There's a lot of talk about new ballot measures circulating in California and other Western states. The California Teachers Assn., for example, has approved circulation of its initiative that would hike the state sales tax to create a new, protected fund for schools. But that initiative isn't in petition circulators' hands yet, according to a survey I conducted this morning. In fact, signature gatherers appear to be in wait and see mode. There are a handful of local measures. In Sacramento, circulators were just told to turn in signatures on a measure that would seek to put more power in the office of Mayor Kevin Johnson. But that's about it, for now. I'll check back again in a week, when, various circulators assure me, they expect to be busy.

The San Francisco Chronicle has more here on the ballot initiative, filed by lawyers working for the Califorina Teachers Assn., to raise the sales tax to create a new source of education funding. A proposal to raise taxes for new education funds at a time of budget scarcity won't make the union popular in Sacramento.

But there's a case to be made for such an initiative. Education is often blamed for the state's budget problems, because about half the state budget is devoted to schools. But the education part of the budget is growing more slowly than other items, especially health and social services programs. And if schools are the state's top priority, then their funding should be protected from the vagaries of the economy.

I just received a recorded message call opposing Prop 8, the California ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage. The recorded voice belonged to Bonnie Shatun of the California Teachers Assn. She cited the endorsements for the No on 8 position by U.S. Sen Dianne Feinstein and by the League of Women Voters. Such calls suggest that women, perhaps moderate women, are a focus of the outreach of opponents of Prop 8.  The call is also well-timed, and suggests a more organized campaign against Prop 8 than we saw a few months ago.. A new ad by Feinstein against Prop 8 has just gone up. More on that to come.

The Capitol Weekly reports that the powerful California Teachers Association is holding an emergency meeting of its board today to discuss how to respond to the just-passed budget. CTA is unhappy about the budget -- who isn't? -- and is taking action as a result. On the table, according to the Weekly: 1. no spending on Democratic legislative campaigns this fall. 2. a ballot measure to reverse corporate tax cuts that are in the budget, and 3. endorsing Prop 11, the redistricting reform initiative on this November's ballot. If CTA were to back Prop 11 with its endorsement and money, it might give the cause of redistricting reform -- never a popular cause -- enough push to get it over the top.

The California Teachers Assn. is the 500-pound strongman of the state's politics. Republicans like to criticize the union, and Democrats privately grumble about its power. But whether you like the union's policies or not, it has a better record of delivering politically than any politician or any other interest group in California. In a state full of talkers, CTA is a doer.

From the Department of Some Wars Never End: The Education Intelligence Agency, which monitors teachers' unions, reports that the California Teachers Assn. is attempting to hold onto part of the $60 annual dues assessment that was passed in 2005 to fight Gov. Schwarzenegger's ballot initiatives and education cuts. $40 of the assessment would go away, but $20 would remain as a voluntary contribution, $10 for issue advocacy and $10 for a a non-profit foundation CTA wants to create, EIA says.

EIA is critical of CTA for making it hard for members to refuse to make this voluntary contribution. But, looking at the current political climate, CTA's desire to hold on to some of that money is defensible. Schwarzenegger is again talking about budget reform that could impinge on Prop. 98, the education funding formula that governs nearly half of California's budget and helps make the union the most powerful interest group in the Capitol. Having fought so hard and long for its influence, the union would not be serving its members if it wasn't prepared as possible to defend the formula at the drop of a hat.