Capitol Alert

In need of a shoe shine?

Assemblyman Das Williams is at your service.

The Santa Barbara Democrat is inviting his donors to get their footwear polished and fixed at Russo's Shoe Repair across from the state Capitol tomorrow.

"They're just one of those places that, I bring them a pair of shoes that looks like it's on death's door and they make 'em look magical," said Williams, who is even offering to shine some himself.

An invitation touts the 5 p.m. fundraiser as a birthday celebration, but this party favor doesn't come cheap.

Tickets to the event, which benefits Williams' re-election bid, start at $1,000, though he says he's letting invitees come for less.

Williams isn't the first legislator to use fashion or style to lure donors to an event. Fundraisers last year featured custom suit tailoring and a designer trunk sale offering discounted items from St. John, Chanel and Gucci.

The first-term lawmaker said offering shoe shining at his reception seemed like a creative and cost-effective way to allow supporters to put their best foot forward.

"Really, the idea just came from wanting to make sure that in this age of austerity that we have fun events, but ones that don't cost a lot of money," said Williams, who turns 38 next week. "And it's a fun little birthday shindig and allows people to do what they need to get done, which is probably that they'll have time to get their shoes shined or bring their shoes in to get repaired or whatever, but still get a chance to do that and hang out, and just have a drink and take a load off."

Das Williams Shoe Shine Event

Jim Sanders contributed to this post.

Vice President Joe Biden, in California for two days this week, is scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the Sutter Club in downtown Sacramento on Tuesday.

Tickets for the afternoon fundraiser, to raise money for the Obama Victory Fund, start at $500.

Biden was expected to speak earlier Tuesday in Los Angeles, at a convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He is expected to attend a campaign event in Carmel on Wednesday.

PHOTO CREDIT: Vice President Joe Biden in March. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, defended the Legislature's deadline passage of a main budget bill Friday without most of the implementing language, responding to critics who suggested lawmakers had rushed through a plan to maintain their pay.

"You know what?" Steinberg said. "I gotta tell you, I work about 15 hours a day. And we passed a budget that is balanced in the budget year, the second year, the third year and with a surplus in the fourth year. So we're doing our work. And we're going to continue doing our work."

"I'm going to stand up for the people who get elected to these offices, who work hard, and who do the very best by the people," Steinberg added. "And I know it's not popular. And I know that it's easy as heck to take the shots. But I'm proud of what we did on Friday. And we'll finish the job now."

Legislative Democrats and Gov. Jerry Brown largely disagree over how to treat the state's welfare-to-work program, CalWORKs. The governor wants to remake CalWORKs by imposing harsher consequences for parents who do not find a job or seek training. Brown wants to reduce grants and cut off child care and other assistance for those parents.

Gov. Jerry Brown urged state regulators today to reduce the use of toxic flame retardants in upholstered furniture.

"Toxic flame retardants are found in everything from high chairs to couches and a growing body of evidence suggests that these chemicals harm human health and the environment," the Democratic governor said in a prepared statement. "We must find better ways to meet fire safety standards by reducing and eliminating -- wherever possible -- dangerous chemicals."

Brown's office said in a release that the governor asked the state Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation to recommend changes to state furniture flammability standards. Brown's office said the standards are four decades old and could be changed to reduce the use of toxic flame retardants while also ensuring safety.

The directive follows studies Brown's office said show health concerns related to exposure to flame retardant chemicals.

Former Democratic state Sen. Jenny Oropeza would be honored posthumously with a Los Angeles County highway overcrossing named after her under a proposal zipping through the Legislature.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 79 awaits final action in the Assembly after being approved by the Senate without a dissenting vote, 33-0. The Assembly Transportation Committee will consider the measure today.

Crafted by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, the resolution would designate a section of State Route 1 near Tesoro Refinery in Los Angeles County as the Honorable Jenny Oropeza Memorial Overcrossing.

SCR 79 noted that Oropeza, a Long Beach Democrat, played a key role in acquiring $107 million in state, federal, railroad and other funds to eliminate train and car conflicts by completing the overcrossing on that busy stretch of roadway.

Oropeza died in October 2010 after a four-year career in the Senate. She also served six years in the Assembly. Oropeza battled numerous health problems during her Capitol career, including liver cancer, a tumor and an abdominal blood clot.

"During her time as a member of the California Legislature, Jenny Oropeza was a champion for public transportation, health care, education, clean air, equality, and prevention of cancer," SCR 79 said.

Signs identifying the Jenny Oropeza Memorial Overcrossing would be erected once donated funds are collected to pay for them.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sen. Jenny Oropeza, 2006. The Sacramento Bee/Brian Baer

* Corrected at 11:35 a.m. Monday to say that the resolution's author is Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance.

Dan Walters ponders the Legislature's upcoming vote on high-speed rail funds.

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See other Dan Walters Daily clips here.

Thought Friday's budget votes signaled an end to this year's fiscal fight under the dome?

Nope.

While lawmakers approved a budget bill and six "trailer' measures Friday to meet their constitutional deadline and keep their paychecks coming, some of the biggest issues remain unresolved.

Democratic leaders and Gov. Jerry Brown are expected to continue working on working out their differences - a several hundred million dollar gap - this week, with a goal of getting the remaining language to the governor's desk by June 30. Proposals concerning CalWorks and redevelopment dollars were among the sticking points as of Friday's floor votes.

By some counts, as many as additional 22 trailer bills will come to the floor to complete the budget package. That's about three times as many measures as the Legislature took up in Friday's speedy floor sessions.

Both houses are scheduled to convene for floor sessions today. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg asked members to keep their own scheduled flexible this week in anticipation of some possibly lengthy sessions on those trailer bills.

The budget isn't the only issue subject to ongoing negotiations.

Lawmakers are trying to close a deal on a package of bills aimed at aiding homeowners hurt by the mortgage crisis. The joint conference committee created to work out the details of the proposals could come out with its draft report as soon as this week.

DAN WALTERS DAILY: Find out what Bee columnist Dan Walters thinks is next on the Legislature's to do list.

NEW JOBS: Steinberg spokesman Mark Hedlund has been promoted to communications director. He replaces Alicia Trost, who worked her final budget vote on Friday before starting a new job as Communications Department manager for the Bay Area Rapid Transit District. Rhys Williams, who worked on the Proposition 29 campaign and for former Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata's Oakland mayoral bid, has joined the office as a press secretary.

BIRTHDAY: Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez, D-Coachella, turns 39 today.