• Prop. 30 extension qualifies for ballot
• Kamala Harris under fire
• UC Regents discuss sexual harassment and violence in private
• Lawmakers carve out ex parte communications

Good morning! We’re told it’s California Day of the Teacher, so be sure to celebrate. 

Proponents of the 12-year extension of a “temporary” income tax on the top 2 percent of earners (Prop. 30) will announce today that the measure has collected the required signatures and will be on November’s ballot.

The measure is just rounding out an already crowded ballot. Last week, proponents of a transparency measure announced it had qualified for the ballot.  

The revenue will go primarily to bolster education funding, but will also contribute to Medi-Cal as well. 

The measure comes at a time when the state is wrestling with the fact that its budget is over-reliant on personal income tax. Critics say a Prop. 30 extension only perpetuates that problem. 

The Prop. 30 announcement will be in Sacramento at 12:30 p.m. 

In other news:

• The five top candidates for U.S. Senate met in the final debate of the primary, with four firing at frontrunner Kamala Harris, the Democratic Attorney General. The Los Angeles Times has more. 
• The UC Regents will discuss sexual violence and harassment on campus, particularly in response to an ongoing scandal at UC Berkeley, although critics say Wednesday’s closed-door meeting is just a way for the university system to “shield itself from embarrassment over the growing scandal,” reports The San Jose Mercury News. 
• And speaking of secrecy: “California generally bans private conversations, known as ex parte communication, between state agencies, boards or commissions and representatives of groups with pending cases before them,” writes The Sacramento Bee. “The intent of the law is to promote public transparency, create even playing fields and prevent the unfair influence of decision-makers. But over time, lawmakers have made nearly 15 exceptions to the rule.”

Also on the website: California pollution credits may expand to Brazil

Assembly:

• Packed Appropriations Committee hearing at 9 a.m.

Senate:

• Light committee schedule today, but the Governance and Finance Committee will hear a bill on the “Diaper Tax.” 

Gov. Brown:

• In Los Angeles today, speaking at the inaugural California-China Business Summit at 9:30 a.m.

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The deck may be stacked against Republicans in California, but Duf Sundheim isn’t discouraged. The former California Republican Party chairman and small business attorney says that his underdog campaign for U.S. Senate is motivated by a desire to give average people “a voice in their government.”

“The people of California are tired of the professional political class of both parties who make promises that they never keep,” Sundheim said. “For over a decade, we have taken on the establishment of both parties and won.”

If Sundheim’s independent message doesn’t sound like the 2016 GOP presidential contenders, that’s because of the unique electoral landscape in California.

Top 2: Only Democratic options

Next year’s U.S. Senate race will be the first such election under California’s Top 2 Primary, which advances the top two primary candidates to the general election regardless of political party. Although Republicans struck out in every statewide race last November, the party succeeded in getting a candidate through the June primary election and onto the November general election ballot for every partisan statewide race. But only barely.

The June 2014 primary for state controller ended in a virtual four-way tie between two Democrats and two Republicans. Most political analysts believe that the Republican candidates, including an unknown candidate that spent $100 on a four-word ballot statement, were aided by the historically low turnout.

It won’t take much for Democrats to improve on those numbers. Historically, voter turnout is higher in presidential election years than in gubernatorial election years. Moreover, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ insurgent challenge to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination could further boost turnout among CA Democrats, who outnumber Republicans by 2.68 million voters.

Early polling show the effects of that favorable electoral landscape for Democrats. A Field Poll of more than 1,000 registered voters taken from September 17 to October 4 found Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez safely in second place to frontrunner Attorney General Kamala Harris. Sundheim and his fellow Republican candidates, Asm. Rocky Chavez and former California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro, managed only single digits.

“Both Harris and Sanchez are better known and are much more favorably regarded among the state’s likely voters than any of the three Republicans,” wrote Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll. “As the election nears, this may create as much interest to who finishes second as to who wins the primary, since it will likely determine whether the fall general election will be a traditional Democrat vs. Republican affair or one that pits two Democrats against one another.”

Builds on Kashkari’s rhetoric

In an effort to prevent an all-Democrat November U.S. Senate showdown, Sundheim has built on the rhetorical foundation laid by 2014 GOP gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari to appeal to independent voters by focusing on jobs and poverty. Sundheim says the state has “suffered and economic earthquake,” which has left millions in poverty.

“We have seen one of the greatest accumulations of wealth in history, but 8.9 million Californians live in poverty,” he said, referring to an issue first raised by Kashkari’s gubernatorial campaign. “There are more people living in poverty in California than there are people in Nevada, Hawaii and Oregon combined.”

He added, “Now the fastest growing path to the middle class is a government job.”

Sundheim has shared this message and his experience as a federal court mediator and volunteer settlement judge beyond the partisan political chicken dinner circuit. The Stanford graduate has a track record of reaching across the aisle and working with Democrats that share his passion for improving the state. In 2012, Sundheim supported Democratic San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s pension reform proposals, which were overwhelmingly approved by voters.

Shultz, Chambers Campaign Co-Chairs

In his initial fundraising report, Sundheim announced that he’s raised more than $240,000 — an impressive figure without any loans and only three weeks after his announcement.

“We will have the money we will need not only to compete, but to win,” he said.

Sundheim’s confidence comes with a list of big name endorsements, including former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and Cisco’s John Chambers.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Duf for two decades, and I’ve seen how much he cares about the future of California and is inclusive of every one of its citizens,” said Chambers. “We need strong, principled leaders in Washington, DC who can bring together people from all political perspectives to craft workable solutions to our country’s most pressing problems. Duf Sundheim is that kind of leader.”

U.S. Senate 2016: Duf Sundheim Campaign Announcement

CalWatchdog.com Editors

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — It’s no secret that Republicans in the Golden State have been dispirited by the last two election cycles where the GOP has been relegated to virtually no power in statewide politics.  Nationally 2012 was also a lackluster election year for Republicans, yet many in the party are beginning to bounce back showing signs of optimism. The source of this energy is not due necessarily to the ongoing Conservative Political Action Conference but instead due in part to Senator Rand Paul’s recent filibuster in the United State Senate.

Watching various speeches at CPAC, I’ve found it interesting that the rhetoric from Republican elected officials and conservative leaders hasn’t changed much from last year’s election to today. And in fact, in some cases it may have even hardened. Even former presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave a speech Friday at CPAC that sounded like it was something from the campaign trail rather than a forward looking message. (There have been a few exceptions, of course, like Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s call for a new focus for his party, similar to other speeches he’s made recently and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s chastising of the party’s establishment.)

Yet the high point for Republicans—in this moment at least— seems to be Senator Rand Paul. His filibuster demanding answers from the Obama Administration on the use of drones on United States soil illustrated the ability of one senator to lead on an issue and capture  the national dialogue, even as a member of the minority party in the United State Senate.

Staffers on Capitol Hill noted that Paul’s filibuster helped change the level of morale among Republicans in Washington, and it did so at a key moment; just before the leading national gathering of conservatives. At CPAC Sen. Paul was remarkably well received but particularly so by large numbers of young conservatives—many young conservatives who likely attended the event, at least in part, because of Paul.

Rand Paul’s recent ascent in popularity further stokes rumors of a presidential run for the Kentucky senator in 2016. Regardless of the potentiality of a bid for the White House, the GOP has a libertarian-minded Republican helping shape public discourse on issues with crossover appeal particularly hitting a cord with young people and those interested in civil liberties. That’s progress.

Even though a wholesale change in messaging by Republicans has not been evident at CPAC, there are new, powerful voices beginning to shape a movement in need some modernization. And thus an understandable bump in enthusiasm by the GOP.

Katy Grimes: Has anyone seen Sen. Dianne Feinstein lately? She refuses to debate challenger Elizabeth Emken, she runs from reporters, and now there is news that Feinstein will not meet with the editorial boards of California’s newspapers.

What prompted her to walk away from Mark Matthews, the ABC reporter during an interview at the Democratic convention? “She (Emken) really wants to debate you,” Matthews told Feinstein during the brief interview.

“I’m running my own campaign. Thank you Mark,” Feinstein said as she started to get up. Then she sat back down and continued. “I did a large event in Modesto, three to four meetings, and Southern California… that’s what I’m going to continue to do,” Feinstein said. Then she got up, patted Matthews on the shoulder in a patronizing manner, and walked away.

“She really does not like that question,” Matthews said. “I saved that question for last.”

Senate royalty

Feinstein needs to be reminded that this is a race for the U.S. Senate — not a coronation. She’s the only U.S. Senator running for reelection who will not debate her opponent.

“U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein continues to enjoy a large advantage in her bid for a fourth full term, with a new statewide poll showing the Democratic senator widening her double-digit lead over GOP challenger Elizabeth Emken,” the Sacramento Bee reported Sunday. “Field Poll results released today show the 79-year-old incumbent leading her opponent by 26 percentage points, 57 percent to 31 percent, heading into the final seven weeks of the campaign.”

But the Bee story failed to note that other polls, including the recent California Business Roundtable/Pepperdine poll show significantly different results, with Feinstein polling at 45.9 percent, Emken at 33.6 percent, and ‘undecided’ voters still reporting in at  20.6 percent.

“Compared with the Field Poll released last month, Feinstein’s lead has shrunk from 19 percent to 12.3 percent among all voters, and just 10.3 percent among those who will ‘definitely’ vote. Feinstein continues to poll well under 50 percent, and leads with just 45.9 percent among all voters. By contrast, President Obama is polling at 52.5 percent, or 6.6 percent better than Feinstein, who has been in the office for nearly 20 years,” the Emken campaign reported.

“Nothing screams ‘entrenched incumbent’ more than a refusal to debate an opponent,” the Los Angeles Times recently wrote.

“I don’t see any point in debating my opponent,” is the response from Feinstein, the Emken campaign reported.

According to a recent Gallup poll, only one in 10 Americans approves of the job Congress is doing, tying the lowest approval rating in 38 years. Given that Feinstein has been in the Senate since 1992, and in politics since 1961, and also polls unfavorably, her refusal to debate publicly can’t help her approval numbers.

Empty chair debate

In 2009, Dianne Feinstein proudly announced support for Solyndra.

“U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to finalize a $535 million loan guarantee to a California-based solar company, Solyndra,” Feinstein’s official Senate website reported. “The Department of Energy announced the initial selection of Solyndra as a conditional loan guarantee recipient in March and formalized the decision today at a ground-breaking ceremony in Fremont, California.”

“This is a major milestone for California’s solar industry,” Senator Feinstein said. “This federal loan guarantee of $535 million will enable Solyndra to secure affordable financing – at a time when credit is extremely tight – in order to build and operate a commercial-scale facility to manufacture the next generation of rooftop solar systems.  The operation is expected to generate at least 3,000 clean energy jobs in an area whose largest employer – NUMMI – may soon shut down. And it will ultimately help make it more affordable for more Americans to power their homes and buildings through solar energy.  So it’s a win-win for the economy and the environment.”

Feinstein’s ceremonial Senate seat has become an empty chair. Maybe Emken should hold a debate with Feinstein’s empty chair.

Clint Eastwood proved that it can be done effectively.

During the Carly Fiorina-Barbara Boxer debate Wednesday, Babs charged:

When she was CEO of Hewlett-Packard, before she was terminated actually, she shipped 30,000 jobs overseas. Think about it. That’s the size of Foster City. That reminds me of Wall Street. … Bonuses at the top. Pain for everybody else.

So, is  Babs advocating protectionism? Will she call for a 50% tariff on foreign imports? How about shutting out imports to the ports of San Francisco, Long Beach and Los Angeles? Will she go down to those ports and personally fire all those longshoremen?

Or does she want to cut the fiberoptic lines to India, so California companies stop hiring Indian computer gurus?

Or how about shutting down Apple? Its computers all say, “Designed in California, Made in China.” (Flip them over and look.) Maybe Babs wants to jail Steve Jobs to save California jobs.

Or maybe every iPod and iMac and iWhatever should be seized and dumped into he Pacific Ocean.

Of course, almost  nobody is protectionist anymore. It’s well understood, even in the U.S. Senate, that free trade is essential to economic prosperity.

How, then, to help Americans, especially those unemployed, and advance American exports? Simple: Stabilize the dollar with the gold standard. Cut taxes. Cut the mammoth U.S. and California government bureaucracies.

Is Babs advocating any of that? No.

By the way, her husband, Stewart, is a wealthy lawyer.  What are their investments? Are they invested in foreign companies? Have they helped ship American jobs overseas?

Maybe not. Just wondering.