Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Naughty or nice?

Capitol Alert

The latest on California politics and government

December 18, 2009

AM Alert: Naughty or nice?

With just a week until Christmas, Santa's making his list and checking it twice -- a lump of coal's throw from the Capitol.

Yup, a jolly old Saint Nicholas has posted up in the window of the Citizen Hotel with his list of who's been naughty and who's been nice.

You might think the entire state Legislature, with its dismal job performance marks, would be a contender for the "bad" list. But only a few familiar faces around the Capitol made the cut for coal.

Snickering about spanking and eye-patch panties might have helped ex-Assemblyman Mike Duvall land a spot near the top of the naughty roll. Talking on your cell while driving, not one, not two, but three times? That means no presents for first lady Maria Shriver (though maybe Santa will make an exception and leave a bow-topped Bluetooth beneath her tree).

Whatever political fundraiser Dan Weitzman was up to, he got bumped off the "bad" list in place of Tiger Woods.

Click here to see a close up of the scroll.

On to happier holiday news.... Senators gave a gift to staffers yesterday; they went home.

The floor session on Race to the Top adjourned at about 3:30 p.m. yesterday, with no plans for the chamber to reconvene until Jan. 4.

SEEING STARS: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today to honor director James Cameron, who's getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Cameron fueled Schwarzenegger's rise to stardom with flicks such as the "Terminator" series and "True Lies."

LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTER: Capitol Weekly released yesterday its legislative scorecard, which used a series of big votes to rank lawmakers' ideological leanings. Eight senators and nine Assembly members scored a "perfect 100" on the liberal scale. Republican Assemblyman Mike Villines was the only member whose votes added up to a "perfect conservative" score of zero. Click here to see the scorecard.

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