Free Republic

Most political analysts would agree: The single most politically significant measure on the Special Election Ballot is Proposition 75, dubbed “Paycheck Protection” by its proponents. Proposition 77, the Redistricting Reform measure, is also a major reform. But without a change in the campaign funding paradigm (especially at the state legislative level), fair districts will not necessarily be competitive districts--Republicans are significantly outspent by the majority party. No, it is the major loss of political resources by public employee unions that would rock the foundations of the status-quo in Sacramento. Most political insiders, let alone members of the public, are unaware...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent both his allies and his enemies into a frenzy Tuesday, a day after he vowed to support a union-backed effort that could take corporate money out of California politics. "If that's the governor's position, we respectfully disagree," said Sara Lee of the California Chamber of Commerce, which has spent more than $1.4 million to support the package of Schwarzenegger-backed initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot. "We predict this will be his next broken promise," said Charles Idelson of the California Nurses Association, a leader in the fight against the governor's initiative efforts. The dispute swirls around...

<p>Businesses that want state subsidies should submit more data, keep their promises to create jobs and be ready for on-site visits and audits.</p> <p>Those are among the recommendations that Gov. Bob Holden has sent to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Tax Policy. The committee will meet today to begin drafting a plan to improve the accountability of tax credits.</p>

Source: Saddam's money may be in Syria Official: Syria 'needs to do more to cooperate' From Elise LabottCNN Washington Bureau Monday, October 13, 2003 Posted: 10:26 PM EDT (0226 GMT) A U.S. Treasury Department official tells CNN that two criminal investigators from the Internal Revenue Service are in Damascus seeking access to specific accounts. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration believes as much as $3 billion from deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime is in Syrian banks, and it wants more cooperation from Syria to help find and return the money to the Iraqi people, a Treasury Department official said...