California: Kevin Mccarthy

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will skip a scheduled trip to Washington, D.C. next week if there isn't a budget, according to a spokeswoman.

The trip would include his attendance at the National Governor's Association Winter Meeting on Sunday. The next morning, he is to be the "special guest" at a $500 per person breakfast fundraiser for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, at the Capitol Hill Club.

"The governor is scheduled to go to Washington, D.C., for the National Governors' Association conference and for meetings with federal officials," said Julie Soderlund, a political spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger. "However, if there is not a budget, he won't be going."

Andy Stone, western regional press secretary with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, called on Schwarzenegger to skip the trip.

State Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Merced) formally announced a bid Thursday for lieutenant governor in 2010, and in doing received the endorsement of three other potential competitors for the Republican nomination.

Denham, who is termed out of his 12th Senate District seat in two years, said in a statement released by his campaign that he would focus on improving the state's regulatory environment for businesses, selling properties the state owns needlessly, and curb perks for top officials at the cash-strapped University of California system.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) became the chief deputy whip of House Republicans Monday, making him the third highest ranking Republican in Congress, a remarkable ascension for the 43-year-old two-term congressman.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Events for the California delegation to this week's Republican National Convention are scheduled to go on as planned Sunday evening and Monday morning, but are subject to change as events surrounding Hurricane Gustav warrant.

A spokesman at the delegation's press office noted that with Monday's convention events at the Xcel Energy Center scaled back Sunday to just a brief meeting, the schedule of speakers and other events for succeeding days is also likely to change.