GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, TO CLARIFY HIS EDUCATION BUDGET, AND COMBAT AN ONSLAUGHT OF OPPOSITION ADVERTISING. THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO ALWAYS GIVE CHILDREN THE FIRST CALL ON THE TREASURY. HIS BUDGET GIVES EDUCATION A $2.9 BILLION INCREASE, THE LARGEST IN HIS PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN, AND THIS YEAR ALMOST $50 BILLION WILL BE SPENT ON EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA. HE SAID BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS GO TO OUR SCHOOLS, YET CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FAILING OUR CHILDREN. GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER IS PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING GROUND-BREAKING REFORMS: 1. REWARD GOOD TEACHERS, 2. INCREASE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, 3. EXPAND CHARTER SCHOOLS, 4. SHOW PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS HOW THEIR EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE SPENT.
HE SAID EXCELLENT TEACHERS ARE NEGLECTED BY A SYSTEM THAT REWARDS GOOD AND MEDIOCRE ALIKE. HE SUPPORTS SENATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 1 WHICH WOULD RECOGNIZE AND REWARD GOOD TEACHERS. AND ASSEMBLY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2, WHICH WILL REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PREPARE A COMPLETE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THAT WAY PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW BILLIONS OF THEIR EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.

SCOTTS VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MET ON MONDAY, BUT MADE NO DECISIONS ABOUT HANDLING ONGOING TOLERANCE ISSUES. FOR HALF AN HOUR, THE BOARD LISTENED TO MORE DEBATE ON THE VISIBILITY OF HOMOSEXUALITY AT SCOTTS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL. LAST WEEK THEY HEARD AT LEAST 5 HOURS OF COMMENT AT A PUBLIC HEARING. THE BOARD LEFT SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEM UP TO THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL NANCY SERIGSTAD.

THE AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS GROUP FILED A LAWSUIT TODAY AGAINST THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL. THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES ARE CLAIMING CHP OFFICERS DID NOT ABIDE BY PROPOSITION 215, WHICH IS CALIFORNIA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA INITIATIVE. THE SUIT IS BASED ON TIFFANY SIMPSON OF RICHMOND, WHO WAS STOPPED ON INTERSTATE 580, BY A CHP OFFICER ON CHRISTMAS DAY. SHE SAID HER MARIJUANA WAS CONFISCATED, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD A LETTER FROM HER DOCTOR AND AN I-D CARD FROM A CANNABIS CLUB, ALLOWING HER TO SMOKE MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES. THE OFFICER REPORTEDLY TOLD HER THE CHP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PROP. 215.

THE TREND FOR CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES HAS SHIFTED ONCE AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT FROM AAA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. AFTER 12 WEEKS OF DECLINE, PRICES BEGAN TO RISE AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. SANTA CRUZ HAD THE SLOWEST GAIN OF 9 CENTS PER GALLON, WHILE MONTEREY RESIDENTS SAW A GAIN OF 19 CENTS DURING THE SAME PERIOD. THE CITY OF SALINAS TOPPED AREA CITIES, WITH A GAIN OF 20 CENTS PER GALLON OF REGULAR GAS.