The owner of a firm that the California Republican Party hired to register tens of thousands of voters this year was arrested in Ontario over the weekend on suspicion of voter registration fraud.

State and local investigators allege that Mark Jacoby fraudulently registered himself to vote at a childhood California address where he no longer lives so he would appear to meet the legal requirement that all signature gatherers be eligible to vote in California. His firm, Young Political Majors, or YPM, collects petition signatures and registers voters in California and other states.

Jacoby's arrest by state investigators and the Ontario Police Department late Saturday came after dozens of voters said they were duped into registering as Republicans by people employed by YPM. The voters said YPM workers tricked them by saying they were signing a petition to toughen penalties against child molesters.

The firm was paid $7 to $12 for every Californian it registered as a member of the GOP.

John McCain's campaign has directed $175,000 to the firm of a Republican operative accused of massive voter registration fraud in several states.

According to campaign finance records, a joint committee of the McCain-Palin campaign, the RNC and the the California Republican Party, made a $175,000 payment to the group Lincoln Strategy in June for purposes of "registering voters." The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms and even, once, spearheading efforts to get Ralph Nader on ballots so as to hinder the Democratic ticket.

More from the Sproul file:

Indeed, Sproul's history is filled with allegations of political misdeeds. During the 2004 election, Sproul & Associates (the former name of Lincoln Strategy) was accused of attempting to destroy forms collected by Democratic voters in Nevada. That same year in Oregon, Sproul & Associates allegedly instructed canvassers to only accept Republican registration forms in addition to destroying those turned in by Democrats.

In Minnesota, meanwhile, Sproul's firm was accused of actually firing workers who brought back Democratic registration forms, while other canvassers were allegedly paid "$13 an hour, with the $3 bonus for every Bush, undecided or Ralph Nader voter registration." Similar problems related to Sproul & Associates popped up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The number of job cuts announced in September rose as the economy slowed, according to a report released Wednesday.

Positions on the cutting board rose 7.2% to 95,094 from 88,736 the previous month, and were 33% higher than the same month last year, when 71,739 cuts were announced, according to outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

September brought the announced layoff total for the third quarter to 287,142 - the largest number since 2005, according to the report.

We cannot afford four more years of the same.

Riordan said the Illinois senator was by far the best choice for the White House and the only one with the intellect to shepherd the country through troubled economic times. "He's extremely bright and energetic, and he's a guy who gets things done," said Riordan, who was a successful venture capitalist before he was elected mayor in 1993, serving two terms.

Riordan criticized GOP presidential nominee John McCain's past support for financial deregulation, saying it helped trigger the mortgage crisis and subsequent economic downturn. "There's nothing in his background that shows he's a person who can understand these complicated economic issues, or shows that he is entrepreneurial enough to bring about change."

"John McCain's decision to raise money from one of the key figures in the Jack Abramoff scandal - one of Abramoff's conspirators in a money laundering scheme - is a very disappointing example of John McCain abandoning his principles on the campaign trail. He claimed to be a reformer? Well, reformer no more," said Congressman Waxman.

Earlier this week, news reports revealed that Reed, one of Abramoff's closest business associates, emailed supporters to say that he had joined McCain's Victory 2008 and asked people to contribute to the McCain campaign. While McCain brags about investigating Abramoff on the campaign trail, McCain is refusing to cancel a fundraiser in Atlanta despite Reed's shady ties to Abramoff and despite calls from independent watchdog groups.

"So deep was Ralph Reed involved in Jack Abramoff's schemes to bilk his clients and advance gambling interests - so caught up in the Washington culture of corruption was Ralph Reed that he lost a party primary in Georgia for Lieutenant Governor in 2006. But even after all that disgrace, after all that controversy - after the reports of tainted money - John McCain is depending on Ralph Reed of all people to fill his campaign coffers," said Waxman.

"Raising money with Ralph Reed shows that the John McCain who ran in 2000 would have a hard time considering voting for the John McCain we see today. Senator McCain has changed. He's taking advice from Karl Rove and Karl Rove's minions - and now he's adopting Karl Rove and Dick Cheney anything goes style of low road politics. The John McCain who used to go out and try to root out this sort of corruption is now appearing to me to be a desperate candidate who will say anything and raise money anywhere with absolutely anyone to pay for a lot of the false and negative ads that we have seen."

To listen to the full call, click here: http://www.democrats.org/page/-/audio/calls/081508__Waxman%20call%20on%20Ralph%20Reed.mp3

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to sign an executive order next week that will reduce pay for more than 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour to preserve cash in the midst of a month-long budget standoff, according to a draft copy of the order obtained by The Bee.

$6.55 an hour to pay the rent, keep the lights on, gas up their cars and feed their families. For some perspective, in college at the University of Arizona, I worked 40 hours a week on $7.85 and struggled to pay a modest rent along with all the bills, and I did not drive a car then, either. Gov. Schwarzenegger expects families to survive on $262 gross pay per week?

Democrats across the state are fighting this attempt to thrust the burden of the California budget onto the shoulders of 200,000 state workers with massive cuts.

Controller John Chiang, Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, and twenty-seven members of the California congressional delegation led by Rep. Hilda Solis are leading the fight to stop Arnold from shifting the budget burden onto 200,000 state workers.

Assembly Republicans defeated a bill that would close the so-called "sloop hole" that allows owners of yachts and private planes to dodge a use-tax by parking the vehicles out of state for the first three months after purchase.

California loses an estimated $26 million a year because of the current law...

Currently, the state is facing a $14 billion budget deficit. To give you a sense of the misplaced priorities, while California Republicans were protecting yacht owners, hundreds of disabled and seniors rallied at the State Capitol to protest 18 percent cuts to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).

Local activists have bombarded the state GOP with calls. When they turned off their phones, they found other ways to voice their displeasure.

"Our nation has lost a great public servant with the passing of Representative Tom Lantos. In serving his constituents and his country, Tom never forgot the Democratic Party's ideals of freedom, fairness, and opportunity for all. As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he was an authority on foreign policy issues and a voice for the oppressed. The only Holocaust survivor in Congress, he was a forceful and passionate advocate for civil liberties and human rights. Today, I join with countless others across the country in offering my thoughts and prayers to Rep. Lantos' family and friends as we honor his life and legacy."

Congressman Waxman is on the case, seeking "transcribed interviews." And in the Senate, Senator Boxer will be holding hearings with EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson on January 24th where he'll try to explain himself.

Some background:

Late last year, Johnson, over the unanimous objection of his staff, arbitrarily denied California's petition to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. He was even told that the EPA would lose the case if California sued -- which they did, as expected, along with fifteen other states.

California Majority Report first reported the item earlier this week, but the story was denied by Doolittle's staff until today when the official announcement was made.

It was only several months ago that Doolittle declared, "I am running again. Period."

Doolittle's office is reporting that they have nothing to report, but the Politico cites "House GOP insiders" as saying that the retirement story is accurate.

WHO: Speaker Nancy Pelosi

WHAT: Weekly Democratic Radio Address

WHEN: Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 11:06 a.m. (EST)

WHERE: Major radio networks, including AP, ABC, NPR, CBS Radio, CNN Radio, C-SPAN, Armed Forces Radio Network, American Urban Radio Network, Voice of America Radio Network, BBC Radio, CBC Radio, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Below are unembargoed excerpts for immediate release:

"This week, Congress has acted to put America on a road to energy independence with a New Direction for Energy Security.

"In order to reduce the price at the pump, our legislation increased fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. This legislation is historic - it is the first time in 32 years that Congress has raised these standards, known as CAFE.

"With our new energy legislation, Congress takes us in a New Direction. Instead of remaining wedded to the failed energy policy of the past, the New Direction Congress has embraced a clean, renewable, energy independent future for America.

Washington, D.C. - House Speaker Nancy

Pelosi delivers the Democratic Radio Address.

"Our energy bill will strengthen our national security, protect consumers from spiraling energy prices, create jobs, and meet our moral obligation to preserve our planet for future generations. It will tell the world that America is prepared to become a leader in addressing the global climate crisis."

Below is a transcript of her remarks:

Embargoed until Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. EST

"Good morning. This is Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

"This week, Congress has acted to put America on a road to energy independence with a New Direction for Energy Security.

"Energy independence is an economic issue for America's families; it is an urgent national security issue; it is an environmental and health issue; and it is a moral issue.

"In this holiday season, Americans are struggling to pay their energy bills.

"Michael Johnson in California says, 'I've got to balance my expenses for gas, food, and work. [Gas] has taken a chunk out of my budget.'

"Frank Ban of Pennsylvania has turned down his thermostat. As he explained, 'If I cut back on my heating use any more, my pipes would freeze.'

"Spiraling prices at the pump, soaring costs for home heating - these make a move to energy independence essential.

"In order to reduce the price at the pump, our legislation increased fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. This legislation is historic - it is the first time in 32 years that Congress has raised these standards, known as CAFE.

"CAFE standards will save the average driver $700 to $1,000 each year. That adds up to $22 billion in net annual consumer savings in 2020.

"Increased fuel efficiency will mean savings for your family and greater security for our country. Energy independence is essential to our national security. In the words of retired Admiral Dennis McGinn: 'Our dependence on foreign oil is a clear and present danger to Americans.tough fuel economy standards.increase our safety and well-being,' he said.

"One way to make Americans safer is to grow our energy here at home. That is why we have made an historic commitment to homegrown biofuels - increasing the Renewable Fuels Standard to 36 billion gallons in 2020. The crops America's farmers grow are becoming the fuel that powers our cars. We will send our energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East - to farmers nationwide. America's farmers will fuel America's energy independence, promoting small businesses and creating millions of new jobs.

"Energy security is closely related to global warming - the greatest environmental challenge facing the planet. The urgency of that challenge was recognized this week as former Vice President Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and as world leaders gathered for the Bali global warming conference. The Bush Administration has responded far too slowly to the threat of climate change.

"With our new energy legislation, Congress takes us in a New Direction. Instead of remaining wedded to the failed energy policy of the past, the New Direction Congress has embraced a clean, renewable, energy independent future for America.

"Our energy bill will strengthen our national security, protect consumers from spiraling energy prices, create jobs, and meet our moral obligation to preserve our planet for future generations. It will tell the world that America is prepared to become a leader in addressing the global climate crisis.

"I am hopeful that President Bush will join us in this effort by signing our historic legislation into law.

"This is the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Thank you for listening. Happy holidays to you and your family, and a special holiday greeting to our brave men and women in uniform."