in earlier revenue paying for tobacco-related health education and disease research, hospital care for the indigent, park and wildlife restoration and other causes. Perata's proposed measure backfills those older tobacco-tax beneficiaries, but not Prop. Full Article at Inside Bay Area

Oakland has rampant crime, troubled schools, dysfunctional city government and a mayor’s office that is a magnet for high-profile politicians. Don Perata aspires to be the mayor of Oakland. Full Article at The New York Times

This is truly joyous news: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today said he would appoint Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado to fill the vacant lieutenant governor's job, perhaps setting off a partisan squabble over his confirmation. Full Article at Calitics

Prop. 99 and the General Fund but not Prop. 10, so this new $1-per-pack tax would drain tens of millions of dollars from early childhood education across the state by suppressing cigarette sales with out replenishing Prop. 10 losses, Prop. 10 campaign... Full Article at Inside Bay Area

from the California Institute for Quantitative Biological Research; one practicing California physician with expertise in cardiovascular disease; and two disease advocacy group representatives. Full Article at Contra Costa Times

Don Perata, who said he conceived of the measure while still in the state Senate and well before being diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer earlier this year, said he’s not sure he wants to become the “face” of this campaign, a task better... Full Article at Inside Politics with Lisa Vorderbrueggen