Capitol Alert

Dan Walters Daily: Dan's video report says state lawmakers are facing increasing pressure to do something about pensions.

The Capitol is awaiting word from Gov. Jerry Brown on the budget plan Democratic leaders say they will send him on Friday. The plan is moving quickly in the Legislature (amazing how a deadline tied to pay focuses the mind), but Brown's office says only that discussions are ongoing.

Opponents of his tax measure for the November ballot aren't waiting for a deal on the spending plan. The National Federation of Independent Business/California, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the Small Business Action Committee will kick off the campaign against it today.

Their new group name? "Californians for Reforms and Jobs. Not Taxes."

They'll hold a 10 a.m. press conference at NFIB offices, 921 11th Street.

Meanwhile, Torey Van Oot reports that the ongoing debate over legalizing and regulating online poker in California is set to resurface under the dome:

Senate Bill 1463, by Democratic Sen. Rod Wright, is scheduled to be heard at a 9:30 a.m. Senate Governmental Organization Committee hearing. Wright unveiled the bill this spring after Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg hit the pause button on dueling measures at the end of last session.

Wright recently amended the bill to take out language that would leave the door open to online wagering on games other than poker in the future. While that was a major issue cited by some critics, opposition continues from some influential players, including some gaming tribes and card rooms.

Supporters say the move would raise hundreds of millions of dollars for California. But don't expect those figures to come into play as the Legislature works towards Friday's budget deadline.

"We're not counting on any '(online poker) revenues as part of this year's budget framework," said Steinberg, a co-author of Wright's bill. "It's too soon, and its prospects are too uncertain to be able to score it."

As for the prospects for the bill in today's hearing: Wright wouldn't respond to a reporter's request for comment on the floor Monday, but based on Steinberg's comments, we wouldn't bet on an easy passage.

"It may," the Sacramento Democrat said, "And it may be just a good constructive discussion that helps narrow the differences among and between the members and stakeholders here."

ELECTION RECAP - Haven't had enough analysis of Tuesday's election? The Public Policy Institute of California will hold a conversation with Secretary of State Debra Bowen at 4:30 p.m. today in San Francisco. PPIC policy fellow Eric McGhee will discuss how the new top-two primary and redrawn district lines worked in last week's balloting, while Bowen will talk about how to get more Californians to the polls.

See the agenda and register here.