Please join us this Saturday morning, May 2, in San Diego for what should be a fascinating discussion about the ballot measures on the May 19 special election. The event runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the San Diego Hall of Champions. (Sports fans out there would be wise to make it a day of California governance and sports). The event is free, but be sure to reserve yourself a seat by signing up here or here. And you can consider this brunch if you like--there will be food.

The panel is headlined by former Congressman and former state finance director Tom Campbell, who has thought as deeply about the state budget as anyone alive. (He has an interesting discussion on tax reform currently running on his web site).  Also on the panel are Chris Reed of the San Diego Union-Tribune, writer of America's Finest Blog; New America senior scholar Mark Paul; and your blogger. The co-sponsors are New America, the Center for Policy Initiatives, and the City Club of San Diego.

President Clinton is scheduled to give a speech Sunday in San Diego to something called the International Franchise Association. Bad move. The location of the speech is a Hyatt hotel that has been the subject of a boycott by the No on 8 folks (that is, supporters of same-sex marriage) since the hotel's owner gave to the Yes on 8 campaign during last year's initiative campaign. The Courage Campaign, a progressive group with an an active Internet organizing operation here in California, is sending out emails and petitions urging Clinton to cancel the speech. Labor unions, which have been battling the hotel, also are boycotting.

The new tax reform commission met this week in San Diego. There have been high hopes that the commission might produce a new tax blueprint for the state. But the first meeting was a bit of a struggle, with a lack of consensus on what the commission's focus should be, according to Joel Fox, who was there and provided this report at Fox & Hounds Daily.

I'll be making appearances in the San Diego area to talk about the California political climate, ballot initiatives, and the presidential race. Listen for me on KPBS in the 9 a.m. hour on Tuesday, April 15. And you can see me at the Solana Beach Library at 6:30 p.m. that evening.

I'll be out of pocket the rest of Thursday--in transit...

Ralph Nader's challenge to an Arizona law prohibiting non-residents from collecting signatures on presidential petitions has been scheduled for an April 15 hearing before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

RENEWABLE INITIATIVES: From a small paper in Missouri, a pretty good overview of renewable energy standards in different states, with some attention to those states that have imposed these by ballot initiative.

STILL NOTHING FROM  COLORADO MEETING: Rocky Mountain News says the governor's attempt to head off labor-business initiative war didn't go well. And here's more evidence that the ill will is building.

SAN DIEGO PORT: Opposition mounts to a San Diego ballot measure that could lead to commercial development inside that city's struggling port.