The Skinny

So, we all know the governor has decided not to sign bills. But one Assembly staffer is opting to hit Capitol insiders where it hurts — in their sweet tooth. Char Booth, scheduler for Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, has drawn her own line in the sand in the face of the ongoing budget stalemate. Booth, who is known for keeping a plentiful supply of gummy worms on her desk for Capitol snackers, says no more, until the budget is signed. She says she will be "withholding all gummy worms – both regular AND sour – until we have a state budget." Though it remained unclear whether or not there was any wiggle room — so to speak — in her pronouncement. Speculation has arisen that the governor might make an exception to his vow to sign a high-speed rail measure in time to qualify it for the November ballot. Could Booth be similarly slippery in her vow? She says no. Here's hoping it's all moot in a couple of days anyway…As hordes of lobbyists swarmed outside the Assembly chambers Tuesday, spilling into the halls, a small, but regal procession made its way through the ornate Capitol rotunda. It was Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her entourage, leaving Don Perata's office, and on her way to drop in on the Assembly Speaker, Karen Bass. Feinstein was up here to lobby for a new water bond. But we couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she wasn't casing the joint for some other type of political endeavor…