Free Republic

The battle over six budget-related measures on Tuesday's special election ballot has generated more than $31.5 million in campaign spending, split the state's labor community and created strange bedfellows on both sides. Supporters, aided by the powerful California Teachers Association and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's business allies, have raised more than $27.6 million to back Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F. Opponents, a collection of unions, anti-tax groups and supporters of children's and mental health programs, have raised $3.8 million. ... the California Federation of Teachers, a smaller rival to the California Teachers Association ... has chipped in more...

In the movies, the hero often signs off on a major agreement by slashing his hand or thumb and sharing blood with his new partner. In politics, it's a lot less messy, since the partners just share money. Over the weekend, the California Teachers Association agreed to back all six of the budget measures on the May 19 special election ballot. It's a move that likely drew a deep sigh of relief from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, ... The deal was sealed Monday when the CTA gave $47,500 to Budget Reform Now, the Schwarzenegger-backed group leading the campaign effort. On that...

Italian firm's takeover of state lotto operator angers lawmakers Lottery director stands by decision to OK $4.7 billion merger; says it will be business as usual. SACRAMENTO - An Italian company with a blemished history quietly purchased a U.S. firm that runs lotto and other online games in California and 24 other states - a development that has surprised and angered California lawmakers into action. But the state lottery's acting director is standing by her decision to approve California's part in the $4.7 billion merger, as the lottery and its online operator, GTECH, reassure critics it will be business as...

The Miers nomination pits a Swift Boat author against a Bush National Guard detractor--in reverse. Friday, October 21, 2005 12:01 a.m. The politics of the Harriet Miers nomination are getting stranger as attention turns toward Ms. Miers's tenure as head of the Texas Lottery Commission. Two key players in last year's presidential campaign--Jerome Corsi, co-author of the Swift Boat Veterans book "Unfit for Command," and Ben Barnes, a former Texas lieutenant governor who claimed President Bush got special treatment when he joined the Texas Air National Guard--are involved in the debate.

Miers to withdraw -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: October 13, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com Harriet Miers is never going to be grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is going to withdraw her name from consideration before such hearings ever begin. You can take that to the bank. Why? Because, even though Democrats in the Senate seem more pleased with the choice of Miers than do Republicans, the questions that must be asked of the nominee for Sandra Day O'Connor's Supreme Court seat would be among the most embarrassing ever raised about her boss, President Bush. Most of the attention...

It took Senator Jon S. Corzine two decades to work his way to the top of Goldman Sachs and accumulate company shares that in 2001 were valued at $270 million. But now, all that he has left in the company is - well, nothing. On Tuesday, Mr. Corzine's campaign revealed that he had completed his divestiture of his Goldman Sachs holdings. And while it was not clear when the last of the holdings was sold, Tom Shea, a senior campaign adviser, said the sale was probably completed this year, because Mr. Corzine did not list it on his 2004 tax...