California Recovery Task Force Announces $110 Million In Recovery Act Awards For Energy Efficiency and Solar Projects

The California Recovery Task Force today announced the largest amount of State Energy Program (SEP) funds awarded  through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) for energy efficiency and solar projects. Aimed at promoting statewide economic vitality and building a clean energy workforce, the SEP Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit and Municipal Financing Programs will provide a combined $110 million to California local jurisdictions, non-profits and private organizations. This will fund an estimated 1,100 jobs and will help to save money on consumer and commercial utility bills. 
“Putting skilled Californians back to work is a main priority of the California Recovery Task Force, and the State Energy Program will help stimulate the economy in all regions of the state,” said Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of the California Recovery Task Force Herb K. Schultz. “California has always been and will continue to be the national leader in advanced energy efficiency efforts – efforts that continue to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emmissions and petroleum dependence.”
With these awards, nearly 85 percent of the SEP funds are committed to energy saving projects that fund jobs statewide, including 12 projects for the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programs. For every one dollar in Recovery Act funds invested, California will have successfully leveraged $3 of state, utility or private funds – bringing in more than $300 million in public and private funding and utility rebates. 

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute  Seeks Applicants for 2010-2011 Fellowships

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Hispanic educational and youth leadership development organization, is recruiting upcoming and recent college graduates for its nine-month fellowship programs in Washington, D.C.  CHCI was recognized in 2009 as one of the Top Twenty Leadership Programs for Latinos by Latino Leaders magazine.
Applications for CHCI’s Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program and its Public Policy Fellowship Program are available now at www.CHCI.org. 
 “For almost three decades, CHCI has made a difference in the lives of young Hispanics – providing unparalleled, hands-on work experience and a national competitive edge,” said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President and CEO. “CHCI continues to meet the demands of a growing Latino youth population through innovative leadership development opportunities that prepare the next generation of Latino youth and our nation’s future leaders.”
The Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program is proud to announce the addition of secondary and higher education fellowships in 2010 to develop a cadre of young leaders in the education policy field that will serve as catalysts for much needed reform in the education and achievement of Latino students.
This program offers exceptional Latino graduates unparalleled exposure to experience in the underserved public policy areas of: health, housing, international affairs, law, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and now education. The fellowship is open to applicants with a graduate degree from an accredited educational institution in the last three years. This competitive program is comprised of a nine-month fellowship including a substantive work placement at a congressional office or federal agency. The International Affairs Fellowship includes three months abroad in Mexico. Travel, health insurance and a $2,700 monthly stipend is provided. The Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program application deadline is February 19, 2010.
CHCI’s Public Policy Fellowship Program, conducted from August to May, provides college graduates with national hands-on public policy experience in a congressional office, federal agency, nonprofit sector, or corporate setting. Fellowship participants are provided with health insurance, roundtrip transportation to and from Washington, D.C., and a monthly stipend of $2,200. The Public Policy Fellowship Program application deadline is February 19, 2010. 

CHCI, in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in Washington, DC, and the Escuela Diplomatica of Madrid, Spain is also recruiting students to apply to the Escuela Diplomatica's Master’s in Diplomacy and International Relations program.
To learn more about the Master's in Diplomacy and International Relations program at the Escuela Diplomatica in Madrid click here. The program dates are from October 2010 to June 2011. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish (speaking, reading and writing) as all lectures and course work will be in conducted in Spanish. Application Deadline: February 19, 2010.

To be eligible, all program applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, have remarkable leadership potential, and have a demonstrated history and commitment to community and public service.  

Committee Approves Job Creation Bill
 
SACRAMENTO – The Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing approved the first of several bills to help jumpstart California’s economy and create thousands of new jobs.  On a xx-xx vote, the committee approved legislation authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) to create nearly 1,600 construction jobs for shovel-ready projects by accelerating up to $105 million in Proposition 1C housing bond funds.
“Last year, California hit an all-time low in residential construction,” said Yee.  “In fact, more than 70 percent of jobs associated with residential construction have been lost in just the past four years.  This bill will help stimulate the economy and bring good-paying jobs for California families.”
Under Yee’s proposal, $15 million would be used for grants and loans for brownfield cleanup that promotes housing and mixed-use development in infill areas; up to $60 million in loans for non-profit and private home builders to construct, rehabilitate, or persevere affordable housing for low-income households; $25 million in grants to build and upgrade parks for local governments that invest in or approve affordable housing; and $5 million in grants for local governments to provide down-payment assistance to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers.
“This legislation will spur critical environmental cleanup as well as provide affordable housing and parks for those most in need,” said Yee.  “As part of an overall jobs package, SBx8 28 will help bring down our record unemployment rate and jumpstart our economy.”
SBx8 28 is part of a comprehensive bill package introduced by Senate Democrats to invest existing state and federal funds for targeted projects, expand jobs in the new economy, prepare Californians for jobs in growth industries, and provide working families with sorely needed relief.  
The bill package proposes to create 140,000 jobs without raising taxes or waiving any environmental, consumer, or workplace protection laws.  Further, all of the bills need only a majority vote for approval.  
The California Research Bureau has concluded that a jobs package which creates 100,000 jobs creates $6.7 billion in economic activity per year, saves the General Fund approximately $2.3 billion in increased revenue and avoided costs, and results in a net increase in employment of approximately 300,000 jobs- reducing unemployment by 275,000.
SBx8 28 will be considered tomorrow by the Appropriations Committee before heading to the Senate floor.

Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Senate for Confirming Maldonado as Lieutenant Governor
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement applauding the California State Senate for confirming Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) as Lieutenant Governor:
"I applaud the California State Senate for showing bipartisan leadership today and confirming Senator Abel Maldonado as Lieutenant Governor. Senator Maldonado has been a dedicated public servant and I urge the Assembly to follow suit and confirm his nomination immediately, so the legislature can get back to focusing on creating jobs, solving our budget crisis and addressing the other critical issues that face California."

Crece malestar de estadounidenses contra gobierno federal
Washington, (Notimex).- El malestar de los estadounidenses con el gobierno federal ha alcanzado niveles no vistos en diez años, de acuerdo a una nueva encuesta del diario The Washington Post y la cadena ABC.
Un 67 por ciento de los estadunidenses están insatisfechos o molestos por la manera como el gobierno funciona, y en consecuencia que sus impuestos no están siendo bien utilizados.
De hecho la mayoría estimó que 53 centavos de cada dólar que se envía al gobierno federal son malgastados.
Este malestar empero parece no haber favorecido al movimiento del llamado "Partido del Té" que ha sido acreditado con movilizar votantes independientes en contiendas como la de Massachusetts, donde los demócratas perdieron el escaño senatorial de Edward Kennedy.
Dos terceras partes de los encuestados dijeron conocer poco de este movimiento o su plataforma política, si bien 45 por ciento señalaron coincidir con algunas de sus posiciones, siendo la mayoría de estos electores independientes o republicanos.
La encuesta permitió además establecer un perfil genérico de quienes militan en este movimiento, compuesto mayoritariamente por blancos, conservadores y en general opuestos al presidente Barack Obama.
De igual manera el sondeo mostró que la figura política de la ex Gobernadora de Alaska Sarah Palin no se ha visto fortalecida por su incorporación al "Partido del Té".
Palin fue la oradora principal la semana pasada en la Primera Convención Nacional del Partido del Té, que tomó su nombre de un icónico capítulo registrado en Boston en 1773 durante la época colonial inglesa.
Aunque Palin es vista como una potencial candidata presidencial por este movimiento en el 2012, su percepción entre el electorado en general se mantiene negativa.
Un 55 por ciento de los estadunidenses dijo tener una percepción desfavorable de ella contra 37 por ciento que la ve favorablemente.
Siete de cada diez estadunidenses estima que Palin no esta calificada para servir como presidente, incluso entre los republicanos que apoyaron su candidatura como vicepresidente en la pasada contienda al lado de John McCain.
La encuesta telefónica fue conducida entre el 4 y 8 de febrero entre mil cuatro adultos seleccionados al azar y presenta un margen de error de tres por ciento.