DAN WALTERS DAILY: Dan's video says Darrell Steinberg did something rare for a politician on Monday.
Lobbyists and politicians will want to keep an eye on Senate Bill 1001 as it heads to the Assembly Floor. The bill by Democratic Sen. Leland Yee would double the registration fee lobbyists pay to the Secretary of State's Office - and, for the first time, require political candidates and ballot measures to pay a committee registration fee, too.
Recipient committees and lobbyists alike would pay $50 a year, with the money going toward building a better system to track lobbying activity and campaign finance reports. The bill was introduced following last year's massive crash of the Cal-Access system, which left political junkies without their fix for weeks.
Here's the thing: The bill amends the state's Political Reform Act, which means it requires a two-thirds vote. The lobbyists' association supports the bill. Assembly Republicans voted against it in Appropriations last week. "I would certainly hope that it's not (because) they don't want to see their fees increased," said Yee's spokesman, Adam Keigwin.
I'VE GOT DREAMS: Sergio Garcia, an undocumented Mexican immigrant who is battling the feds over whether he can become a practicing lawyer, will be in the Capitol to talk about his case. Garcia, 35, came to the U.S. illegally as a toddler. He has completed law school and passed the California bar exam but needs permission of the state Supreme Court before he can become a practicing lawyer. Lawmakers and immigration activists will join Garcia for a media availability at 2 p.m. in room 317 of the Capitol. They're touting the so-called "State Bar DREAM Resolution" that says immigration status should not determine whether people can practice law in California.
MEET THE CANDIDATES: U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) face off today in a forum sponsored by KSBY and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. The candidates for the 24th Congressional District meet at noon in SLO's Grace Church.
MEET THE PRESS: Newspaper, television and radio reporters gather tonight to talk about how social media is changing the news biz. The panel discussion includes The Bee's Matt Weiser, who broke the story last month about the state parks department hiding $54 million while it made plans to close 70 parks. Learn more about the event here.
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