You know it's been an odd week when the Legislature rejects a plan to buy itself more time.

But that's where things stand as of this morning, and this week's Capital Notes Podcast examines the week so far, from stalled spending cuts to the specter of IOUs and beyond.

Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I also take a look at the big news about the mayor who's not going to run for governor in 2010.

(And yes, the podcast was recorded late Thursday... so beware the shelf life should some budget breakthrough happen from here on out.)

Dramatic writers know that once you've turned the corner from Act One -- where you set up the point of your story -- and towards Act Two -- things start to get interesting. And complicated.

And that's a good description of where we find ourselves in the debate over resolving California's fiscal crisis.

On this week's Capital Notes Podcast, Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I examine the Democratic budget proposal, the road ahead for negotiations over compromise, and the uncertainty of how much time lawmakers have... before the state runs out of money.

Pick your analogy... an impression of the gamesmanship now being played, and where where things stand inside the state Capitol on resolving California's $20+ billion budget deficit. For now, they're both valid.

On this week's Capital Notes Podcast, we examine where things stand on budget negotiations... from the debate over what is (or isn't) a "reserve" to possible divisions between Democrats in the Senate and Assembly.

Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I also discuss what might happen next... and how long state finances can hold up while negotiations continue.

It was a tough week for those who depend on a myriad of state social services, and it may only get worse... as California finds itself in a financial tailspin.

On this week's Capital Notes Podcast, we take a look at some of the cuts proposed (including new proposals to reduce state worker pay). Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I also talk about efforts for federal help when it comes to California getting a 'co-signor' on its Wall Street loans.

[program note: A brief podcast hiatus next week, and a return to political coverage the second week of June. --JM]

An election night that everyone got to turn in early, and one of the worst (if not the record) lowest voter turnout in California history. Quite the special election, eh?

In this week's Capital Notes Podcast, we examine the results and the messages of the voters rejecting all of the budget-balancing proposals on Tuesday. As Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I discuss, finding any single message seems... well... impossible.

We also examine this week's dire budget news, including new projections of the deficit and the governor's call for more spending cuts.

Batten down those hatches, the wind's picking up and it's looking ominous. Yes, special election day is almost upon us.

On this week's Capital Notes Podcast, we talk about new deficit projections, what those numbers might mean in terms of budget solutions, and the big budget related election now only four days away.

(And yes, Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I recorded this podcast just before the governor released his two revised budget plans... blame it on the tight schedule of a late afternoon news conference.)

The special election campaign pivots towards a controversial theme as crunch time nears... state government's cash crunch appears to be getting worse... and Assembly Republicans crunch up their veteran leader and put a new person in his stead.

It's another edition of the Capital Notes Podcast. And as Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I report, it was a busy week in California politics.

Oxymorons? Nah, probably just unintended contradictions. But it's a debatable point in a special election campaign that, this week, began to feel as though it was one step away from implosion.

In this week's Capital Notes Podcast, we discuss this week's bombshell poll on the six budget ballot measures (in a podcast recorded just hours after what felt like a literal bombshell outside the state Capitol). Might the campaign be due for a big shakeup?

Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I also discuss this week's battle over legislative salaries... one which won't do much to trim paychecks for those currently in office.

That's green, as in... cash.

On this week's Capital Notes Podcast, a look at the dustup this week over staff salaries in the Assembly, and money raised and spent in the special election campaign.

Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I also check in on a brewing three-way battle for a northern California congressional seat, the race for governor, and the Democrats annual confab this weekend.

Powerful players and the special election. A powerful pol considers jumping into a new contest. Power brokers at the Capitol.

Ah, it's so great when a theme comes together.

This week's Capital Notes Podcast runs down the new endorsements and alliances in the battle over the May 19 special election. We also check in with the rumor mill about a well-known politician who may be hopping into a possibly crowded battle for Congress. And Capitol Weekly's Anthony York runs down his newspaper's new list of the top power brokers in state politics.