The funding passes the Senate 21-16, with Simitian, Lowenthal, DeSaulnier and Fran Pavley, author of the climate change bill, voting no among the Democrats.

Basically, the Democratic Senators leaning again passage from more labor-heavy districts came home: Senators Leland Lee, Noreen Evans and Gloria Negrete McLeod voted yes, which was enough to bring it over the top. The three Senators that stayed No were the loudest of the CHSRA critics, and a State Senator who will be running in a substantially less liberal district than previously, following redistricting.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.