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SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders have reached a deal that would avert the governor's planned Friday veto of the state budget and allow California to begin paying its bills again.

California Proposes Sales Tax Hike To Fund Transport, Government Services July 18, 2008 11:32 a.m. ESTVittorio Hernandez - AHN News WriterSacramento, CA (AHN) - To close California's $17.2 billion budget deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger considered on Thursday hiking the state sales tax and using funds intended for transportation and government services.State legislators proposed the two measures, which the governor initially described as bad ideas, but he did not rule out adopting the measures to avoid a cash crisis in California.The lawmakers plan to close the budget gap by collecting $5.6 billion income tax increase on the rich and borrowing $1.1...

Poll: Congress got mad hate for ya votahs.Americans have one more thing to whine about. According to a recent Zigby poll, members of Congress have never had a lower opinion of the American people. The poll indicates that for the first time congressional opinion on the people they serve has fallen to single digits. A total of eight percent of Congress members say they have a "good opinion" of the American people. Only six percent of the members surveyed said they had a "great opinion" of their constituents. "This is historic," said Raymond Zigby, who runs Zigby polls and still...

Member of the Texas Sunset Commission today recommended 'radical' changes in the administration of the Texas Department of Transportation, including placing the troubled and controversial agency into a four year legislative 'receivership' and abolishing the Texas Transportation Commission, which runs TexDOT, and appointment of a Transportation Commissioner who would be answerable to the Legislature, 1200 WOAI news reports. But Sunset Commission member Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio) suggested going one step further. "What I am hearing form the public is that they are wanting to see an elected commissioner," she said to loud applause from the TexDOT opponents who...

INDIANAPOLIS – The private operator of the Indiana Toll Road has sent devices to numerous lawmakers in Indiana giving them a free ride on the highway, and all legislators can get the same deal if they choose. But several lawmakers who have received the “non-revenue� I-Zoom transponders are not using them, saying it is only fair that they pay the same amount as other motorists. “When I got it, I was in a state of disbelief,� said Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City. “I can’t describe it as anything other than a perk. Mine is in the possession of solid-waste authorities.�...

Several Oklahoma legislators are concerned that individuals and organizations are quietly working on plans to create a privately-operated tollway in Oklahoma. Many referred to Spain-based Cintra, which has been involved in the development of a proposed Trans-Texas Corridor. Cintra also took over the operation of the Indiana East-West Toll Road from the Indiana Department of Transportation in 2006. Oklahoma State Sen. Randy Brogdon and state representatives Eric Proctor, Richard Morrisette, Scott Inman and Charles Key all expressed concern that efforts to open up Oklahoma to a privately operated tollway system were being kept out of the view of the general...

Lufkin Mayor Jack Gorden has been selected by the Texas Transportation Committee to serve on a citizens' advisory committee for putting together information regarding the proposed Interstate 69/Trans-Texas Corridor. According to Texas Department of Transportation officials, advisory committee members represent a cross-section of community and business leaders, landowners, local transportation experts and others. "Our goal is to enhance the public dialogue and meaningfully involve more Texans in transportation decisions," said Texas Transportation Commission Chair Hope Andrade. "These committees will have an important seat at the table as we work together to shape the future of transportation for our state." Gorden...

Senior executives of the Texas Department of Transportation can expect some heavy grilling from state legislators when the state Legislature convenes next January, state Rep. Jim McReynolds said Friday. Speaking to the monthly First Friday luncheon of The Chamber, Lufkin-Angelina County, McReynolds said many legislators, especially those from rural East Texas, are unhappy with TxDOT leaders over the Trans- Texas Corridor project and how it has incorporated plans for an Interstate 69 through the region. McReynolds said he attended all four of the TxDOT hearings on the TTC held in his district, which included one in Diboll, and "never heard...

State Representative Jim McReynolds previewed the 2009 legislative session at Friday's First Friday Chamber luncheon, with the hot topics going into the biennial madhouse listed as the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor, the growing issue of water supply, and the battle over the top 10 percent rule that allows Texas high school students to be admitted to any state college if they graduate in the top 10 percent of their class. According to McReynolds, the legislators are "not too happy" with the Texas Department of Transportation, which has been under fire for its proposed I-69/TTC plans. "This (the I-69/TTC) is something we never...

>Nebraska State Senator DiAnna Schimek's 20-year legislative career is nearly over. She feels victimized, no doubt, by the voter-enacted term limits that make this her final year in power. Still, Senator Schimek hopes to go out with her boots on, firing one final shotgun blast to maim or kill the initiative process she has long abhorred. You see, it was only through the voter initiative that Nebraskans passed term limits . . . three times. Yup. It took three petition drives and three votes of the people. Of course, term limits passed overwhelmingly each time. But a charmed third initiative...

2007 ended on a sad note for the family and friends of Ric Williamson, the chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission who died Sunday after a heart attack. Given his aggressive and often controversial role in reshaping Texas highway construction, his death leaves the state and Gov. Rick Perry with an important question about how to move forward after Williamson’s memorial service today. Williamson, 55, a successful business owner and former state representative from Weatherford, was appointed to the transportation commission in 2001 by his good friend Perry and was named chairman in 2004. He became a passionate advocate of...

AUSTIN -- House Speaker Tom Craddick has asked lawmakers to review the Texas Department of Transportation's multimillion-dollar ad campaign promoting toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor. Craddick, R-Midland, included a review of the Keep Texas Moving campaign on a list of topics that the House State Affairs Committee will study leading up to the 2009 legislative session. Craddick also asked the Appropriations Committee to review transportation spending over the past five years and study alternatives for funding future transportation needs. The transportation matters were among the "interim charges" that Craddick assigned last week. Other matters to be reviewed in advance...

Deficit may top $1.8 billion by fiscal 2012 with current slate of road projects AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Transportation, working to fend off a funding shortfall, intends to cut hundreds of millions of dollars budgeted for everything from consulting engineers to right-of-way purchases. The plan wouldn't affect existing road projects, and it's "difficult to say" what future projects would be delayed as a result, agency spokesman Randall Dillard said Friday. Projections show that if existing plans on awarding contracts and expenditures were to go forward, the department would have at least a $1.8 billion deficit by fiscal year...

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 7 /Standard Newswire/ -- Senator Fred Thompson announced his extensive Tennessee political leadership team today. Senator Howard Baker will serve as the honorary chairman of the Tennessee delegation, joined by 13 honorary co-chairs and 61 honorary state chairs, reflecting the depth of support for Senator Thompson in Tennessee. This leadership team includes two former United States Senate majority leaders, current and former members of Congress, former governors, and every Republican member of the Tennessee state legislature. "I am grateful for the wide support I'm receiving from my home state of Tennessee," said Senator Fred Thompson. "This group...

Endorsements Update posted by Justin Hart | 1:57 PM | permalink In previous months we used to spend hours at MyManMitt calculating all of the endorsements that a candidate picks up. Thank goodness we can give this job up to someone else now! Chris Cillizza reports on the new feature at WashingtonPost.com logging the endorsements of State Legislators. Here are the grunt numbers for the GOP side of things in the early primaries (they gave us the numbers - we built the chart) Here are the numbers: Endorsements are local events and as we get closer to the election...

Another presidential candidate is making headlines in West Virginia. The Republican leaders of the West Virginia State Legislature are endorsing Fred Thompson for President. The group made the announcement Monday afternoon at the State Capitol. Thompson is both an actor and politician. Members say Thompson is the most consistent and conservative and has a clear voting record on issues concerning pro-life and traditional marriage.

PHILADELPHIA, July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former U.S. Senator, and possible presidential candidate, Fred Thompson and Gov. Mike Huckabee will speak before an audience of nearly 2,000 state legislators and business leaders at the American Legislative Exchange Council's National Forum luncheon at ALEC's 34th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia on Friday, July 27. This event is just part of ALEC's annual meeting held July 24 to 29 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown at 1201 Market Street. Other speakers will include Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, The Honorable Dick Armey, The Honorable Billy Tauzin, Neil Cavuto of FOX...

A lawmaker got punched upside the head the other day. Lest we assume it was just one more mêlée in the parliament of South Korea or Japan, where fist-fights are routine, think again. The Alabama Senate witnessed this blow. Republican Senator Charles Bishop and Democratic Senator Lowell Barron were on opposite sides of a reform bill so a frustrated Bishop registered his opinion with a fist. Is that anyway to run a state? Suit and tied Legislators are supposedly cerebral and dignified, with the intellect and cunning as weapons of choice. Legislatures are hallowed assemblies where Robert’s Rules of Order...

Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller has become the highest-ranking state official to call for an increase in the state's gas tax. This month, Mr. Miller placed in the Annapolis hopper a bill to raise the gas tax by just over 50 percent, to 35.5 cents a gallon - which would make it the fourth-highest in the nation - with the new revenue going to transportation projects. Mr. Miller's bill joins similar legislation by Montgomery County Del. Sheila E. Hixson, who wants a slightly smaller increase, to 33.5 cents a gallon. "It's going to be tough for some people,"...

FORT HUACHUCA — Friday was an eye-opener for some Arizona legislators. Nearly two dozen of them, primarily members of the Arizona House of Representatives, were given a snapshot of the fort’s missions and economic impact, as well as an explanation of the need for the Legislature to provide water protection tools to the local civilian communities to protect the post. While local legislators know the fort’s importance — three of the four representatives made the trip, Republicans Jennifer Burns and Jonathan Paton and Democrat Manny Alvarez — it was the first time many of the others from mainly metropolitan Maricopa...

Why our CEOs are warming to Kyoto. (Editor's note: We reintroduce today the Potomac Watch column from Washington. It will appear on Fridays and be written by Kimberley Strassel, a member of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board. She joined the Journal in 1994 and has worked as a reporter in Europe and as an editor and editorial writer in New York.) Washington this week officially welcomed the newest industry on the hunt for financial and regulatory favors. Big CarbonCap may have the same dollar-sign agenda as Big Oil or Big Pharma, but don't expect Nancy Pelosi to admit to...

A consumer group on Thursday likened a two-week South American trip taken by legislators, state regulators and the governor's chief of staff to luxurious congressional junkets arranged by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But the head of the nonprofit group that paid most of the costs said the visit to Brazil, Argentina and Chile in November was a vigorous study tour that focused mainly on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and was not a vacation. "It was very ambitious," said Patrick Mason, president of the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy. "We had to get up at 6...

TALLAHASSEE -- In Washington, a woman will become the next speaker of the U.S. House. In Tallahassee, a woman will join the state Cabinet. But when the Florida Legislature starts a new two-year term Tuesday, women lawmakers won't see the same type of gains. Women will represent 39 districts in the House and Senate, less than a quarter of the 160 seats. That is the same number of districts women represented last year -- and roughly the same number they have held for the past decade. Lawmakers point to various reasons for the relative lack of women in the Legislature,...

SACRAMENTO — Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Legislature's Democratic majority leaders and analysts Friday said this year's session rose above political gridlock to become one of the most productive in decades. Some Republican lawmakers were not happy about the governor's cooperative, election-year attitude, saying he worked more with Democrats than with members of his own party. Damage to Democratic challenger Phil Angelides will be minimal, a campaign spokesman said, because voters won't care about the legislative session come Election Day on Nov. 7. Schwarzenegger declared it "an incredibly productive legislative session, one of the most productive in decades." The governor...

The University of Arizona started class Monday amid questions nationwide about whether college professors are too Liberal. This year and again next year Arizona legislators say they'll try to tame what they see as left-leaning professors at state universities. Among the Conservatives' moves: Lawmakers tried, but failed, to pass a bill that would allow college students to refuse assignments they find sexually offensive. Republican representative Russell Pearce wants to introduce an "Academic Bill of Rights" next year aimed at keeping Liberal bias out of classrooms. A law passed last spring requires schools to display the U.S. flag and constitution in...

Conservative state lawmakers are targeting what they see as left-leaning university professors, pushing a series of bills in recent and upcoming sessions designed to ensure that students are not unduly influenced by professors' beliefs. The push has raised concerns among the academic community about academic freedom, with many worried the push will put legislators and administrators in charge of the college classroom. Conservative lawmakers have floated or are planning a host of proposals that would restrict what students can be required ----

Leading Democratic lawmakers, returning to the Capitol on Monday after a monthlong summer recess, said they will not let election-year politics stand in the way of passing popular legislation that could potentially boost Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's prospects for re-election. The legislative session will end Aug. 31, meaning that Schwarzenegger will be required in September to sign or veto all bills passed between now and then — during the heart of his re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Phil Angelides. Schwarzenegger has agreed in concept to two politically popular bills sponsored by majority Democrats in the Legislature — one that would...

Mexican President Vicente Fox is expected to arrive in California today, hoping to shore up his argument that Mexico's strong economic ties to the United States make it a natural partner in solving the conundrum of illegal immigration. Fox is scheduled to speak before the state Legislature today and to meet privately with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. On Friday his itinerary includes addressing the California Chamber of Commerce and Latino business leaders before he flies to Los Angeles. Mexico is California's No. 1 trading partner, "so a growing Mexican economy is also good for California," Schwarzenegger...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a bipartisan delegation of legislative leaders flew around the state yesterday to promote the $37.3 billion public works bond package approved last week for the November ballot. “When I ran for governor, people always said it would be impossible to bring Democrats and Republicans together,” the Republican governor told an airport news conference in San Diego. “But we've proven again that we can come together.” Schwarzenegger highlighted school construction money that would go to San Diego if the education component of the package is approved in the November election. “For San Diego, this means that for...

SACRAMENTO - Even as the national debate rages over illegal immigration, California legislators are weighing bills that take aim at the issue on fronts ranging from such public benefits as driver's licenses and in-state tuition rates to better investigation of the citizenship status of state prison inmates. Many of the bills are authored by Republican legislators looking to reduce public benefits to undocumented immigrants and investigate what they cost the state in resources and infrastructure. One bill would eliminate in-state discounted tuition rates for undocumented immigrants to attend community colleges and the California State University system. Another would allow the...

PHOENIX — Fearing traffic jams and concerned about their personal safety, legislative leaders have decided to shut down their Monday session early to let legislators and staff flee the Capitol before 100,000 marchers show up. The decision to adjourn by noon came as lawmakers engaged in a war of words over the merits of the march, one of several around the nation pushing for Congress to enact immigration legislation that provides people here illegally a path to citizenship — and whether the event is a slap at this country. Sen. Barbara Leff, R-Paradise Valley, said the march amounts to 100,000...

Soldiers’ Angels Salutes Michigan Teenager and Legislators on Efforts To Establish March 26, 2006 as First National Support The Troops DayFri Mar 24, 7:00 AM ET In this hand out photo released by U.S. military, Iraqi Army Soldiers of 4th Iraqi Army Division exit a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in support of Operation Swarmer in Samarra, Iraq, Thursday, March 16, 2006. U.S. forces, joined by Iraqi troops, on Thursday launched the largest airborn assault in nearly three years, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said. The Operation Swarmer was aimed at clearing 'a suspected insurgent operating area' northeast...

SACRAMENTO - Three Central Valley lawmakers unveiled flood-control bills Wednesday as part of a larger rollout of public works legislation sponsored by Assembly Republicans. Stockton's Greg Aghazarian, Fresno's Mike Villines and Richvale's Doug LaMalfa are carrying the legislation, all of which would suspend the California Environmental Quality Act for levee repairs. Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said the proposals, along with others to streamline road-building projects and protect highway money, represent their stance in the larger debate over public works that is dominating discussion at the Capitol. Suspending CEQA, as the act is known, strips layers of bureaucratic...

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 3 — Faith's domain is evident everywhere at the Utah Legislature, where about 90 percent of the elected officials are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prayers are commonplace, and lawmakers speak of their relationship with God in ordinary conversation. So it might be tempting to assume that legislation relating to the divisive national debate about the teaching of evolution in public schools would have a predictable outcome here. Senate Bill 96 is proving that assumption wrong. The bill, which would require science teachers to offer a disclaimer when introducing lessons on...

Last week in my newsletter I noted and congratulated Senator Tom McClintock for always standing up for principled, regardless of the political costs. That is one reason why I support him in his run for Lt. Governor. Now that he is running for Lt. Governor, Tom is in a difficult position. He wants to help Governor Schwarzenegger and he wants his help. But Tom's principled stands make that difficult. Indeed, Tom has been all over radio telling folks why Arnold is wrong about creating a deficit budget, $68 billion in more debt and destroying jobs with an increase in minimum...

Taiwan legislators from the DPP and Kuomintang fight in Parliament in Taipei. Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties failed to agree on how an independent National Communications Commission, set up to monitor the media, should be formed.Lawmakers from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party try to occupy a parliament speaker's seat in a bid to prevent the proceedings of an opposition bill.Taiwan's parliament is notorious for fistfights, with many lawmakers enjoying the media attention when brawls erupt.The Legislature reconvened after a holiday to consider the proposal put forward by the opposition Nationalist Party to set up the new media watchdog.But...

Barry Myers admitted Monday to carrying cash between two prominent Shelby County legislators and FBI agents posing as corrupt businessmen. Myers, 38, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to extort bribes on behalf of state Sen. Roscoe Dixon and then-Rep. Kathryn Bowers for their support of legislation for the FBI front company E-Cycle Management. Bowers, now a state senator, declined comment. Dixon, no longer in the legislature, said he was too busy to field questions. Myers, a former county employee, is one of seven, including Dixon, Bowers and former state senator John Ford, charged in Operation Tennessee Waltz. He's...

SACRAMENTO -- State legislators wrapped up work Friday for a monthlong summer recess with focus already sharply shifted to the looming battle over the November special-election agenda and an August deadline for compromise on ballot measures. With a state budget approved and out of the way, the legislators will spend the next 30 days at home in their districts while legislative leaders ostensibly work with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to craft a compromise on his special-election agenda that both sides can live with. Yet with discussions currently occurring only at the staff level and Democrats having little motivation -- politically or...

Federal agents could have missed important clues in the investigation of Capitol Hill Corruption. But our NewsChannel 5 investigation uncovered some of those clues inside former chairman John Ford's desk on the Senate floor. And it's raising even more questions about what else agents might have missed. Our chief investigative reporter Phil Williams went looking where investigators did not go. It was a dramatic day back in May. Five current or former lawmakers were rounded up in a public corruption sting -- all part of the FBI's Operation Tennessee Waltz. Yet, despite images of agents roaming the halls of the...

Conservative pioneer Paul Weyrich has endorsed Bob McEwen for Congress in Ohio’s 2nd District. One of Weyrich’s key points is that McEwen, because of his twelve previous years in Congress, “can hit the ground running due to his previous service (i.e., he will have 12 years of seniority starting on Day 1 of his new term). Everyone else will be number 435.” That’s a legitimate argument one can bring to the table. McEwen will leapfrog 200-plus Members (just a wild guess; the number could be much higher) with less than 12 years in the House. Even the Congressman who defeated...

Capitol Hill Corruption: Federal Agents Arrest Four Legislators Posted: 5/26/2005 9:28:00 AM Updated: 5/26/2005 10:23:07 AM Thursday morning, federal officials arrested four Tennessee legislators in Nashville. Agents arrested Sen. Ward Crutchfield, (D) Chattanooga; Sen. John Ford, (D) Memphis; Sen. Kathryn Bowers, (D) Memphis; Rep. Chris Newton, (R) Cleveland. Agents also arrested former Memphis senator Roscoe Dixon, who now works for the Shelby County mayor’s office. There may be additional arrests. Federal agents on Capitol Hill said they were waiting for someone else. The legislators were arrested on sealed indictments handed down by a federal grand jury in Memphis. Sources said...

Politicians of the Texas State House took the time this week to pass HB 1476 which will put an end to "sexually suggestive" performances by middle and high school students. The bill, all 219 words of it, didn't bother to define what a sexually suggestive performance may be. Here are the main portions of the bill: Sec. 33.088. SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE PERFORMANCES PROHIBITED. (a) A school dance team, drill team, cheerleading team, or similar performance group may not perform in a sexually suggestive manner at an athletic or other extracurricular event or competition sponsored or approved by a school district or...

Inherent in our political system is the glaring flaw that 535 people can pull the wool over the eyes of 300 million. People don't vote on bills before Congress, they rely on those 535 people.. When those elected minions do the wrong thing, seldom do the people even know about it. That failure is compounded by a MSM dedicated to keeping the truth from the people if it would hurt the Democrat party. So we come to Social Security and the single greatest criminal fraud in the history of man. Try a $1.7 Trillion collateral theft on for size. Then...

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican lawmakers have proposed a bill to stop Mexicans from traveling to dangerous border areas, a measure some say is needed to save lives but others say violates the right of free movement and bows to U.S. interests. For decades, Mexico has said its constitution prevents it from stopping its own citizens from migrating illegally to the United States. But the proposal challenges that tradition in a country that both relies on and regrets migration, that mourns migrant deaths but does little to prevent them. Promoted as a humanitarian measure rather than a move to restrict...

SACRAMENTO – Sequestered in private policy retreats at posh resorts in San Diego and Newport Beach, Assembly lawmakers billed taxpayers $2,000 for a Mexican buffet, $1,900 for shuttle van service, $26 for a pound of deluxe mixed nuts and $22 for valet parking. And $42 for a dozen cookies. The separate getaways for Democrats and Republicans cost at least $40,000, plus about $200 each in round-trip airfare for dozens of legislators and staff, according to receipts released yesterday by the Assembly Rules Committee. Among those slips of paper, the top aide to Assembly Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield asked...

A move to prevent former legislators from using a special state health insurance provision "like a stop at McDonald's," in the words of the bill sponsor, advanced to the House floor Wednesday after debate over whether the remedy goes far enough. "This is much too weak," said freshman Rep. Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers, before the State Government Finance Committee approved the measure on a voice vote. "I don't think there should be any special benefits for former legislators. It completely smacks of arrogance and should be repealed." ****unbelievable related comment*** http://www.startribune.com/stories/468/5332957.html "What's the next benefit that you take away?" asked Rep....

"The great object of my fear is the Federal Judiciary. That body, like gravity, ever acting with noiseless foot and unalarming advance, gaining ground step by step and holding what it gains, is engulfing insidiously the special governments into the jaws of that which feeds them." – Thomas Jefferson to Spencer Roane, 1821. Interview with North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby NCC: Justice Newby, thank you for taking the time to acquaint our readers with your judicial philosophy. I just have a few questions for you this evening. You ran on a platform emphasizing judicial restraint, could you elaborate...

<p>Tonight it is, March 23, 2005, over five days since Theresa Marie Schiavo commenced her ordeal of purposeful and legally sanctioned dehydration and starvation. We await a decision from the three judge panel from Eleventh Judicial Circuit as to her fate, as her family struggles with seeing Terri's physical health deteriorate.</p>

For a few hours on Friday, Cochise County residents knew they had the attention of state lawmakers - and not just lawmakers who represent the county. The state House Judiciary Committee came to Sierra Vista to discuss and hear comments about illegal immigration. The effort was spearheaded by the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce and Rep. Jonathan Paton, whose district includes Sierra Vista. The few hours the legislators spent in the Sierra Vista area were an opportunity for them to see more than the illegal immigration issue. They also were taken on a tour of Fort Huachuca in...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said yesterday he was open to loosening the voter-approved term limits on state lawmakers, saying the mandatory short tenure is depriving the Legislature of experience and knowledge. "We never really create someone that is an expert in anything in Sacramento," he said, "because before you become an expert you are out." Some political analysts have suggested that lawmakers might look more favorably on Schwarzenegger's proposal to strip the Legislature's authority to redraw congressional and legislative district boundaries if he would seek a change in the 1990 initiative that limits lawmakers to six years in the Assembly and...