Capitol Alert

President Barack Obama today became the first president to declare his support for gay marriage. Here is some reaction for California officials:

"I commend President Obama for supporting Americans who deserve equal rights, equal respect and equal recognition. ... However, the fight is not over. Whether here in California, or in places like North Carolina where voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage this week, the march towards justice must continue." --Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom

PHOTO GALLERY: Reaction from the US, California

"I applaud the President's statement today supporting marriage equality. Equality before the law is the founding principle of our nation. In that spirit, I will continue our common work to ensure that equality belongs to all Californians and all Americans." -- Attorney General Kamala Harris

A San Diego County woman who has fought the California Department of Fish and Game for years over her keeping 10 wild birds at home is preparing to surrender them to the state Thursday, apparently unsuccessful in her appeal to Gov. Jerry Brown to "pardon" them.

In a half-page ad in The Bee's print edition this morning, Lindy O'Leary penned an open letter to the Democratic governor under the headline, "Dear Governor Brown: Please Pardon These Birds!" She included photographs of seagulls and a hawk she has been keeping without a permit, and she said the birds are "on their way to being killed."

The state disputed that. Jordan Traverso, a spokeswoman for Fish and Game, said the birds will be placed in other facilities.

"Our intent is not to kill these animals," Traverso said.

The state and O'Leary have been wrangling in court for several years about the legality of O'Leary keeping her birds at her home, where she operates the Wildlife Center of San Diego. Last month, Sen. Mimi Walters, R-Laguna Niguel, dropped legislation she had proposed to help O'Leary get permission to keep the animals.

Walters' chief of staff, Garth Eisenbeis, said this afternoon that the senator helped broker a proposed compromise between O'Leary and the Department of Fish and Game, but that O'Leary ultimately rejected it.

"She's done what she believes she can do on her behalf," Eisenbeis said.

Jennifer Hegemier, O'Leary's lawyer, said terms of the proposed compromise were unreasonable and that O'Leary will keep pressing her case in court. Ultimately, she hopes to have the birds returned to her.

Meanwhile, Hegemier said the birds will be surrendered to the state Thursday.

"We are planning to comply," she said. "We don't have a choice."

Gov. Jerry Brown today defended the work of the public sector as that which "ties us together," speaking at a memorial for Caltrans employees killed while working last year.

The memorial at the Capitol was the third in three days for Brown. The Democratic governor attended ceremonies on Monday and Tuesday for California Highway Patrol and other peace officers killed last year.

"We ought to recognize the public calling," Brown said, "which is absolutely indispensable for the social and political fabric."

A member of the honor guard fainted during the ceremony, briefly interrupting it. An organizer said he was alert and talking to emergency workers before he was taken off in a stretcher.

Earlier today, Brown appointed Malcolm Dougherty, 43, director of Caltrans. Dougherty, of Fresno, has been acting director of the department since last year and chief deputy director since 2010.

The position, which pays $155,040 a year, requires Senate confirmation. Dougherty is a Democrat.

After rubbing elbows with George Clooney at a fundraiser in Los Angeles on Thursday, President Barack Obama will fly to Reno to push his economic agenda in a battleground state.

The Democratic president is scheduled to meet with a Reno-area family and speak about his "to-do list" for Congress, including a proposal to help homeowners refinance mortgages at lower interest rates.

Obama's campaign has been promoting the Clooney fundraiser for weeks, soliciting small donations online by offering a chance to win tickets to the otherwise high-dollar event.

The Washington Post reported the fundraiser at the actor's home may be one of the largest presidential fundraisers in U.S. history.

Looking to catch up with a who's who of California Republican power players in late August?

Head to the The Tradewinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach.

That's where California's delegation for the Republican National Convention in Tampa will be staying during the party's nominating convention.

Expected Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign has submitted to the office of Secretary of State Debra Bowen a list of delegates to represent the former Massachusetts governor on the floor of the convention.

The list, first reported on the conservative FlashReport blog, includes former Gov. Pete Wilson, 2010 gubernatorial candidate and Romney surrogate Meg Whitman Griff Harsh, former Secretary of State Bill Jones and former California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim. Reps. Kevin McCarthy, Darrell Issa and Mary Bono Mack, state Sen. Mark Wyland and Board of Equalization member George Runner. also made the cut.

Also tapped as potential delegates are several spouses of elected officials, including Senate GOP leader Bob Huff's wife Mei Mei Huff and former Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, who is married to Sen. Tony Strickland.

VIDEO: Dan Walters says the government-change group known as California Forward may not move ahead with an ambitious ballot measure.

Have a question you'd like Dan to answer? Post it on our Facebook page.

See other Dan Walters Daily clips here.

Read Dan Walters' columns here.

VIDEO: Dan Walters, in today's video report, asks whether California Forward will keep pushing its ballot proposal to change the state's budget and governance, "or will it succumb to politics as usual?"

Welcome to the brave new world of campaigning in the digital age: No fewer than 15 of the 23 candidates challenging U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the June 5 primary have said "yes" to participating in The Bee's live chat today about the election.

The 15 are all over the political map. They include three fellow Democrats, nine Republicans and one member each from the American Independent, Libertarian and Peace and Freedom parties.

It's a given that Feinstein will make it into the top-two runoff in November. Which of her rivals will join her? Torey Van Oot moderates. Catch the chat from noon to 1 p.m. at sacbee.com/live.

Gov. Jerry Brown, meanwhile, continues his appearances during memorial week as Caltrans honors fallen highway workers. Brown's talk during the agency's 22nd annual ceremony is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. on the Capitol's west steps.

Under the dome, the Senate Rules Committee considers gubernatorial appointments, with Pamela Harris, director of the Department of Employment Development required to appear. After that committee adjourns, a Senate subcommittee will take up Sens. Joe Simitian and Noreen Evans' proposal on state parks, which Torey Van Oot outlined yesterday in this post.

On the Assembly side, the Appropriations Committee has its work cut out for it, with about 12 dozen bills on its agenda. Several budget panels also convene, considering proposals on higher education, corrections and other matters. And another hearing will look at how to regulate diploma mills in the state. Click here for the Assembly's full schedule, and click here for the Senate's.

EDUCATION: The State Board of Education is reviewing how California's public schools are assessed, including the Academic Performance Index and the School Accountability Report Cards. Thursday, members will discuss whether to apply for a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law. Today's meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. at 1430 N St. Click here for the agenda.

CAKE AND CANDLES: Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, turns 46 today.