States rebel against bond rating system
 
There's long been a double standard on Wall Street when it comes to rating bonds, with corporations evaluated on a more lenient scale than government bodies. But a number of states and municipalities are now saying that system is costing them money that could be put toward road repairs and other pressing needs and it's time for a change.
 
"Taxpayers are paying billions of dollars in increased costs because of the dual standard used by the rating bureaus," said CALIFORNIA Treasurer Bill Lockyer, who's state had to pay $102 million over the last few years to insure its general obligation debt because of its less-than-perfect bond rating. Consequently, Lockyer was seeking support last week from other state and local officials for a letter he planned to send the three ratings agencies —Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings — making the case for a single rating scale. 
 
He found a sympathetic ear in CONNECTICUT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who's been investigating the bond raters on antitrust grounds. Blumenthal says there's no reason for municipalities to have bond insurance in many cases, and it "simply serves the bottom lines of the ratings agencies, the insurers or both." 
 
Moody's acknowledged that municipal bonds default more rarely than similarly rated corporate bonds at every rating level and that, since 1970, A-rated municipal bonds have actually defaulted less often than AAA-rated corporate bonds. But Moody's also said that if municipal bonds were rated on the same scale as corporate bonds, more than half the market would be rated double or triple A, making it more difficult for investors to determine the relative risk of the various offerings. 
 
Gail Sussman, who oversees public finance ratings at Moody's, explained that the dual rating scale was simply like a ruler with inches on one side and centimeters on the other. 
 
"The distance between point A and point B is the same" whether it is measured in inches or centimeters, she said. 
 
Other bond specialists say now is not the time to change the system, with the slowing economy and slumping real estate market squeezing city and state budgets. 
 
But state and local officials contend that a universal rating system would make their bonds more attractive to investors, potentially attracting more of them and thereby reducing instability and borrowing costs in tough economic times like the present. And they suggest that rating agencies could provide finer delineations among bonds by adding suffixes to the universal ratings, like Aaa1 and Aaa2. 
 
Government officials also point out that the ratings bureaus had assigned some of their highest rankings to securities tied to the subprime lending industry, which they downgraded only after defaults began to surge. 
 
That faux pas may have given Capitol Avenue and Main Street the impetus they needed to take on Wall Street. As of last week, half a dozen states, including CONNECTICUT, OREGON and WASHINGTON, and numerous cities, had agreed to sign CALIFORNIA's declaration. (NEW YORK TIMES)

State employee health care costs
 
While busily debating how to cure America's ailing health care system, state lawmakers, members of Congress and the presidential candidates have kept one eye on MASSACHUSETTS, which launched the closest thing to a universal health care plan in 2005. What is likely to have many of those eyes bulging is that for the second year in a row MASSACHUSETTS employers spent more on their workers' health insurance than employers in any other state. According to a recent survey by United Benefit Advisors, one of the country's leading employee benefits advisory organizations, the Bay State's average annual health care cost per employee in 2007 was $9,304, more than 35 percent higher than the national average of $6,881 and about 8 percent up from the state's chart-topping total last year ($8,631). The state with the lowest annual average was ARKANSAS, at $5,169, up about 7 percent from its prior-year total of $4,835.

CA SENATE LEADER VOWS TAX FIGHT: CALIFORNIA Senate leader Don Perata (D) announced last week that Democrats will delay the state budget this year if that's what is necessary to get the tax increases they consider the only acceptable solution to the state's budget crisis. "This is going to be the fight of a lifetime," Perata declared from the steps of a Sacramento high school facing layoffs under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposal to deal with the state's multi-billion budget deficit largely by cutting spending. 
 
"We are not going to be going anywhere this summer," he said. "I told everybody that wants to go to the Democratic [National] Convention... TiVo it. That is as close as you are going to get." Perata said his party would not accept the governor's proposal to cut school spending by 10 percent or any budget that reduced spending for education next year. When asked how the Democrats proposed to cover the expense, he replied: "Raise taxes. That clear enough? Raise taxes."  
 
Republican lawmakers, however, have pledged not to support any budget that includes a tax increase. "Right now, CALIFORNIA has the 12th highest tax burden in the country," said Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chairman Roger Niello (R). "Why would we want to move into the top 10?" The state's supermajority requirement for passing the budget gives Republicans leverage. And they've demonstrated they're perfectly willing to tie up the budget process themselves, delaying passage of last year's budget 51 days to get Democrats to agree to hundreds of millions of dollars in spending cuts (LOS ANGELES TIMES). 
 
VA HIGH COURT KILLS TRANSPORTATION PLAN: The VIRGINIA Supreme Court ruled last week that a regional authority created by last year's landmark transportation funding bill does not have the constitutional authority to impose taxes and fees, unraveling the compromise that took two years to negotiate. The 2007 law was intended to generate $300 million a year for road projects in northern VIRGINIA. But the court stated that only elected bodies have the power to tax. "The message from the court opinion is pretty clear," said Gov. Timothy M. Caine (D). "If we are going to wrestle with transportation infrastructure, the General Assembly members have to go on the board and vote and can't hand that responsibility off to others." It may take a while for a new agreement to be reached, however. "This was several years in the making, and it is not going to be solved overnight," said Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D). (WASHINGTON POST) 
 
BUDGETS IN BRIEF: The Bush administration's proposed changes to Medicaid could cost states about $50 billion in federal aid over the next five years, according to a report by Democratic staff for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. That figure is nearly four times the administration's estimate (ASSOCIATED PRESS, WALL STREET JOURNAL). • OREGON began drawing names last week to fill the few thousand spots in a health care program for residents who can't afford private health insurance but are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. More than 80,000 people signed up for the lottery since registration opened in January (ASSOCIATED PRESS, BOSTON HERALD). • A study by experts from PENNSYLVANIA State and Harvard universities recommended that the state maintain control of the PENNSYLVANIA Turnpike instead of turning it over to a private operator, as Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has been seeking to do. The authors calculated the turnpike's value at $14.8 billion if leased to a private operator and $26.5 billion if it continues to be operated by the state Turnpike Commission (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER).

BLOOMBERG BACKING GOP IN BATTLE FOR ALBANY: Last June, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg set off speculation about a possible third-party presidential run with a speech in which he said, "The politics of partisanship and the resulting inaction and excuses have paralyzed decision-making, primarily at the federal level, and the big issues of the day are not being addressed, leaving our future in jeopardy." Apparently, the mayor feels differently about local politics because several weeks ago he donated $500,000 to the state GOP to help them hold on to the Senate, where they now have only a one-seat margin. 
 
Naturally, Republicans welcomed the benefaction. "His support is not only advantageous, but fantastically desired by all of us," said Sen. Serphin R. Maltese (R), who's facing a Democratic challenge in his district of Queens. Another threatened Queens Republican, Sen. Frank Padavan, said the mayor has actually offered to stump for his re-election if necessary. "He's made it very clear that he wants to see me stay in the Senate," Padavan said.  
 
Democrats, who've felt they had the momentum going into the election season — especially after a surprising special election victory in a heavily Republican district last month (see DEMS MOVE STEP CLOSER TO CONTROL OF NY SENATE in March 3 issue of SNCJ) — were less thrilled with the mayor's partisan stand. An adviser to Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), while acknowledging the mayor's popularity, suggested it might not be the best career move for the mayor. "Bloomberg has the best name brand in the business," he said. "If he is going to follow this third-way agenda, I am not sure that this would serve him well." (NEW YORK TIMES) 
 
SPITZER SKIRTING OWN CAMPAIGN LIMITS: In keeping with his highly publicized pledge to curb the influence of special interests in Albany, NEW YORK Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) imposed strict limits on how much money he would accept from contributors. That promise has become particularly inconvenient lately, with Democrats battling the Republicans for control of the Senate. But the governor's political organization has managed to raise $1 million more than his cap allows by directing contributors to the state Democratic Party account which he controls as well. "It's not meaningful if you raise the ethical bar but you have a very effective work-around," said Russ Haven, legislative counsel for the NEW YORK Public Interest Research Group. "That doesn't net you any reform to the system." While Spitzer's aides admit they've encouraged donors to contribute to both accounts, they maintain they're conforming to the law and the governor's pledge. They also suggest that it's the Republicans who are to blame for their actions. "So long as the Republican Senate is there, reform is going to be too often frustrated by their obstructionist tactics," said Ryan Toohey, the governor's top political strategist. (NEW YORK TIMES) 
 
TX HOUSE COUP ATTEMPT COLORS PRIMARIES: Last year's failed effort to oust TEXAS House Speaker Tom Craddick (R) figured prominently in last Tuesday's legislative primaries. One Republican, Rep. Pat Haggerty, and two Democrats, Reps. Boris Miles and Juan Escobar, who supported that coup attempt were ousted by their respective parties. Three Craddick allies, on the other hand — Democratic Reps. Kino Flores, Aaron Pena and Dawnna Dukes, members of a group known as Craddick Ds — prevailed in their primary challenges, thanks in part to some healthy financial support from the speaker. Dukes, however, refused Craddick's money. And a fourth Craddick D, Kevin Bailey, lost his seat, despite Craddick's assistance. Rep. Charlie Geren (R), another Craddick opponent, meanwhile, fought off a challenger who received $75,000 from a Craddick ally. Whether Craddick ultimately retains the speakership could depend on how the surviving Craddick Ds fare in the general election. The vote will come on the first day of the session in January. (ASSOCIATED PRESS, HOUSTON CHRONICLE)

FEDS TAKING OVER SOUTHEAST WATER FIGHT: Frustrated with the inability of governors from ALABAMA, FLORIDA and GEORGIA to work out a joint water-sharing deal, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced that the United States Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies will now put together their own water-sharing solution for the three states. 
 
Kempthorne informed Governors Sonny Perdue of GEORGIA, Bob Riley of ALABAMA and Charlie Crist of FLORIDA, all Republicans, of his decision in a letter released last week, saying, "Regrettably, it will necessarily be a solution being directed to the states instead of our much hoped for solution coming from the states."  
 
The gubernatorial trio did not have much to say in response. Riley and Crist offered no comment, while Perdue spokesperson Bert Brantley said only that "We certainly would have preferred to reach an agreement with our neighboring states."  
 
There is speculation from folks familiar with such disputes over water that Kempthorne doesn't really want to follow through with having the feds take over the process. George William Sherk, a water law expert at the COLORADO School of Mines, says former Interior Secretary Gale Norton sent a similar letter in 2005 to seven western states bickering over the COLORADO River. Fearing what the feds might come up with, the seven quickly had what Sherk calls a "Come to Jesus moment" and worked out a deal on their own.  
 
Jim Lochhead, a Denver attorney involved in that process, agrees that Kempthorne's real intent is likely to "give some motivation to all three parties to sit down and work through a common agreement."  
 
Kempthorne did note one positive in his letter, saying that the states had made more progress on a water agreement in the last three months than in the entire 18 previous years they have been feuding. (ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION, U.S. SECT. OF THE INTERIOR) 
 
GOVS DROP CAR FEE QUESTS: Governors Bill Ritter (D) of COLORADO and Butch Otter (R) of IDAHO have each dropped proposals to significantly hike car registration fees in their states. They had proposed the hikes as a way to pay for needed transportation infrastructure repairs. Ritter had urged Centennial State lawmakers to take up the proposal, which he estimated could bring $500 million in revenue to fund bridge and road repairs. But he acknowledged on his weekly radio show last week that with the economy ailing, lawmakers don't have much stomach for pushing such a hike on taxpayers. "People are having a difficult time," he said. "I would say that that's not going to move forward in this legislative session." Otter followed suit just days later when he dropped his own plan to double vehicle registration fees to raise an additional $202 million annually by 2011 for road and bridge maintenance. Otter acknowledged his plan was highly unpopular, but accused lawmakers of using his proposal as "political cover" to avoid making hard decisions on how to make up for an anticipated $200 million highway funding shortfall in coming years. "They're standing for election, and I'm not," Otter said. (DENVER POST, IDAHO STATESMAN [BOISE]) 
 
PALIN'S PREGNANT: ALASKA Gov. Sarah Palin (R) announced last week that she is seven months pregnant. The baby, due in May, will be the 44-year-old Palin's fifth child. Palin will become the first governor to give birth in office since MASSACHUSETTS' acting Gov. Jane Swift (D) delivered twin girls in 2001. Palin says she does not intend to take much time off after the birth, noting that she was back on the job one day after having her last child six years ago. She was the mayor of Wasilla at that time. Palin was also quick to debunk any thought that being a new mom will interfere with her job performance. "To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave," Palin said. (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS) 
 
HEINEMAN BOWS OUT OF IMMIGRATION FIGHT: NEBRASKA Gov. Dave Heineman (R) said he won't personally pressure a legislative committee to reconsider a recently failed anti-immigration bill he supported, leaving it instead to an ally, Sen. Mike Friend, to lobby his fellow lawmakers for the bill's revival. Friend supported the controversial measure (LB 963), which would have required Cornhusker State agencies to verify that residents applying for state benefits are in the United States legally. Heineman was visibly upset after the committee rejected the measure, nearly yelling during a press conference as he urged voters to lobby lawmakers for the bill's return. The governor's anger appeared to be spurred by accusations from some lawmakers that the bill was racist in nature, which Heineman flatly rejected. Heineman's mood may not improve any time soon, given that Friend does not appear overly enthusiastic about pushing the matter further. "I don't know if it's my job to tell them to vote again," he said. "When a bill gets killed, it gets killed." (LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR) 
 
VEEP TALK PICKS UP: With ARIZONA Sen. John McCain having wrapped up the Republican nomination for president, talk has turned to who may be his running mate. Several current GOP governors are in the mix, including UTAH's Jon Huntsman Jr., SOUTH CAROLINA's Mark Sanford and FLORIDA's Charlie Crist. As a long-time McCain supporter, MINNESOTA Gov. Tim Pawlenty is also thought to be a strong contender. Former governors Mike Huckabee of ARKANSAS and Mitt Romney of MASSACHUSETTS — both of whom also sought the nomination — may also be in contention, though Romney and McCain often sparred bitterly before Romney dropped out. (NEW YORK TIMES) 
 
EXECUTIVE ORDERS: WASHINGTON Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) issues EO 08-01, which establishes a state New Americans Policy Council tasked with developing strategies to help legal permanent residents become naturalized (STATE NET). * MAINE Gov. John Baldacci (D) issues EO 11, which orders the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to convene a working group to offer solutions to streamline the state's economic development delivery systems (STATE NET).

BUSINESS: The VIRGINIA Senate unanimously approves SB 797, a bill that would require Old Dominion lenders to provide a 10-day advance notification of foreclosure to borrowers who are in default. Borrowers who notify the company of payment difficulties in advance would receive a 30-day grace period. Lenders would also have to provide a list of agencies that offer options to help borrowers avoid foreclosure. It moves to the House (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH). • A joint VIRGINIA legislative panel approves a measure that would limit payday loan borrowers from taking out more than one loan at a time and no more than 10 in a year. It would also cap interest at 36 percent, but allow lenders to charge additional set fees. The measure moves now to the House and Senate floors (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH). • The ALABAMA House approves HB 196, legislation that would raise the allowed alcohol content of beer sold in the Heart of Dixie from 6 percent to 13.9 percent. The measure moves to the Senate (BIRMINGHAM NEWS). • The NEBRASKA Legislature approves LB 123, which would, among other things, bar foreclosure consultants and equity purchasers from pressuring distressed homeowners to sign over their ownership interest. The measure moves to Gov. Dave Heineman (R) for review (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD).  
 
CRIME & PUNISHMENT: A PENNSYLVANIA appeals court upholds a Keystone State law that allows children to testify by videotape if doing so in open court would cause them harm or hinder their ability to speak truthfully (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER). • The WYOMING Senate kills HB 73, a House-approved measure that would have made it a felony to receive three drunken driving convictions in seven years, or five in a lifetime (CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE). • Still in WYOMING, Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) signs HB 46, a measure that makes dogfighting a felony punishable by up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine (CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE). • The WYOMING House also endorses SF 65, a measure that would allow prisoners convicted of a felony to request a DNA test to aid in their defense. It moves to a joint House-Senate committee (CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE. • The INDIANA Senate endorses SB 27, legislation that would require anyone arrested on domestic violence charges to spend at least eight hours in jail. It heads to Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) for review (INDIANAPOLIS STAR).  
 
EDUCATION: A CALIFORNIA appellate court rules that parents must have a valid teaching credential in order to educate their children at home. Home-schooling advocates say they will appeal to the state Supreme Court (LOS ANGELES TIMES). • Education officials in ILLINOIS rule that Spanish-speaking public school students must take standardized tests in English. Federal education officials had offered the Prairie State a chance to delay the testing for English-language learners, but state officials declined (CHICAGO TRIBUNE). • The three ARIZONA public universities announce they will equip their officers with military-style assault rifles within the next year. School officials say the weapons will provide officers with long-range shooting capability in case of a VIRGINIA Tech-style assault on campus (ARIZONA REPUBLIC [PHOENIX]). • In an effort to encourage people to take better care of their teeth, the KENTUCKY House approves HB 186, a bill that would require children ages 3-6 to obtain a dental health certificate before starting school. The Bluegrass State has the highest percentage in the nation of toothless adults under age 65 (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER).  
 
ENVIRONMENT: A federal appeals court upholds a lower court ruling that requires the U.S. Navy to restrict its use of powerful submarine-detecting sonar within 12 nautical miles of the CALIFORNIA coast. The Bush administration was seeking a waiver for the Navy, claiming use of the sonar during training exercises was a matter of national security. Naval officials are considering an appeal (LOS ANGELES TIMES). • The federal Environmental Protection Agency issues a written justification for blocking a Golden State law to curb greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The release allows a lawsuit brought against the EPA by CALIFORNIA and 18 other states to move forward (LOS ANGELES TIMES). • The GEORGIA House approves HB 1281, which requires cities and counties to adopt get permission before imposing outdoor watering restrictions rules that are tougher than the state's. The bill moves to the Senate (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION).  
 
HEALTH & SCIENCE: The NEW JERSEY Senate endorses a bill that would make the Garden State only the third in the nation to allow workers to take paid leave to care for a newborn or a sick relative. It moves to the Assembly (NEW YORK TIMES). • The COLORADO Senate approves SB 164, a bill that would eliminate the $250,000 cap on jury awards in medical malpractice cases that involve physical disfigurement or impairment. It moves to the House (PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN). • The WASHINGTON House endorses SB 5261, which would require the state insurance commissioner to approve rate increases on individual health insurance plans. It moves back to the Senate (SEATTLE TIMES). • The VIRGINIA General Assembly unanimously approves a package of bills that will give families and courts greater flexibility in having people who are mentally ill involuntarily committed. They move to Gov. Tim Kaine (D) for review (WASHINGTON POST).  
 
HOMELAND SECURITY: Health officials in CALIFORNIA release new "surge capacity guidelines" that call for, among many other things, allowing older or sicker patients to die in order to save the lives of others with a better chance of surviving a natural disaster, biochemical attack or flu pandemic. The plan also lists which patient protections may be waived in the event of such an emergency (SACRAMENTO BEE).  
 
IMMIGRATION: A federal appeals court rejects a request for an emergency injunction against a new ARIZONA law that would strip companies of their business license if they knowingly employ illegal immigrants. A full hearing on the law's constitutionality takes place later this year (ARIZONA REPUBLIC [PHOENIX]). • The UTAH Legislature approves SB 81, which would, among other provisions, require employers to verify the legal status of their workers, bar "sanctuary cities" and make it illegal to harbor or transport illegal immigrants. It moves now to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) for review (DESERET MORNING NEWS [SALT LAKE CITY]). • The MISSISSIPPPI House endorses SB 2988, legislation that would require Magnolia State employers to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm their workers are in the country legally. Violators could lose their business license for a year. It moves to Gov. Haley Barbour (R) for review (CLARION-LEDGER [JACKSON]).  
 
SOCIAL POLICY: The ARIZONA House endorses HB 2769, which would change the state's definition of partial-birth abortion to conform to federal law. It would also raise the penalty for performing the procedure from a class 6 to a class 5 penalty. It moves to the Senate (ARIZONA REPUBLIC [PHOENIX]). • The ARIZONA House passes HB 2263, legislation that would require a minor to prove by clear and convincing evidence that she is mature enough to get an abortion without her parents' consent. It moves to the Senate (ARIZONA REPUBLIC [PHOENIX]). • The ILLINOIS House approves legislation that would make it voluntary for schools to begin the day with a moment of silence that could be used for prayer or silent reflection. State law currently makes the practice mandatory. It moves to the Senate (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH). • The WASHINGTON Senate approves HB 3104, a measure that would grant same-sex couples 170 new rights, including the right to share bank accounts and to hold common property. It moves to Gov. Christine Gregoire (D), who is expected to sign it into law (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER).  
 
POTPOURRI: A TENNESSEE House committee approves SB 2399, a bill that would require antifreeze producers to make the liquid bitter in order to discourage animals from drinking it. It moves to the full House (KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL). • VIRGINIA Gov. Tim Kaine (D) vetoes SB 476, which would have allowed gun owners to pack their weapons in restaurants and other places that sell liquor. Kaine also vetoed Senate Bill 436, which would have allowed people without concealed-carry permits to store guns in locked vehicle compartments (ROANOKE TIMES).

THE RED BADGE OF GUNFIRE: It isn't exactly a secret that many members of the UTAH Legislature have concealed carry permits that allow them to bring weapons to work. As the Salt Lake Tribune reports, many handgun-sporting lawmakers have in recent years even taken to wearing special red lapel pins in order to identify one another as they toodle about the statehouse. The idea that legislators might be armed clearly never enters some people's mind, however. Such as the time in 2005 when the UTAH Jazz Bear, the NBA team's mascot, burst into the House chamber and fired off a round from a confetti cannon. The sudden loud interruption understandably startled the heck out of everyone, so much so that Rep. Curtis Oda immediately went for his sidearm. Thankfully, the situation was diffused before the mascot ended up literally taking one for the team. 
 
HELL HATH NO FURY like that of a lawmaker scorned. Or at least one who feels like his team got jobbed. Witness SOUTH CAROLINA Rep. Harold Mitchell, who, as the Spartanburg Herald-Examiner reports, has introduced House Bill 4794, a measure to require officials to use television replays to resolve close plays during high school football and basketball playoff games. A Spartanburg native, Mitchell filed the measure after Spartanburg High School lost the state basketball title game when refs ruled that a potential game-winning shot came after the buzzer had sounded. Since current rules don't allow the refs to review the shot on video, that was that. An incensed Mitchell says that has to change because he doesn't want any school to "ever go through anything like this again." Or perhaps another sports-obsessed lawmaker. 
 
GO UNO, GO UNO: When they have wrapped up figuring out how to referee basketball games, SOUTH CAROLINA pols can turn their attention to HB 4811, which, as State Net notes, would fete Uno on the House floor. Yes, that Uno, the Palmetto State beagle who was recently named the grand champion of the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club's annual dog show in New York City. Now we all know that politics really has gone to the dogs of late, but isn't this carrying things a bit too far? Someone might want to lay down some newspapers just in case Uno isn't as impressed with lawmakers as they are with him.  
 
BRETT FAVRE, POLICY FACILITATOR: Last week was an understandably sad one for Cheeseheads everywhere, what with the retirement of Green Bay Packers quarterback/deity Brett Favre and all. Perhaps no fan was more bummed out than WISCONSIN Gov. Jim Doyle, who gushed for five minutes to the WISCONSIN Radio Network about how much Favre had meant to the entire state during his 16 years under center for the Pack. Good times at Lambeau Field apparently also equate to "happy-happy joy-joy" under the Capitol dome in Madison, as Doyle lamented that it is "always easier to govern the state when the Packers are winning." Gee, nothing like putting even more pressure on Aaron Rogers, Favre's expected replacement. At least we already know who to blame if things take a big dumper in the Badger State next season.  
 
GUILT-FREE GUZZLING: CALIFORNIA Sen. Jim Battin is mad as Hell and he isn't going to take it any more. Responding to criticism for bombing around the Golden State in a gas-guzzling Lincoln Navigator, the irked lawmaker bought himself some absolution by plunking down $45 to get his rig a carbon offset sticker. But as the Palm Springs Desert Sun reports, Battin ain't done yet. He has also proposed legislation to allow anyone who has bought a carbon offset to drive in freeway carpool lanes. To further flip the figurative bird at his critics, Battin issued a press release touting his joy at the thought of allowing "every owner of a polluting, flashy, fuel-sucking car" to use the HOV lane, adding "I feel great about my carbon credit indulgence and think many other Californians will, too, when they are driving guilt-free in the empty diamond lane." All together now: What a charmer!