SACRAMENTO – Led by Republican, the state Assembly last night rejected a Democratic proposal for $6.6 billion in tax increases on the wealthy and corporations despite an offer to boost the state's rainy day fund. The vote pushes California's budget impasse into its eighth week with no compromise in sight.
The 45-30 vote against the proposal was the first since the state began its new fiscal year July 1 without a budget.
Democrats offered a revised tax plan that was smaller than the $8.2 billion package they initially proposed last month. Under the new proposal, Democrats called for imposing top income tax brackets of 10 percent on joint filers making more than $321,000 per year, and 11 percent on the portion above $642,000. The highest tax bracket is currently 9.3 percent.
Associated Press
Aide calls governor's knee surgery minor
LOS ANGELES – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had arthroscopic surgery to repair a knee he injured about two weeks ago while working out, the second time he has had surgery in about 20 months, his office disclosed yesterday.
Spokesman Matt David said Schwarzenegger, 62, was in good spirits after the operation Saturday evening and attended church yesterday, walking without assistance.
Schwarzenegger was under anesthesia for about 45 minutes, during which time the powers of office were transferred to Lt. Gov. John Garamendi.
On Saturday, Schwarzenegger's office said he was reviewing treatment options with his doctor. It wasn't until yesterday that his office disclosed the surgery on his torn meniscus – cartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee. David described the surgery as minor.
Associated Press
Blazes close portion of Los Padres forest
SANTA MARIA – Nearly 90,000 acres of the Los Padres National Forest remained closed yesterday while firefighters battled five wilderness blazes ignited by lightning last week.
U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Kathy Good said fires charred about 250 acres in remote, rugged areas of Santa Barbara County. No homes or buildings were threatened.
The forest closure encompassed the northernmost portion of the San Rafael Wilderness, an area of backcountry roads and rustic camp sites popular with deer hunters. The national forest has nearly 2 million acres.
Associated Press
Man rescued after 2 nights in gold mine
SONORA – A man was rescued from an abandoned gold mine yesterday after tumbling more than 100 feet and spending two nights at the bottom of the dark shaft, authorities said.
A team pulled Darvis Lee Jr., 34, from the mine about 6 a.m. after lowering a rescue worker and a mesh basket into the chasm, the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department said. He was treated at a hospital for back and leg injuries and released. Lee, of Sonora, fell down the shaft while exploring the mine Friday night. Authorities were contacted Saturday after a friend who went with him realized Lee had not returned home.
Associated Press
