Capitol Alert

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here to see a collection of his work.

Rex Babin is a political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work at here. Colleagues David Siders and Sam Stanton have a full story on the fallout at SacBee.com.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. See a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. See a collection of his work here.

Above is Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's take on how local redevelopment agencies have reacted to Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal to eliminate their funding. Click here for a collection of Babin's work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. This cartoon was originally published in Sunday's Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Above is Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on Gov. Jerry Brown's recent appointments. See a collection of Babin's work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Here's Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's take on California's prison overcrowding issues reaching the high court. Colleague Michael Doyle has a story on yesterday's oral arguments in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in today's Bee. Click here for a full collection of Babin's work.

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on Bee colleague Peter Hecht's story about the medical marijuana industry's close watching of the ballot counting in the attorney general's contest: Democrat Kamala Harris holds a slim lead over Republican Steve Cooley, with hundreds of thousands of ballots left to be counted. See a full collection of Babin's work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here to see a collection of his work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here to see a collection of his work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Here's cartoonist Rex Babin's take on former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass still using drivers provided for her as speaker:

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here for a collection of his work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here. Read Bee colleague Susan Ferriss' story on Steinberg's leadership challenges here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for the Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Here's Rex Babin's take on a new report that found California's three major public pension funds face a combined half-trillion dollar shortfall.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Here's Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the pay raises new Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and GOP leader Martin Garrick gave some staff upon assuming their new gigs:

Click here to see a collection of Babin's work.

Here's Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's take on Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez's pledge to ban lawmakers from texting with lobbyists on the Assembly floor.

Click here to see a collection of Babin's work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. This cartoon was first published over the weekend; you can see a collection of his work here.

Here's Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the governor's proposal to raise revenues by selling advertisement space on electronic billboards.

Click here to see a collection of Babin's work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Here's Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the latest campaign finance reports filed by the GOP gubernatorial hopefuls.

Click here to see a collection of Babin's work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist at The Bee. Click here to see a collection of his work.

We wrote yesterday about California's senators' opposite stances on whether to approve Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term. Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the confirmation scuffle:

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here for a collection of his work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the Air Resources Board's recent decision to delay the enforcement of new diesel emissions rules.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here for a collection of his work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. This cartoon originally appeared in Sunday's Bee; click here to see a collection of Babin's work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here to see a collection of his work.

TMZ, the gossip site that has repeatedly caught the governor and his wife violating various traffic laws, posted a video yesterday of the governor talking about his recent red-zone parking incident. Here's cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the governor's parking problem.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Related: Columnist Dan Walters writes in today's Bee that political "pork" could hurt efforts to pass the $11 billion bond proposal that's headed to the ballot. Read that piece here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Here's cartoonist Rex Babin's take on one use for some of those recently purchased state-owned trucks that have been sitting idle:

Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin offers his take on how those behind-closed-doors water negotiations are playing out.

When it comes to crafting a package that is palatable enough to pass both houses, lawmakers might as well go to battle armed with "Whack-a-mole" mallets, as Fresno Bee's E.J. Schultz pointed out in breaking down the challenges of crafting a passable pair of policy and financing proposals. Read his post on adding up the votes here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here. Click here to read Andrew McIntosh's report on vehicles recently purchased by the state going unused.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

In case you missed it: Read Jon Ortiz's piece on SEIU Local 1000's yard sign campaign here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click to see a collection of his work.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

On a related note, Kevin Yamamura has the governor's response to President Obama's addressing schoolchildren here.

Here's Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's take on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signing car visors in hopes of boosting sales at the upcoming auction of government-owned cars. Will this weekend's auction draw cash or leave a lot full of celeb-signed clunkers? Let us know what you think in the comments forum below.

To see more cartoons from the Babin files, click here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

The Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin sketches his take on the health care town halls going on across the country. What do you think about the town halls and Babin's cartoon? Let us know in the comments forum.

You can see a collection of Babin's work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

You can see a collection of Bee political cartoonist Rex Babin's work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here.

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. You can see a collection of his work here
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More Rex Babin cartoons

Click the image to view the animation.

The latest from Bee Cartoonist Rex Babin.

Here's Bee Cartoonist Rex Babin's take on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget revision today.

Cartoonist Rex Babin on the selection of former Sen. John Burton as the next chairman of the California Democratic Party.

Here's Rex Babin's latest political cartoon.

Here's Rex Babin's latest cartoon on the curious coalition in support of Proposition 1A.

Here's Rex Babin's latest cartoon:

Related: Speaking of which, I'm Twittering all weekend about the California Democratic Party convention.

Here's Rex Babin's latest cartoon. It's in reference to this story in Tuesday's Bee.

The latest from cartoonist Rex Babin:

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on California's water drought:

Here's cartoonist Rex Babin's take on Proposition 1A, the ballot measure that would create a spending cap while extending tax hikes:

Here is Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the special election ballot measures headed for a May 19 vote. The cartoon was published on Friday.

Bee Cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Here's cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest drawing. Find all his work here.

The latest from Bee cartoonist Rex Babin:

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Cartoonist Rex Babin's take, which was in the Sunday paper:

Cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Here's cartoonist Rex Babin take in his 'Caleeforneeya' cartoon:

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Here's Rex Babin's latest take:

The latest take from Bee cartoonist Rex Babin:

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Meanwhile, Babin's colleagues on the editorial board have launched a series of editorials on the "various interest groups whose demands have contributed to the deadlock over California's budget crisis."

The introduction ran Sunday. Today's take is on the business lobby. Tomorrow it's the California Teachers Association.

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the reception ex-congressman Leon Panetta has received since being nominated as the next CIA director.

You'll recall, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the incoming chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, didn't welcome his nomination. She has since said she supports his candidacy.

Bee Cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take:

Here's a guide to all the news you missed during your (and our) holiday break.

Yes, California still has a budget problem.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic leadership negotiated during the holiday weeks over whether Schwarzenegger would sign their majority-vote package of $18 billion in cuts and taxes.

First they were "very close" in the words of Senate leader Darrell Steinberg. Then they were "far away" in the words of Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear.

Bee cartoonist Rex Babin sketched the battling sides (see right).

Schwarzenegger headed off to Idaho for a Christmas break, though he kept in touch with legislative leaders via videoconferencing.

Then, on New Year's Eve, Schwarzenegger administration officials unveiled the 2009-10 budget proposal to close the roughly $40 billion deficit.

It was the sixth Schwarzenegger budget proposal of 2008.

The new elements include reducing the dependent care exemption on state income tax returns from the current $309 per dependent to $103; carrying over some of the deficit into the 2010-11 fiscal year; borrowing funds from voter-created programs for the mentally ill and pre-kindergarten children, and borrowing $4.7 billion from the private sector.

Read The Bee's outline of the plan. Or read the governor's document for yourself.

The budget proposes to change state worker health care, reduce the length of the school year, save a billion in prison and parolee costs, and blow up some of those old boxes, among other things.

Schwarzenegger himself wasn't at his own budget unveiling. Legislative leaders seemed unimpressed by the plan.

The Los Angeles Times reported more bad budget news: California fire-fighting expenditures topped $1 billion in 2008.

The California Teachers Association, meanwhile, is taking matters into its own hands, filing an initiative to raise the sales tax by a penny.

"It's time for stable and independent funding that cannot be cut by the Legislature or diverted for other uses," CTA President David Sanchez said in a statement.

Meanwhile, State Controller John Chiang went to Texas to visit family, but he was hospitalized there with chest pains. (It was later determined Chiang suffered a mild heart attack.)

From his hospital bed in Texas, Chiang wrote a letter to state agencies saying California may have to resort to IOUs as early as Feb. 1.

First on the list of recipients: state lawmakers.

On the plus side..."Terminator," the 1984 film starring Schwarzenegger, was one of 25 films added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

In another policy arena, a panel of state leaders is calling for the construction of a canal to divert water around the Delta by 2011. And they're not asking for approval from lawmakers or voters.

Potential Republican candidate for governor Tom Campbell, in an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, makes the case for a temporary hike in the per-gallon gasoline tax combined with a strict spending cap.

Campbell may end up competing with a couple of billionaires (or near-billionaires) in Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, but he's the first one out with some real, concrete ideas to solve the state's fiscal mess. Not that tax hikes are likely to woo the GOP faithful...

Speaking of Whitman, conservative Red County Placer blogger Aaron Park calls the former CEO of eBay, "Al Checci in a skirt."

Speaking of names from the past, you'd never guess who might toss his hat into the 2010 GOP ring.

Bill Simon, the 2002 Republican nominee, tells the Wall Street Journal he's interested.

In fact, Mr. Simon tells me that he would definitely consider running again for governor or lieutenant governor in 2010. He says that the budget crisis in California, including a deficit which he estimates at approximately $40 billion, will "require very fundamental change. This is an issue I understand. Economic issues are a strength for me."

Meanwhile, Attorney General Jerry Brown, who's a could-be, would-be candidate for governor in 2010, announced he was suing the Bush administration (always a popular move) over enforcement of the endangered species act.

It may seem early, but candidates are already sniffing around the open Assembly seats in 2010. The Fresno Bee says Blong Xiong may run.

Other odds and ends:

Big-time GOP donor Alex Spanos, 85, tells his family about his own battle with dementia.

The New York Times profiled California's congressional Sanchez sisters.

There are high levels of arsenic in Kern Valley State Prison, the Los Angeles Times reported. "It's not that major of an issue," said Kelly Harrington, the prison's new warden.

California's new clout on environmental issues was covered by the Washington Post.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a prison sentence granted because of California's three-strikes law was unconstitutional.

Former Assemblyman Todd Spitzer has returned to Orange County as a prosecutor. The OC Register reports he lost his first jury trial.

Spitzer told the Register it "was one of only two "not guiltys" he's even gotten in his career as a prosecutor."

Former Assemblywoman Shirley Horton has a new job. She's taking the helm of the San Diego Downtown Partnership.

Health Access' Anthony Wright assessed health care politics in 2008:

In the fight for quality, affordable health coverage for all Californians, the year 2008 was a year of setbacks and steps back--not just opportunities lost, but decisions that will cause many Californians' coverage to be lost.

It started with the end of the proclaimed "Year of Health Reform," as a much-watched, much-negotiated comprehensive health reform stalled in January. The year was marked by the failure of many more bills, big and small, ambitious and specific, blocked by legislative action or a Governor's veto pen.

The Department of Fish and Game labeled 2008 the "Year of Extreme Poachers and Dangerous Encounters," for what it's worth.

Calitics blogger Brian Leubitz dropped his bid for vice-chairman of the California Democratic Party.

The dynamics of these races are, in fact, quite dynamic. When I got in this race, I did so not simply to make a point. I believed, and continue to believe, that I would do an excellent job as the vice chair of the CDP. And with these changes, it is clear to me that I will not have the votes come April in Sacramento. While I am not afraid to run a race that is merely to make a point, I believe the goals of competing in every race and building the party throughout the party will be made.

Those dynamics involved ex-Senate leader John Burton jumping into the chairmanship race and pushing Eric Bauman, chair of the Los Angeles Democratic Party, to run for vice-chair.

A couple of other blogs are closing up shop.

Boi from Troy, the musings of a gay conservative USC alum (Scott Schmidt), has published its last post.

Ditto for California Faultline.

And it wouldn't be a new year without new laws.

The Bee's Rex Babin gave his take (see right) on the most talked -- and texted -- about new statute.

Photo: John Chiang speaking to The Bee Capitol Bureau in 2008. Credit: Brian Baer/Sacramento Bee

Photo: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, left listens to state finance director Tom Campbell during a press conference at the Capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday June 21, 2005. Credit: Randall Benton/Sacramento Bee

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest take on California politics:

Or is it?

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the latest go-'round.

For more of Babin's cartoons, click here.

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest cartoon. Find all his work here.

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Here is Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest cartoon, from Sunday's California Forum section. It is based on this story from last week's Bee.

Here's Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's latest work:

Bee cartoonist Rex Babin gives his take on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's meeting with President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday.

And here's an actual photo of the encounter.

Credit: (AP Photo/ Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Bee's prolific cartoonist Rex Babin has another cartoon today. This time he's taking on California's habit of approving ballot measures -- especially those that spend money. Find the rest of Rex's cartoons here.

Here is Rex Babin's latest cartoon, on the state's university and prison funding. Find all of his cartoons here.

Here is Rex Babin's latest cartoon, on the state Supreme Court taking up Proposition 8. Find all of his cartoons here.

Here is Rex Babin's latest cartoon, on the California wildfires and the California budget. Find all of his cartoons here.

Here is Rex Babin's latest cartoon, on the special budget-balancing session. Find all of his cartoons here.

Below is Sacramento Bee cartoonist Rex Babin's take on the results of the statewide ballot measures.

You can check out all of Babin's work here.