FUN RUN A RUNAWAY SUCCESS
Oct. 21 fundraiser brings out volunteerism
—Photos by Peter Webb
SPEAKER
David Crane
President, Govern For California
Stanford lecturer, former Director of the California Teachers’ Retirement Fund, former special advisor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Regent, University of California.
Introduced by Frank Solinsky, Mr. Crane covered lots of territory and tons of statistics very fast so Spinnings was outgunned; fortunately, however, his presentation and more is downloadable from www.governforcalifornia.org. You can view Govern For California’s Slate of Endorsed Candidates. You can read Mr. Crane’s BLOG for additional information, including details omitted here. And you can correspond with him directly at davidgcrane@gmail.com.
Govern For California influences the state legislature by disseminating facts about how the state spends its money, who are the power brokers in Sacramento, how the two connect and who can be elected to the legislature to change the balance of power in favor of those who do not have sway over legislators: you and I.
He, a lifelong Democrat, and Gov. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, bonded many years ago over policy and a shared love of Milton Friedman, so when Schwarzenegger bounced Gray Davis out of the governor’s mansion he brought David Crane along.
They both learned quickly they had zero influence in the legislature, where it takes 41 votes in the Assembly and 21 votes in the Senate to get anything done. They didn’t know any of the names, but the correctional officers’ union, the California Teachers Association lobbyists, real estate strongmen, the California Dental Association, donors representing Native American tribes and a long list of big hitters knew everyone, knew their backgrounds, weaknesses, interests, campaign finances, opposition, personal history, you-name-it. They used what they knew to exert pressure.
Three groups “know all the names,” he said: 1) State employees, such as the correctional officers; 2) Business cronies, “capitalists who want to build a moat around their businesses;” 3) State-regulated entities like PG&E, Southern California Edison and the like.
People don’t appreciate the fact that Sacramento has more authority over them than the feds, from taxes to schools to roads to utilities to police, fire and finance.
Yet most people don’t know who represents them in the legislature.
Arnold and Mr. Crane did eventually learn the names they had to know and produced two reforms, the California Redistricting Commission the top-two primary system.
The CRC took redistricting of Assembly and Senate districts out of the hands of the legislature — or out of the hands of former Speaker Willie Brown, depending on how you look at it — ending gerrymandering. The top-two primary system replaced partisan primaries which guaranteed that at least one Democrat and one Republican would face off in the general election. Now the top two voter-getters, whatever their party, be they Democrat, Republican, Independent or any of the lesser parties, go to the general. This tends to force candidates to appeal to a broader base and has “changed the shade of Democrat in the state,” he said.
After leaving office, Crane took what he learned about Sacramento power-brokers to found Govern For California, a “network of more than 250 informed political philanthropists in support of courageous state legislators who put citizen interests ahead of personal, party and special interests.”
“Our job,” Crane said, “is to immunize them from these pressure groups.”
The philanthropy goes into a fund that is redirected to select candidates; Crane handles all other expenses.
Thus far the organization has raised and spent more than $15 million, has supported 40 legislators and has endorsed and funded candidates who won in 33 races.
Among his points of interest:
Only 29 percent of money spent on education in the state goes to certified teachers, the rest goes for medical insurance, retirement and pension benefits.
State revenue is up 40 percent but program spending is flat to down. The UC, courts and Department of Social Services budget share is down 40 percent.
The state Department of Corrections has 127,000 prisoners and 57,000 employees. Employee compensation and benefits cost the state $8 billion last year. The prison guard’s union is the biggest lobbyist organization in the state and spends the most money. State prison guards have gotten four pay raises in seven years.
Public employee pension liability is the biggest financial issue the state faces, not because employees are greedy but because legislators fudged numbers, listened to bad advice, buckled to pressure and underfunded pension funds for years.
Fund managers predicted returns of 8 percent compounding, an assumption that would have required a Dow number of 28,000,000 to fund.
He pointed this out to the state education board, of which he was a member. “They kicked me off the board.”
The only way to save state pension funds is to reduce benefits and eliminate COLAs, “and it’ll be a war. And it’s the last thing a legislator wants to deal with.”
BUSINESS MEETING
Pledge
Cemre Gonen of the Hillsdale Effect
Thought
June Lamb
If you are not present you are not here; don’t skip life.
News
Juan Raigoza
National Voter Registration Day is the day after tomorrow (Sept. 25). “We have time. Please vote. Every vote counts.”
Guests
Tom Thompson introduced Gina Zari, Government Affairs Director of the San Mateo County Association of Realtors. Meg Heinicke introduced Bob Graham.
Visiting Rotarians
In view of the fact that Interact is a Rotary-sponsored organization and the Hillsdale Effect is our Interact, Rod Linhares introduced the following student guests as visiting Rotarians: Jamie McIntosh, Rachel Stennet, Carmen Bregoni, Cemre Gonen, advisor Greg Lance.
Announcements
The one response Mitch Williams got when he asked who was going to the Rose Bowl this year was “Stanford and Cal.” If you want to see a more superior match-up, contact Mitch about the possibility of going to the Jan. 1 tilt in Pasadena. He has plans.
Chuck Osborne is filling in for Rosemary Azem in the Rotary International raffle race. Tickets are still available; see the check-in table.
Today (Oct. 18) was John Kelly’s 90th birthday. A card made the rounds but John would prefer personal contact. He’s at Lesley Towers, 700 Laurel Ave., Apt. 6C5. Check ahead at 344-4808.
This week's program is Youth in Government Day (Oct. 25). Previous plans to start early have changed due to the cancellation of our speaker, Alice Hill, with a family medical emergency; the meeting will begin at the regular time.
Meg Heinicke and Bob Graham of Namaste, which is the contact and coordinating agency for the Hillsdale Effect’s annual fundraising and experiential trip to Guatemala, invited any interested Rotarian to join them March 16-24 in Antigua, Guatemala. There meet the 50 to 100 women who receive micro loans from Namaste to start small businesses. A three-day business conference in a hotel — the first hotel some of the women have ever seen — is the highlight.
Don Leydig, who has made the trip, said it was life-changing and encouraged anyone to go.
For that plug, Don joined the President’s Club.
Defining Greatness
Anne Campbell and Kitty Lopez, having coordinated schedules so they could attend the same meeting, came in for recognition, Anne for receiving the Child Care Coordinating Council’s Mary Elizabeth Griffin Children’s Award and Kitty for receiving its Community Partnership Award at the 4Cs annual meeting Oct. 10.
“Did this make you feel presidential?” President Bean asked? There is no reply for that question.
Kitty, having been recognized for her stewardship of First 5 San Mateo, instead said she’s give $50 to announce the agency’s “20 Years of Community Investment Celebration” Nov. 1 at the Event Center in San Mateo. Bonus points: Sen. Jerry Hill will give a magic show.
Anne pulled $50 out of her sleeve to support her fellow award-winner.
The End of Summer of Love event at Dave Bennett’s grossed more than $15,000, all of it contributed by 88 paid concelebrants. Congratulations to the committee of Bennett, Dick Bennett and Paul Rogerville.
Spun and Done
