Despite miserable job-approval ratings, California lawmakers this year derailed or defeated nearly every bill aimed at overhauling how they campaign for office or conduct business in the Capitol. The casualties included bills to reduce the influence of special interests by publicly funding campaigns, and to make legislative races more competitive by redrawing district boundaries. Of 16 legislative or political reforms tracked by The Bee before the session ended Aug. 31, only three reached the desk of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not yet decided whether to sign them. Even the Republican governor, hugely popular with voters, found tough sledding in...