The Governor's annual May budget revision was rolled out yesterday. The document still shows a net operating deficit of $1.4 billion, but represents this as "major progress as compared to the $4.4 billion that was anticipated for 2007-08 at the time the Governor signed the 2006 Budget Act." The revised budget includes plans for early debt payments as well as to avoid tax hikes, and shows Arnold's intent to restrain spending growth and maint adequate reserves, among other things. Democrats are concerned, though, that it's doing so at the expense cuts social services and public transit -- which could have a direct affect on BART and other orgs....

-Pelosi starts right in with the San Francisco values: bans smoking. -The Governor's health care plan could supercede San Francisco's health care plan. ...

Our long, state-wide emergency is over-- the Governator's leg has been fixed. According to the doctors, Arnie's right femur was successfully put back together with some cables and a few screws after a ninety-minute surgery. The surgery was needed because several days before Christmas, the Governor had a minor skiing accident in Sun Valley Idaho, the details of which have not been released. The Governor is expected to be in crutches for a few more weeks and then will be fully healed. ...

So it's looking like the Schwarzenegger taping story (Hotgate?) is actually a big story. That's because it turns out the tape was leaked to the LA Times by the Angelides campaign, probably the only clever thing they've done so far. Or maybe not. ...

When we last saw our favorite Republican bigwigs, Arnie and George, they were having a bit of a problem getting together. Twice, during the President's extended and ill-fated vacation, he visited our fair state and twice he did so without the presence of Herr Governator. The Governor was just too busy to hook up with the President and we totally can sympathize-- it's always hard to try and reconnect with old friends. Especially ones who......

Clemency has been denied in the pending excution of death-row inmate Donald Beardslee, and the first execution in California since January of 2002 should go on as scheduled tonight at 12:01am. The Governor's official statement [PDF] (which did not include the above quote from Commando, although we have a feeling someone will make a tasteless "Hasta La Vista, Baby" joke before the night is over) reads in part: The Board of Prison Terms unanimously recommended......