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Saban gives $2 million to change redistricting law -- The effort to repeal the state's new redistricting law has received a $2-million boost from Los Angeles investment banker Haim Saban. Capitol Weekly's Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Cal Forward poll finds support for dropping budget vote -- A recent Field Poll of California voters found that just 43 percent were in favor of lowering the two-thirds legislative vote requirement for a state budget, while 46 percent were opposed. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 4/12/10 PG&E gives big to L.A. County Democratic Party but gets little -- When the Los Angeles County Democratic Party deposited a $175,000 check from PG&E earlier this month, quite a few in the political world took notice -- especially considering the fact that the money arrived only weeks before the county party was set to stake out its position on a June ballot measure, Proposition 16, put on the ballot by the utility company. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Measure to repeal Prop. 8 fails to qualify for November ballot -- A push to put a repeal of Proposition 8 on the November ballot has fizzled, as proponents announced today they failed to collect the nearly 700,000 valid voter signatures to qualify their proposed initiative. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert Wyatt Buchanan Chronicle Politics Weblog Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 4/12/10 CalBuzz: Big Union Leaders to Chair and Fund Pro-Brown IE -- Leaders of the second major independent expenditure committee supporting Democrat Jerry Brown’s campaign for governor on Monday said their group will be chaired by representatives of the influential firefighters, construction trades and public employees unions. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 4/12/10 New state report alleges repeat violations and discrimination by Mercury Insurance, Prop. 17 backer -- Mercury Insurance Group, the high-profile firm that has put up $3.5 million to back a ballot measure that consumer advocates say would raise insurance rates for some Californians, continues to violate state laws, has engaged in discriminatory practices and may have illegally overcharged thousands of consumers, according to a new report from the state Department of Insurance to be released today. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/12/10 2010 U.S. Senate fundraising totals so far -- U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer collected $2.4 million in the first quarter and had $8.7 million in cash on hand as of March 31, her campaign announced Monday. Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert Joe Garofoli Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 4/12/10 Obama to raise money for Boxer in California on Monday -- A White House official says President Barack Obama will go to Los Angeles on April 19 to raise money for Sen. Barbara Boxer. The president's intentions to head to California had been known for weeks, but not the date. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the trip next Monday has not been announced. AP -- 4/12/10 Quinn: A Campaign Dedicated to Losing -- In the annals of California political history, very few campaigns have been worse than that which Steve Poizner has run for governor. But his keystone kops effort also underscores how very close the California Republican Party is to disappearing as a political force in this state. Tony Quinn Fox & Hounds weblog -- 4/12/10 Schrag: Sarah Palin comes to Turkey Tech -- As such events go, the 50th anniversary celebration of Stanislaus State University in Turlock, scheduled this June, would be just another of those passing occasions. Peter Schrag Cal Progress Report -- 4/12/10 Pulitzer Prize winners include nonprofit newsroom -- ProPublica shares in the investigative reporting prize. Honored articles touched on abuse and fraud in child-care, doctors' decisions during Hurricane Katrina, and a rogue police narcotics squad. Michael Muskal in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 2010 Pulitzer Prize winners in journalism, arts -- The list via AP -- 4/12/10 Healthcare overhaul won't stop premium hikes -- The new law doesn't prevent rate increases such as Anthem Blue Cross' double-digit hike last year. 'It is a very big loophole,' says Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is pushing regulatory legislation. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 San Francisco businessman tops tax delinquent list -- With the deadline for filing income taxes loming, the state Franchise Tax Board has published its annual list of the state's 250 biggest delinquent taxpayers, with a new leader - San Francisco high-tech businessman Halsey Minor. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 4/12/10 Consultants say Cal could cut up to $25 million per year -- UC Berkeley could save millions per year by consolidating services and improving its purchasing decisions, according to a consulting firm hired to slim down the university's budget. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/12/10 Great America sues over 49ers stadium deal -- The corporate owners of Great America theme park today sued the city of Santa Clara and the San Francisco 49ers, saying the environmental impact report on the planned 49ers stadium project is inadequate and "pays mere lip service" to California environmental regulations. Howard Mintz in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/12/10
New California parole policy is both costly and dangerous, critics contend -- On a Wednesday morning last month, Nicole Clements walked into her Sacramento parole agent's office about 9:40 and signed a one-page document. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/12/10 CalBuzz: Brown at Google: The Value of Being Random -- We were innocently sitting in the front row the other day, listening to Attorney General Jerry Brown’s “fireside chat” (sans hearth or fire) with Google CEO Eric Schmidt, when Brown demonstrated once again why he is the most intriguing character in California, and perhaps American, politics. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 4/12/10 Skelton: Jerry Brown's a lot of things, but he's no tax-and-spender -- A recent ad by the California Chamber of Commerce painting the former governor as promoting higher state spending and taxes missed the truth by a mile and damages the chamber's credibility. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Meg Whitman team studying 2 CEOs' winning runs -- Legions of wealthy business executives have tried and failed to make the jump to politics, but the team of Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman wants to ensure she never makes that list. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/12/10 Politeness distinguishes Tom Campbell's run for Senate -- It can be difficult to distinguish Tom Campbell the professor from Tom Campbell the politician. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/12/10 Walters: Harsh words between Costa, Miller may be an act -- We don't know what we don't know, so we don't really know whether the war of words between two Democratic congressmen is a genuine dispute or was contrived to help one win re-election in a tough year for incumbents. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/12/10 Heated races for two legislative seats -- Tuesday's election is likely to result in runoffs for state Assembly and Senate seats. Voters will also weigh in on local offices and issues such as prayer in council meetings and eminent domain. Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Matier & Ross: State's high-speed rail plan is up in the air -- Is it a high-speed rail ride to the future or a Bay Bridge boondoggle times 10? That's what lawmakers are wondering as more and more questions arise about the plan to build a multibillion-dollar bullet train between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/12/10 Equal Social Security benefits for same-sex couples urged -- Rally at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood kicks off national grass-roots campaign that gets the support of a California congresswoman. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 These debates may be dry, but the settings aren't -- Politicians in Long Beach are shunning the standard news conference or face-to-face interview in favor of get-togethers at area pubs. For the most part, the events are courteous. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10
State tax revenues show uptick -- The cash registers are starting to ring again in California, and that's translating into a modest turnaround for the state's troubled budget. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/12/10 Federal funding wish list: California examples -- While House Republicans forgo earmarks, Democrats are eagerly seeking funds, from $5.8 million toward building a park above a section of the Hollywood Freeway to $100 million to put lower-polluting buses on Los Angeles County streets. Richard Simon in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 House Republicans say they're going cold turkey on pork projects -- They call a moratorium on 'earmarks' to show fiscal responsibility, but some constituents who benefit from federal funds aren't so happy. Richard Simon in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Stanford students ‘rock’ public pension funds -- CalSTRS is unveiling a new website, just in time to rebut a Stanford study last week that says California’s three big public pension funds have a shocking shortfall of more than $500 billion. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 4/12/10 Pension case legal fees at $1.75 million -- San Diego taxpayers have paid at least $1.75 million in legal fees for the five former city and pension officials who had their federal criminal charges dismissed last week, according to city and pension system records. Craig Gustafson in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 4/12/10 Valley public pension mess linked to Bay actuary -- Investment managers, labor unions and politicians often get the blame for exploding debt in government pension plans. But critics also point to a less familiar culprit: actuaries, the financial experts who are expected to make sure the plans are sound. Brad Branan in the Fresno Bee -- 4/12/10 Young buyers revitalize retail, strut tall at mall -- The most coveted shopper these days isn't a wealthy housewife toting a Chanel handbag. It's more likely her daughter. Marijke Rowland in the Modesto Bee -- 4/12/10 San Francisco Detours Into Reality Tourism -- But now San Francisco’s civic boosters have decided they want to add a highly unlikely stop to the tourist itinerary: the Uptown Tenderloin, the ragged, druggy and determinedly dingy domain of the city’s most down and out. And what is the appeal? JESSE McKINLEY in the New York Times -- 4/12/10 Golden Gate Bridge toll takers may fall to budget ax -- Facing a $132-million budget deficit, the group that runs the storied San Francisco span considers a plan to switch to all-electronic toll collection by 2013. Cara Mia DiMassa in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10
California region courts foreign investment -- Inland Empire cities are putting out the welcome mat to entice firms in hopes of boosting employment. Alana Semuels in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 For-profit Kaplan using state budget crisis in PR campaign -- When Kaplan University announced a partnership with California community colleges to offer Kaplan courses at a discounted rate, the for-profit college giant made no reference to the state's fiscal crisis in its carefully worded press release. Erica Perez California Watch -- 4/12/10 Fensterwald: Standardized tests’ Holy Grail -- The much-maligned multiple-choice test, the crux of California’s and other states’ accountability exams, will be replaced partly, if not entirely, by more complex, lengthier and probably more costly, state tests. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 4/12/10 Students learn the etiquette of a company meal -- Bennett laid down the rules, from how to accept a business card to how to deliver a handshake to when to eat your salad (Answer: Not before you have met everyone at the table and placed your napkin). Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/12/10 Sacramento State awarded recovery money to train 'smart grid' workers -- California State University, Sacramento, is one of 33 recipients nationwide to receive federal economic recovery act money for a new training program to enhance the region's "smart grid" system, according to Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento. Bill Lindelof in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/12/10 State looking to rate California's preschools -- A 13-member advisory committee aimed at improving early childhood learning programs in California is currently collecting data to create a fair, accurate scale that would hold preschools accountable and be understandable for parents. Maritza Velazquez in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 4/12/10 English classes can’t meet demand -- The hundreds of Iraqis arriving in San Diego County each month face a frustrating problem as they try to create a future here. They need to learn English to get a job and to keep their welfare benefits until they find work, but English classes have been overwhelmed and unable to provide spaces for many. Anne Krueger in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 4/12/10
FedEx is geared up for electric delivery trucks -- The first vehicle, tested on downtown Los Angeles streets, will begin its rounds next month. Three more electric trucks will follow. Ronald D. White in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Low-profile mammal now in environmental spotlight -- Wildlife advocates have filed suit seeking legal protection for the fisher -- a weasel-like Sierra Nevada predator that kills porcupines. It qualifies as endangered but is stuck in regulatory limbo. Jill Leovy in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10
Thousands of Anthem Blue Cross customers await decision on rate hikes -- The insurer had delayed the increases till May 1 pending a review by an outside actuary appointed by the state insurance commissioner. That report is expected within two weeks. Duke Helfand in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Flood of new patients forces San Francisco General to innovate -- For hospital administrator Roland Pickens, Healthy San Francisco offers more than universal health care and coverage for the city’s uninsured. The three-year-old city program also is inspiring new approaches to streamlining medical care. Richard C. Paddock in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Hospitals fined more than $1 million for failing to report errors -- California regulators have fined hospitals just over $1 million for failing to report incidents such as leaving a foreign object in a patient after a surgery or operating on the wrong person, according to data released to California Watch by the California Department of Public Health. Christina Jewett California Watch -- 4/12/10
'Apparently I caused a problem' -- President Obama Sunday seemed to shrug off the brouhaha after he broke with White House tradition and ditched his press pool earlier this weekend to watch one of his daughter’s soccer games. HARRY SIEGEL Politico -- 4/12/10
Google CEO: 'Journalism will triumph' -- The chief executive of Google has a message for the staggering newspaper industry: Things will get better. And Google CEO Eric Schmidt told a group of newspaper executives Sunday evening that his growing company will be an integral part of those changes. JAKE SHERMAN Politico -- 4/12/10 Dwindling numbers, but the memories remain strong -- On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a few dozen survivors are met with a standing ovation at Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles. 'You triumphed against all odds,' says Israel's consul general in L.A. Mike Anton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Oakland Priest’s Accuser Describes Sexual Abuse -- A San Francisco woman who says she was molested by the Oakland priest at the center of a case that has raised questions about Pope Benedict XVI’s handling of sexually abusive clergy members described in vivid terms on Sunday how she was sexually abused and intimidated by her attacker. JESSE McKINLEY and KATIE ZEZIMA in the New York Times -- 4/12/10 Investigations sit idle as LAPD detectives hit overtime caps -- With its overtime budget decimated, the department is forcing officers to put cases on hold and take days or even weeks off. Despite an uptick in killings, the homicide unit is among the hardest hit. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Court rejects call for fair wages for prisoners -- After renowned attorney J. Tony Serra spent nine months in a federal prison camp for not paying his taxes, he calculated how much he was paid for watering the camp gardens - 19 cents an hour - and thought it might violate a U.N. standard that says inmates should get fair wages. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/12/10 Riverside County objects to Cal Fire fee -- Riverside County may be in for a showdown with the state over as much as $14 million in funding. But this time, it could be the county considering withholding payment. DUANE W. GANG in the Riverside Press -- 4/12/10 Buildings, nerves under stress in border region a week after quake -- As California and Mexican officials work to assess harm to infrastructure, a series of 'robust' aftershocks have added to emotional turmoil in the area hit hardest by the 7.2 earthquake. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 Businesses try to capitalize on Amgen bike tour -- Local organizers are expecting an economic windfall for the area as upward of 200,000 people flock to the Conejo Valley to watch the likes of Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie in the final stage of the race that begins May 16 in Nevada City, north of Sacramento. Teresa Rochester in the Ventura Star -- 4/12/10 A 'non-biker's' Odyssey into cycling: From Lycra to hill climbs, it's always an adventure -- I'm a "climber," a guy determined and content when powering up Mt. Diablo or surmounting a formidable challenge at work or in life. Randy Myers in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/12/10
1994 Republican Rout Is Casting Shadow in 2010 -- The year was 1994. Congressional Democrats were battered after a failed fight to pass a health care bill. It was the first midterm election for a new Democratic president, Bill Clinton. ADAM NAGOURNEY and MARJORIE CONNELLY in the New York Times -- 4/12/10 Democrats eager to take on Wall Street -- Liberal Democrats see an opportunity to reassert their power in the Senate this spring on the Wall Street reform bill, after being forced to swallow a series of compromises on everything from health care reform to jobs legislation. LISA LERER Politico -- 4/12/10 Republicans downplay filibuster talk in Supreme Court debate -- Obama could avoid a heated battle with a mainstream nominee, GOP leaders say. Andrew Zajac in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/12/10 |
