Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Proposition 16

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Both the Senate and the Assembly have scheduled floor sessions today, after which the Assembly Utilities and Senate Energy committees take up the matter of Proposition 16.

That's the measure bankrolled by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. that would require public utilities to get two-thirds of voters to OK providing service to new customers or expanding service to new territories using public funds or bonds.

So far PG&E has reported ponying up $6.5 million for the Yes on 16 campaign, including $3.5 million last year and $3 million on Jan. 22, according to Secretary of State filings.

Opposition is being organized by The Utility Reform Network and Local Power Inc. But it's a David and Goliath fight -- TURN has reported giving the No on 16 campaign only $21,500 so far.

Look for the joint hearing on Prop 16 in the Capitol's Room 4202.

Also today, Sen. Tony Strickland will be touting his SCA 29, backed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which the Thousand Oaks Republican says will "protect California families, taxpayers, and medical practitioners from socialized medicine policies."

According to the Legislative Counsel's Digest, the measure would block enforcement of a state or federal program that does any of the following:

• Requires people to get health care coverage.
• Requires health insurers to issue policies to all applicants.
• Requires employers to either provide health care coverage to employees or pay a fee or tax.
• Allows an entity created, operated, or subsidized by the government to compete with private insurers.
• Creates a single-payer health care system, unless voters approve it in a ballot measure.

Strickland's measure needs a two-thirds vote to pass. His news conference starts at 11 a.m. in the Capitol's Room 1190.

GOV2010: Republican candidate for governor Meg Whitman talks to the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce at noon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Diego.