Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle says he’ll be contacting Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal to get his fellow Republican and prospective 2012 presidential candidate up to speed on the proposed Anaheim-to-Las Vegas “maglev” train: “It’s a very valuable contribution to the future of our county. I do take offense at the lack of awareness.” Conservatives who’d normally applaud Pringle’s “freedom friendly” initiatives are blasting the project,eligible for some of the $8 billion designated for high-speed rail in the federal stimulus package,as a “train to nowhere” and “sin express.” Jindal criticized “the train from Disneyland to Las Vegas” during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” then cited it as “wasteful spending” during his GOP response to President Obama’s State of the Union speech. Pringle says the train ($40 billion estimated price tag) is the kind of new-tech, public-private venture that could help revive the economy; the first leg would improve SoCal transportation by providing service to LA/Ontario Inter-national Airport. The train would link “a county of 3 million to the major populace of Nevada. I don’t know which end is nowhere.” He suggests conservatives aim higher. “Where is the angst over the stimulus package when it blows up welfare reform?” Pringle asked, before heading to Washington, D.C., with OCTA Chairman Peter Buffa to lobby for transportation money …
OC’s Republican donor groups are divided over the state budget compromise. New Majority Chairman Larry Higby calls it “the best deal available.” Lincoln Club Prez Rich Wagner calls it “a bad deal for taxpayers, businesses and future generations of Californians.” Higby says the NM played a behind-the-scenes role during negotiations, helping to persuade Gov. Schwarzenegger, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines and Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill to form “a united front,” reject the Democrats’ “simple majority tax hike” and secure more budget cuts and a ballot measure to limit spending; the GOP negotiators “followed the New Majority road map as best as possible.” The LC opposes the budget for the tax increases it does contain; Executive Director Clare Venegas says members may back efforts to punish those few Republican lawmakers who voted for it. (Cogdill has already lost his leadership post to Dennis Hollingsworth of Murrieta, who in turn has named Laguna Hills’ Mimi Walters as the party’s assistant Senate leader) …
Auto Club chief, New Majority OC chair and “California Forward” co-chair Tom McKernan discusses state finance reform at Wednesday’s OC Forum luncheon. Info at www.ocforum.org …
Retired Pimco CEO Bill Thompson is honored, and some of agent David Dunn’s football clients are slated to appear, at the Athletes First gala benefiting Orangewood Saturday at the St. Regis Monarch Beach. Info at www.orangewoodfoundation.org …
Recuperating Stan Oftelie’s tube count is down from nine to five …
Tiebreaker? Chapman U Prez Jim Doti has added his name, along with trusteee Wylie Aitken, against California’s Prop. 8 same-sex-marriage ban. That aligns Doti with dozens of Chapman plaintiffs, but against Law Dean John Eastman and three other profs who support Prop. 8’s legality.
