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Anthem Blue Cross asked to justify controversial rate hikes -- In a letter to the company, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius voices concern over the rates, which take effect March 1 for many of the insurer's 800,000 individual policyholders. Duke Helfand in the Los Angeles Times Alec MacGillis in the Washington Post -- 2/8/10 Schwarzenegger to carry Olympic torch -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is traveling to Vancouver to serve as a torchbearer Friday morning for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the committee organizing the Games announced Monday. Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Three Democrats call for Abel Maldonado's rejection -- As Sen. Abel Maldonado's confirmation hearing in the Assembly Rules Committee was postponed until Tuesday, three Assembly Democrats held a Capitol news conference arguing that Maldonado's nomination as lieutenant governor should be rejected. Capitol Weekly's Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times Susan Ferriss SacBee Capitol Alert -- 2/8/10 The Lite Guv Intrigue Continues -- The nominee getting hit from both the left and the right… the urgency, or lack thereof, in having a new #2… and the fact that someone's actually doing the job as we speak. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 2/8/10 Harry Reid to hit up California for cash -- Congress may not be in the mood to do much to help California out of its budget mess, but that isn't stopping prominent lawmakers from looking to the state to keep their campaign coffers full. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Steve Poizner reports no campaign cash (over 5K) this year -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner was already badly lagging rival Meg Whitman in the polls. Now comes another piece of bad news: he has yet to receive any contributions this year over $5,000, according to the Secretary of State's Web site. Jack Chang SacBee Capitol Alert -- 2/8/10 Brown asks CalPERS, STRS to sever ties to Iran-linked firms -- Brown, a likely candidate for governor this year, said the pension funds should "show some leadership and stop supporting companies that do business with a tyrannical regime." He said the pension funds’ annual reports did not include necessary information about divestiture. The item is in Capitol Weekly -- 2/8/10 Investment firms agree to settle placement-agent corruption probe -- Two investment firms that have won pension business in California agreed to pay millions of dollars today to settle a placement-agent corruption probe at New York state's public pension fund. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/8/10 Adult day health services patients hit by major privacy breach -- The Department of Health Care Services said today it may have breached the privacy of 49,352 state residents who receive adult day health care services from the state. Andrew McIntosh SacBee Capitol Alert -- 2/8/10 Auditor extends deadline for redistricting panel applications -- The deadline for submitting applications to serve on the Citizen's Redistricting Commission has been extended four days -- to Feb.16 at 5 p.m. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert Marisa Lagos Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 2/8/10 Immigrant activists blast proposed state cuts -- Immigrant rights groups are targeting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to cut food and health assistance programs for legal immigrants by launching a letter-writing campaign critical of the plan. CINDY CARCAMO in the Orange County Register -- 2/8/10 Orange County GOP chief to rally Republicans, Tea Partiers -- Republican eagerness to tap into the Tea Party phenomenon continues to grow, and county GOP Chairman Scott Baugh will continue his efforts to bring the two factions together with a rally on Saturday. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 2/8/10 Tobar: California budget crisis' teachable moment -- The budget crunch at Cal State is getting so bad, it's forcing some young people to think about a future without a college education. But some students are deciding to study the legislative process. Hector Tobar in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Ports of L.A., Long Beach expected to see imports surge -- National Retail Federation forecasts a jump in imports of as much as 28% for the first half of 2010 as the economy recovers. Ronald D. White in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Southwestern College Pushed to the Brink by Brutal Power Struggle -- Earlier that day, the Southwestern College English professor had stood with students protesting against class cuts. Now, the college's human resource director was standing on his doorstep alongside an armed campus police officer. Their message: Rempt and three other professors were banned from campus that night. SEAN CAMPBELL and LYNDSAY WINKLEY Voiceofsandiego.org -- 2/8/10 Proposed oil tax divides education leaders -- An East Bay lawmaker wants to tax oil pumped from the California ground and give the proceeds to colleges and universities, but the proposal has run afoul of the very people it was supposed to help. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 2/8/10 Push on to return tax line item for veterans -- For two years, generous California taxpayers voluntarily gave a share of their tax refunds to the Chula Vista Veterans Home so its residents could enjoy more books, receive top-notch physical therapy and attend Padres games. Mike Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 2/8/10 A Race for Judge That's Intriguing -- for Once -- But one matchup for this June's primary has potential to be downright intriguing. It could be the first time in two decades a criminal defense attorney is elected to a bench that is dominated by former prosecutors. KELLY THORNTON Voiceofsandiego.org -- 2/8/10 No paper for you! Hawaii uses less, saves money -- Looking to cut government waste, the Hawaii Senate decided to take a whack at a target that's plentiful on the grounds of the Capitol: paper. MARK NIESSE AP -- 2/8/10
Fiorina and DeVore appeal for the women's vote -- Two of the major Republican candidates aiming to unseat U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer made their case this weekend to the party's most active women, arguing that both Boxer's record and anti-incumbent sentiment nationally have put momentum on their side. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Insurer may have violated law, report reveals -- A high-profile California insurance company that is backing a controversial insurance measure on the June ballot has engaged in practices that may be illegal, including deceptive pricing and discrimination against consumers such as active members of the military and drivers of emergency vehicles, according to a state report obtained by The Chronicle. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/8/10 Welfare issue becomes a hot issue in governor's race -- Three decades after Ronald Reagan catapulted the catchphrase "welfare queen" into the political lexicon — and 14 years after President Bill Clinton helped "end welfare as we know it" — welfare has suddenly become a steamy political issue in the California governor's race. Ken McLaughlin in the San Jose Mercury Jack Chang in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/8/10 Skelton: Kindergarten politics -- Playing games with Maldonado could backfire for the Assembly. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Walters: Logrolling lives large in California budget -- A year ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature enacted a budget package noteworthy for a rare increase in taxes – but getting the required two-thirds votes involved old-fashioned horse trading. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/8/10 Constitutional Convention advocates cry foul -- Proponents of a statewide ballot measure calling for a rewrite of how California governs itself say they are under attack from the lucrative signature-gathering industry. Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times -- 2/8/10 Gubernatorial candidate tried to woo Raider Nation -- Another remarkable aspect of the Oakland Raiders’ downbeat 2009 football season was the barrage of Meg Whitman political ads during football games on KSFO radio. Lance Williams California Watch -- 2/8/10 A Practiced Politician Who Doesn’t Look It -- On paper, Mr. Simitian seems like the very definition of a career politician. But sit down with him and you come away with a different impression. DANIEL WEINTRAUB in the New York Times -- 2/8/10 McClintock's refusal to consider budget earmarks hurts his district, critics say -- As the federal budget season heats up, some Placer County officials are grumbling that Republican Rep. Tom McClintock's ideological opposition to congressional earmarks puts their constituents at a disadvantage. Ed Fletcher in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/8/10 Matier & Ross: Judge being gay a nonissue during Prop. 8 trial -- The biggest open secret in the landmark trial over same-sex marriage being heard in San Francisco is that the federal judge who will decide the case, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, is himself gay. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/8/10 CalBuzz: How Poiz Can Win: Go NASCAR on eMeg’s Elitism -- Since jillionaire eMeg Whitman is the only person in California politics who could make multi-millionaire Steve “The Commish” Poizner look like a beggar with a tin cup, it’s time for Steverino to lose the Silicon Valley blue blazer and loafers look and go all NASCAR on her Megness. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 2/8/10
PG&E customers feel sticker shock from rising rates -- A Jan. 1 electricity-rate increase by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. may not feel like much now. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 2/8/10 Sacramento realtors worry about school-closure effects -- Realtor Susie Dunning thinks she knows why she hasn't received a single offer on a two-story home in South Land Park. The property in the 7400 block of Windbridge Drive backs up to Lisbon Elementary, one of four schools closed last year by Sacramento City Unified School District. Melody Gutierrez in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/8/10 Medical pot movement something to build on, contractors say -- Medical marijuana superstore? Check. Pot legalization ballot? Check. Custom-made grow room? Check. Angela Woodall in the Oakland Tribune -- 2/8/10
For UC's Commission on the Future, nothing is off the table -- With California's public university system shackled to a shrinking budget, a group of chancellors, students and others considers ideas -- from banal to radical -- to keep quality up and costs down. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Fensterwald: Data don’t tell full story in charter ’segregation’ study -- Anti-charter school boards and superintendents no doubt are bookmarking a report that found that charter schools nationwide and in California are more racially and ethnically segregated than traditional public schools. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 2/8/10 A Federal Effort to Push Junk Food Out of Schools -- The Obama administration will begin a drive this week to expel Pepsi, French fries and Snickers bars from the nation’s schools in hopes of reducing the number of children who get fat during their school years. GARDINER HARRIS in the New York Times -- 2/8/10 With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps -- With state and local tax revenues still in decline, the end of the federal money will leave big holes in education budgets from Massachusetts and Florida to California and Washington, experts said. SAM DILLON in the New York Times -- 2/8/10 CSUS seeing quick growth in demand for Net classes -- Between her job at Victoria's Secret and pitching for the California State University, Stanislaus, softball team, Stacy Hains doesn't have a lot of time during the day or evening to attend classes. Patty Guerra in the Modesto Bee -- 2/8/10 Focus on graduation could be rough for small private colleges -- Graduation rates are likely to move to the forefront of national higher-education discussions this year, putting particular pressure on schools such as Holy Names, where just 17 percent of the students who arrive as freshmen put on a cap and gown within six years. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 2/8/10
State ends free mammograms; cuts to be protested -- Women's health advocates, health care professionals, breast cancer survivors and consumers will be in Sacramento today to discuss and protest cuts to the statewide Every Woman Counts program, which provided free mammograms to underserved women. Jim Steinberg in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 2/8/10 Lazarus: When healthcare coverage is insurance in name only -- The L'Esperances are your typical American family. They work hard. They try to get ahead. They don't ask anyone for help. And they pray they don't get sick. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 California cracks down on discount health plans -- State regulators are trying to rein in discount health and dental plans that officials say frequently overstate benefits. Duke Helfand in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 Industrial solvent linked to increased risk of Parkinson's disease -- Exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene increases a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease nearly sixfold, California researchers said Sunday. Thomas H. Maugh II in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10
Governor pledges to help community of Paradise Valley -- Surrounded by a cadre of federal, state and local officials, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the flash-flood-ravaged community of Paradise Valley on Sunday morning, promising to speed aid to the beleaguered community. Tim Traeger in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 2/8/10
Miller pushes to exclude illegal workers in jobs -- Make it harder for companies to hire illegal immigrant workers, and those illegal immigrants won't be able to find work. If they can't find work, they'll leave. James Rufus Koren in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 2/8/10
Obama to invite GOP to healthcare summit -- The president hopes both parties work out differences in televised talks. Republicans say they will participate but want the health bills tossed. Peter Nicholas in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10
Irked, Wall St. Hedges Its Bet on Democrats -- Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash. DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK in the New York Times -- 2/8/10 Sarah Palin won't rule out 2012 run -- In a 'Fox News Sunday' interview, the former Alaska governor says she'd consider running for president if it's 'the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family.' Peter Nicholas in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/8/10 |
