Los Angeles Times

Gubernatorial candidates Whitman, Poizner clash as Republicans open their convention
Each seeks an edge in the battle to capture the GOP nomination in California's June primary.
By Michael Finnegan
The Republican candidates for governor sniped at each other in dueling news conferences Friday at the opening of the state GOP convention here in Silicon Valley, as each sought advantage for the three-month sprint to the June 8 election.

Judges review language of state ballot measures
A teachers union's effort to change wording in Prop. 14, which would allow open primaries, was largely rejected. Measures on car insurance and public financing got only minimal adjustments.
By Carol J. Williams
Two Sacramento judges Friday ordered changes in the wording of ballot measures that would move California to an open primary system, change car insurance rate structures and charge lobbyists to fund campaigns for secretary of state candidates.

PolitiCal
Whitman buys her own TV station for GOP convention
Demon Sheep creator strikes again
Politicking began before GOP convention opened
Whitman offers open bar to GOP convention-goers
Whitman: I'll release my taxes when Brown releases his
Whitman meets the press
Open primary backers say secret deal derailed
Newsom jumps into lieutenant governor’s race, showing that he now understands the job
Brown campaign throws early jab at Meg Whitman
Dean Florez drops lieutenant governor bid, endorses Newsom
First Take: Whitman's millions. Gavin jumps in.

The Sacramento Bee

State sifting through college transfer requirements
By Laurel Rosenhall
It's supposed to be the path to an affordable, high-quality education: attend a California community college for two years, then transfer to one of the state's public universities.

Whitman hits Brown, Poizner at California GOP convention
By Jack Chang
SANTA CLARA – Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman came out swinging on the first night of the California Republican Party convention as she fought a two-front war against both her primary rival Steve Poizner and Democratic opponent Jerry Brown.

Steve Wiegand: I'm outta here
One of the lamest, most worn-out things a "veteran" (a.k.a. "old") reporter can do is go on and on about how things were better in the good old days.

Capitol Digest: Assembly will cut spending; Tom Campbell apologizes for defending professor; judge alters Proposition 14 language
The Assembly will cut about $7.5 million deeper into its spending next year by order of new Speaker John A. Pérez to demonstrate shared sacrifice during California's economic recession.

The Buzz: Gavin Newsom is in, Dean Florez out for Dem "guv lite" bid
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced his run Friday to become California's next lieutenant governor, declaring he'd use the office sometimes billed as "guv lite" to promote what everyone wants: jobs.

California judge rules on auto insurance language in voters pamphlet
By Dale Kasler
A three-way fight over the language in a June ballot initiative on auto insurance ended in a draw Friday.

Calif. lawmakers weigh labels for fur garments
By CATHY BUSSEWITZ, Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- At Paris fashion week this spring, designer Karl Lagerfeld stunned viewers with the fluffy, ice-age suits he presented for Chanel's fall line. The biggest surprise: every outfit in the show was made with fake fur.

Schwarzenegger orders review of sex offender case
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered a review of the way the state handled the case of a convicted sex offender who is now a suspect in two San Diego County murders.

Capitol Alert
Blogger Mickey Kaus challenges Boxer in primary
Meg Whitman Part II: Big pension reforms
Meg Whitman promises new media strategy
Perez orders deeper cuts to Assembly budget
Judge orders ballot changes for open primary measure
Tom Campbell apologizes for supporting anti-Israel professor
Gavin Newsom says he's ready for less expensive Lt. Gov. race
Valero, Howard Jarvis group lead fight to suspend AB 32
Florez drops candidacy for lieutenant governor

Viewpoints: Taxes pay government to lobby itself
By Jason Clemens and Lloyd Billingsley
California has the largest state economy, and the state Capitol jostles with players seeking a piece of the action. The biggest single lobbyist, however, is not Wal-Mart, Apple, Toyota, the entertainment industry or some fat-cat Jack Abramoff figure. The biggest lobbyist is government itself.

The San Francisco Chronicle

Whitman lays out her agenda of reform
By Carla Marinucci, Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Political Writers
Responding to criticism that she has sidestepped media, Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman held an unprecedented, hourlong conversation with news reporters Friday, laying out her positions on state pension reform, prisons and immigration while taking shots at Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican rival Steve Poizner.

Newsom has vision for lieutenant governor post
By John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer
If he wins the job of lieutenant governor, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom doesn't see himself just waiting to break ties in the state Senate that never come.

UC told to pay ex-grad students $38 million
By Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
A San Francisco judge has ordered the University of California to pay $38 million in refunds and interest to 2,900 students in law, medical and other professional schools whose fees were raised thousands of dollars despite UC's pledge to keep them level.

Andrew S. Ross: More real estate woes for CalPERS
More bitter pills for the state's pension funds to swallow. The California Public Employees' Retirement System on Wednesday pulled out of an $800 million Boston condo and hotel complex, called the Columbus Center, which, as reported last week, was on the verge of default.

Editorial: Campaign to test Mayor Newsom's focus on S.F.
Mayor Gavin Newsom, the quintessential multitasker, has set himself a new challenge. He insists he can run for state lieutenant governor while meeting the demands of his day job in San Francisco, where he must deal with the headaches of a record deficit and ripsaw local politics.

The Mercury News

Candidates for California governor promise to release income tax returns
By Ken McLaughlin
The three main candidates for governor — Jerry Brown, Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman — each promised Friday to release up to 25 years of income tax returns, moving to defuse a campaign issue while potentially opening an unprecedented amount of personal financial information to public view.

Contra Costa Times

Whitman team questions group's ties to Brown
By Steven Harmon
SACRAMENTO — Meg Whitman's campaign for governor has been taking some hits from a labor-backed campaign group, but Whitman's team is firing back — by insinuating the group is not acting independently of Jerry Brown, as the law requires.

Newsom casts himself as reformer in bid for lieutenant governo
By Steven Harmon
SACRAMENTO -- Not so long ago, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was laughing at the thought of running for lieutenant governor. Friday, he apparently decided it's not such a desultory office after all, jumping into the race for the No. 2 slot on the Democratic ticket on the final day to file.

The Orange County Register

Candidates meet deadline for June 8 primary
By MARTIN WISCKOL, DENA BUNIS and JENNIFER MUIR
The field for this year's elections has been shaping up for sometime, but Friday was the deadline for most candidates to make it official. California will be electing a new governor, and its junior U.S senator could encounter a formidable opponent. Among races in the county, voters will be electing two new Assembly members, a new county supervisor, and new county treasurer.

The San Diego Union-Tribune

GOP gubernatorial hopefuls clash
Whitman, Poizner also pledge to release their tax returns
By John Marelius, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
SANTA CLARA — The two Republican candidates for governor yesterday promised to make public their tax returns as they challenged each other’s loyalty to the Republican Party.

The San Bernardino County Sun

End lawmakers' attention deficit
OUR VIEW: Legislators should put away electronic devices when they're in session and quit taking cues from lobbyists
It's no secret that California politicians, from state legislators on down, are in regular contact with lobbyists. Everyone knows that.