Backs Republican For Assembly Seat
Jean Merl @ latimesblogs.latimes.com

The California Teachers Assn. has endorsed Republican Paul Strickland for an open Assembly District seat. His status as an elected local school board member who is liked by teachers was cited as the reason by the organization that usually aligns with Democrats.

Prop. 8 Group Pitted Blacks, Latinos Against Gays
Carolyn Lochhead @ sfgate.com

A group that was instrumental in passing California's ban on same-sex marriage in 2008 tried to pit African Americans and Latinos against gays and lesbians in its winning campaign to ban such marriages in Maine the...

Water Bond Teeters, May Be Pulled From 2012 Ballot
Paul Rogers @ mercurynews.com

Ambitious Schwarzenegger-era measure running into political headwinds.

Supreme Court greets healthcare mandate with skepticism
David G. Savage and Noam N. Levey, Washington Bureau @ latimes.com

Justice Anthony Kennedy, seen as a possible swing vote, says the insurance mandate is 'concerning,' a troubling development for President Obama's healthcare law.

State Senate Committee To Hold Hearing On Caltrans' Bay Bridge Review Panel
Charles Piller @ sacbee.com

The California Senate Transportation Committee announced Tuesday that it will hold a public hearing on the use of expert advisers by the state Department of Transportation.

Contra Costa County Board of Education to vote on Clean Water Initiative, discuss charter rep
Theresa Harrington @ mercurynews.com

Trustees expect to appoint a representative to Clayton Valley Charter High governing board April 18

For California, Supreme Court health reform decisions put billions on line
utsandiego.com

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments today over a proposed expansion of Medicaid that will determine the fate of billions of dollars in health care funding slated for California.

California Bill Would Make Teacher-student Relationship A Felony
Kevin Yamamura @ blogs.sacbee.com

A Republican lawmaker announced legislation Tuesday to make it a felony for a K-12 teacher to date a student regardless of age, responding to a high-profile case at a Modesto high school in which the student is an adult.

Herdt: Legislators Ignore A Low-hanging Tax » Ventura County Star
Ventura County Star and Ventura County Star @ vcstar.com

© 2012 Ventura County Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Health Care Law: John Roberts Court On Trial
Glenn Thrush @ politico.com

The outcome of the health care case will go a long way in defining the Roberts Court. | AP Photo

Mitt Romney Raises Cash In Stockton, Announces California Team
David Siders @ blogs.sacbee.com

STOCKTON -- Mitt Romney, speaking at a private fundraiser in Stockton this morning, kept up his criticism of President Barack Obama's recent hot mic incident, while mentioning none of his Republican rivals, attendees said.

Oakland Police Chief: Early Education Key To Crime Prevention
Katy Murphy @ insidebayarea.com

"I strongly urge all of our policymakers to protect the funding we have for early education," Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said at a Tuesday news conference. "The investment that we make in children today will save millions of dollars tomorrow in incarceration costs."

10 moments from the Supreme Court debate on healthcare
David Meeks @ latimes.com

Solicitor Gen. Donald Verrilli Jr., representing the government, makes his opening statement, arguing that insurance has become the predominant way that Americans pay for healthcare. But Verrilli argues the system is broken because people who cannot purchase insurance that is subsidized through their employers, or are not eligible for programs such as Medicare or Medicaid, cannot afford to pay for it on the private market.

California Courts Scrap $2 Billion Tech Project
contracostatimes.com

Policymakers decided the upgrade is too expensive in light of statewide budget cuts.

The Caucus: TimesCast: Supreme Court Hearings Continue
THE NEW YORK TIMES @ nytimes.com

David Leonhardt reports on developments from the second day of hearings on the 2010 health care law at the Supreme Court, and Michael D. Shear breaks down the political implications of the eventual ruling on the 2012 presidential campaign.

Mt. Diablo district may consider raising tax rate, after promising voters it wouldn't
Theresa Harrington @ mercurynews.com

Trustees voted against Clean Water initiative, approved online pilot and charter offers, disputed agenda