This is a sampling of political writers Josh Richman and Lisa Vorderbrueggen's blog, The Political Blotter. Read more and post comments at www.ibabuzz.com/politics.

Nov. 2

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen today announced proponents of a new initiative may begin collecting petition signatures for their measure:

"REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO OFFER CHRISTMAS MUSIC. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Requires public schools to offer an opportunity for students to listen to or perform Christmas music during the holiday season. Requires schools to notify students' parents or guardians 21 days before the music will be played or performed so that students can opt out of listening to or performing the music. Provides that a civil lawsuit may be brought to enforce these requirements. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Probably minor annual costs to school districts. (09-0030.)"

I see the cover letter for the initiative says it's "allowing for Christmas music in the public schools," and the new section of state law the measure seeks to enact would be entitled, "Freedom to Present Christmas Music in Public School Classrooms or Assemblies."

But the measure's actual language clearly states "shall provide opportunities to its pupils for listening to or performing Christmas music

Proponents Merry Susan Hyatt — the cover letter says she "moved to Redding but I will keep my registration in Riverside County," a neat trick — and David Joseph Hyatt — Merry's brother, in Shasta County — must collect valid signatures from at least 433,971 registered voters by March 29 in order to qualify their measure for the November 2010 ballot.

Nov. 2

S.K. Seymour LLC, the partnership that runs Oaksterdam University and its related "cannabusinesses," last Tuesday gave $10,000 to Hope 2010, a ballot measure committee (formerly known as Leadership California) controlled by former state Senate President Pro Tem and 2010 Oakland mayoral candidate Don Perata. Perata in September publicly endorsed the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010," the marijuana legalization ballot measure co-proposed by S.K. Seymour LLC partner and Oaksterdam University President Richard Lee. Hope 2010 is supporting the California Cancer Research Act, a proposed ballot measure that would raise the state's tobacco tax to fund grants and loans for research; to create, staff and equip California's research facilities; and to boost efforts to reduce tobacco use. The measure is awaiting preparation of its title and summary by the state Attorney General's office; it looks as if the campaign has a Web site being built but not yet ready for public viewing.

In other news, Palo Alto physicist Charles T. Munger Jr., son of Warren Buffett's billionaire investor partner, last week put $701,260 more into his "Voters First Act for Congress" ballot measure, bringing his total to $1,003,030. The measure would remove authority for setting California's 53 congressional district boundaries from the state Legislature and give that authority to the same Citizens Redistricting Commission that will soon be setting state Legislative boundaries (as required by last year's Proposition 11).

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on Friday put $500,000 more into its somewhat euphemistically named "Californians to Protect Our Right to Vote" committee, pushing a ballot measure that would require local governments to obtain the approval of two-thirds of their voters (rather than a simple majority) before providing electricity to new customers or expanding such service to new territories if any public funds or bonds are involved, or before providing electricity through a community choice program if any public funds or bonds are involved. Critics say PG&E is playing on populist themes to block local governments from abandoning the utility giant in favor of power contracts with smaller, greener energy producers — a movement that's been gaining steam in recent years. The proponents have until Dec. 21 to gather the 694,354 signatures needed to place this on the ballot next year. This contribution brings PG&E's stake as the committee's sole donor to $3.5 million.

And Livermore optometrist Scott Kamena on Friday put $23,000 into his own Kamena for Assembly 2008 committee, which had indicated in its midyear report having $60,749.39 in outstanding debts. Kamena ran in the June 2008 Republican primary for the 15th Assembly District, coming in fourth behind nominee Abram Wilson and candidates Robert Rao and Judy Lloyd.

— Josh Richman