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Political power player Darius Anderson under scrutiny related to pension deals -- Darius Anderson is a well-known player in the high-powered and often-overlapping worlds of California business, lobbying and politics. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 State Senate posts salary information online -- The state Senate began voluntarily posting the salaries of all of its employees on its website Friday, even as Assembly officials said they still think the disclosure should be required by law. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 State Dems plan IRS complaint against small business PAC -- The Small Business Action Committee, which was in the spotlight recently for spending $700,000 from major alcohol and tobacco corporations on November’s ballot initiatives to protect the two-thirds majority vote required to pass the budget, has drawn the fire of the California Democratic Party. Jennifer Chaussee in Capitol Weekly -- 8/27/10 Schwarzenegger won't endorse in governor's race -- Gov. Schwarzenegger told The Fresno Bee's editorial board today that he won't endorse in the governor's race because it could add another political dimension to the work he is trying to accomplish for the state. But asked if he might make a late endorsement in the campaign between Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown, Schwarzenegger says he won't rule that out, adding that he has a tendency to "improvise." Jim Boren in the Fresno Bee -- 8/27/10 Whitman campaign goes looking for votes in Bay Area -- Meg Whitman is taking her campaign for governor into Jerry Brown's backyard. Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times Joe Garofoli Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 8/27/10 Whitman campaign: We've merged with state GOP victory operation -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's ground operation has merged with that of the state Republican Party's and will be focusing not just on the governor's race this fall but also on targeted legislative races, said Whitman strategist Jeff Randall this morning in a conference call with reporters. Jack Chang SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/27/10 Orange County paid DUI deputy $39,351 to not work -- The Orange County sheriff’s deputy arrested on suspicion of DUI in March after two crashes in just 33 minutes was on the county clock (so to speak) when he slammed into a senior citizen couple’s car and sent it sailing into a tree. Kimberly Edds in the Orange County Register -- 8/27/10 State budget vote scheduled for Tuesday -- A vote on competing state budget proposals is scheduled for Tuesday in both the Assembly and state Senate, lawmakers in both houses said Friday. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/27/10 Senate GOP leadership change date may go beyond Sept. 1 -- Senate Republican leader Dennis Hollingsworth was adamant earlier this month about leaving his post next Wednesday no matter what, but he and his successor now say the date depends on the state of budget negotiations. Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/27/10 More clues on Jerry Brown’s pension -- In response to reporting by the Watchdog, Jerry Brown’s campaign released this afternoon an official state document showing that he’ll earn an annual pension of $79,536 if he retires at the end of his term as attorney general early next year. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 8/27/10 Podcast: Hot August Nights -- The temperature outside the state Capitol these days is less important than the temperature inside, as the budget and the final push on legislation leave everyone sweating it out. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 8/27/10 New move to license and tax medical pot -- A last-minute attempt to license and tax medical marijuana is drawing fire from a leading pot legalization group, California NORML, which says the bill wouldn’t do anything to improve legal protections for dispensaries. Malcolm Maclachlan in Capitol Weekly -- 8/27/10 Downward revision of GDP growth a strong signal of stalled recovery -- Second-quarter economic growth was revised to an anemic 1.6%, a decline that was slightly less than many economists had predicted. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Lawmakers pass bill to restore breast cancer screenings -- Legislation that would reverse major cuts to a program that provides free mammograms for low-income women passed unanimously through the Senate Thursday and was sent to an uncertain fate in the office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Megan Baier HealthyCal.org -- 8/27/10 Taxpayer-funded mailers draw criticism -- You may think that slick color flier from your congressional representative is another campaign ad, but $1.8 million worth of mail sent by Orange County’s House members since 2008 has been paid for with tax dollars. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 8/27/10 Last-minute pot taxation scheme raises hackles -- An eleventh-hour legislative effort to establish a state licensing and taxation scheme for legalized marijuana has activists atwitter. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 8/27/10 Feds to States on Global Warming Suit: Back Off -- Bit by bit, the US Environmental Protection Agency is moving to limit the gases that scientists say cause global warming. Over five years, the agency is limiting auto emissions and is also requiring new industrial plants to use improved pollution controls. Rachael Myrow KQED Climate Watch -- 8/27/10 Where will Glenn Beck rally money go? -- Glenn Beck has billed his "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday in part as an opportunity to focus attention on those who have served in the military. Amy Gardner in the Washington Post -- 8/27/10
Brown and Whitman spar in sync -- In rare simultaneous campaigning, each faults the other on past experience or the lack of it. Seema Mehta and Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Brown discloses pension details -- Speculation that Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown had positioned himself to receive an extra fat pension went viral online earlier this month, helped by this report in the Orange County Register. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times Jack Chang in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 Notebook: Budget Blues, Campaign Trash Talk -- As the week comes to a close, two of the state's dominant political stories -- the ongoing budget saga and the race for governor -- both seemed to lurch into a new gear. One low, the other high. One more cautious, the other more brash. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 8/27/10 Carly Fiorina against open Web rules -- California GOP Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina this week staked out her spot opposing tough net neutrality rules. TONY ROMM Politico -- 8/27/10 Secret Fiorina CIA documents: A little too secret? -- Like many good stories, this one starts with a simple question and ends with a lesson. Chase Davis California Watch -- 8/27/10 California nurse union uses women's suffrage anniversary to take jab at Whitman -- The California Nurses Association staged a march and rally Thursday at the state Capitol with a dual message: celebrating women's suffrage and criticizing Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's penchant for skipping elections. Jack Chang in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 CalBuzz: Press Clips: One Woman I-Team Sacks Tax Board -- Mega-kudos to Laura Mahoney, Sacramento correspondent for the Daily Tax Report and the winner of the Calbuzz Little Pulitzer for Investigative Reporting, for a superb, 25,000-word probe of the powerful, under-the-radar state Board of Equalization. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 8/27/10 Bill to post California legislators' salaries online stalls -- Senate officials say they may address the issue through a house rule rather than legislation. A proposed law to force hospitals to disclose radiation overdoses during CT scans nears final passage. Jack Dolan and Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Vacaville's California Medical Facility: The 'gold standard' for prison medical care in California -- The federal receiver in charge of prison medicine considers one facility the gold standard for inmate care. Julie Small KPCC -- 8/27/10 Suspended CalPERS executive resigns -- A top CalPERS official, suspended after being linked to the bribery scandal involving former board member Alfred Villalobos, quit the pension fund Thursday. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 Chemical industry targets lawmakers over plastic bag ban -- Just as the state Legislature ends its 2010 session with a flurry of major bills, lawmakers are being bombarded with a TV ad campaign mocking them for a proposed ban on plastic bags in grocery stores. Timothy Sandoval California Watch -- 8/27/10
Schwarzenegger to go on Asia trip, even without a state budget -- The six-day, three-country trade mission would come at a politically awkward time for the governor, as California faces the prospect that it could run out of cash within weeks. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Tax cheats costing state $6.5 billion -- Cash-starved California loses $6.5 billion annually in uncollected income taxes. Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 8/27/10 Walters: Is Cal Expo land swap in the offing -- The Legislature's biennial session is scheduled to end Tuesday, but with a stubborn stalemate over the state budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will extend the session by decree. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 Health facilities that see $300 million per month get IOUs this week -- Scores of medical providers that rely on the Medi-Cal program for funding are now getting "value of claims" statements in lieu of payments. Christina Jewett California Watch -- 8/27/10
Measure aims to plug loophole in workers' comp benefits -- Legislation that would bar denial of workers' compensation benefits for racial reasons – inspired by the murder of a Fairfield store employee by a white supremacist in 2006 – was sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 Grief counseling requests rise in wake of state worker suicides -- State employee suicides triggered more than twice the number of calls for workplace grief counseling last year compared with 2008, a change that occurred during an unusual period of turmoil for the government's work force. Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 UC Irvine report predicts high-speed rail line would create jobs and boost L.A.-Orange County economy -- The proposal to build a high-speed rail system in California has the potential to create more than 127,000 permanent jobs in the Los Angeles-Orange County area by 2035 and contribute to the economic revitalization of the region, according to a new study by UC Irvine. Dan Weikel in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Is California still the startup capital of the U.S.? -- In a March interview with San Francisco columnist Debra J. Saunders, Meg Whitman said she would probably start eBay in Texas if she had the chance now. Agustin Armendariz California Watch -- 8/27/10 Stricter state hot-weather regulations to benefit outdoor workers -- Thursday marked the fourth consecutive day of above 100 degree temperatures in the Inland Empire. But the hot weather didn't stop the construction crew replacing the gas lines along Foothill Boulevard, just west of Vineyard Avenue. Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 8/27/10 California foreclosure bill is losing steam -- A state legislative effort to save homeowners from foreclosure that once seemed to enjoy broad support is close to failing in the wake of an intense banking industry lobbying effort in Sacramento. Robert Selna in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/27/10 Lawmakers: Home-buyer assistance could help align housing market -- Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, and Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea, are co-sponsors of a bill that would let home buyers get down payment assistance from nonprofit companies. That was a common practice until federal officials banned it in 2008. James Rufus Koren in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 8/27/10 Food pantries supplies running at near record lows -- Needy families are being turned away from some San Fernando Valley food pantries where supplies have hit near-record lows, forcing at least one location to temporarily close for the first time in more than a decade. Tony Castro and Cindy Von Quednow in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 8/27/10 San Jose officials tout their plan to woo A's, but hurdles remain -- When San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed talks about the selling points of his city's efforts to woo the Oakland A's, he gets right to the point: "We have the best site, we're ahead of the others and this is the place that makes the most sense." Tracy Seipel in the San Jose Mercury -- 8/27/10 How the A's ballpark plans stack up -- In the continued quest to find the right home for his baseball team, A's owner Lew Wolff is being wooed most aggressively by Oakland, his old standby, and San Jose, his new flame. The item is in the Oakland Tribune -- 8/27/10
University releases Palin's contract -- California State University on Thursday released Sarah Palin's contract for a June speech at its Stanislaus campus even though it claimed earlier in the day that it did not possess the document. Kevin Valine in the Fresno Bee Robin Hindery AP Peter Fimrite, Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/27/10 Breast cancer bracelets split Valley schools -- They're part fashion accessory and part political statement, those little plastic bracelets that come in a rainbow of colors and proclaim support for a variety of worthy causes. Marc Benjamin in the Fresno Bee -- 8/27/10 Fensterwald: Teachers to survey students – if they choose -- With the governor’s signature of SB 1422, students have won the right to express views of their teachers. It will take another bill, however, to win the right to actually be listened to. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 8/27/10
Feds seek to toss states' anti-warming lawsuit -- To the dismay of environmental groups, the Obama administration has told the U.S. Supreme Court that a global-warming suit by California and seven other states, seeking to require major power companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, should be dismissed. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/27/10 DWP to withdraw bill aimed at delaying power plant upgrades -- DWP instead will enter talks with state water board over regulations affecting plants that rely heavily on seawater for cooling. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Watchdog agency recommends changes in water supply oversight -- The country's largest state-owned water-delivery project should be removed from the California agency that runs it and placed under another authority as part of a shake-up in how the state's water system is run, according to a report from a state watchdog agency. Mike Taugher in the Oakland Tribune -- 8/27/10 El Niño has grown more intense and shifted westward in last three decades, data show -- More research is necessary to determine if the cause is global warming or natural variability, an author of the report says. Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Protection sought for San Bernardino flying squirrel -- Environmentalists want the nocturnal glider native to Southern California mountains to be listed as an endangered species threatened by climate change. Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10 Feds give the aging mothball fleet in Suisun Bay a toxic dermabrade -- Something was missing this week for visitors strolling across the linked decks of some of the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet's mothballed vessels. Jessica A. York in the Oakland Tribune -- 8/27/10 Oil aboard sunken WWII tanker may pose threat -- Scientists are studying sonar images of a shipwreck loaded with 3.5 million gallons of crude oil in the holds of a tanker that lies 4 miles off the scenic Central California coast like a rusting time bomb. Carl Nolte in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/27/10
Health bills hang in the balance as sesssion end nears -- With an overhaul of the country's health care system under way, California is moving briskly to put in place key parts of the landmark federal law – and in some cases expand the government's authority over the health care industry. Bobby Caina Calvan in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 Marin hospital district sues Sutter Health -- A Marin County hospital district filed suit Thursday against Sutter Health, accusing the Sacramento-based health care system of "systematically and improperly" draining the community hospital's coffers over the past four years. Bobby Caina Calvan in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10
Angelides' panel plans meltdown hearing here -- A national commission investigating the 2008 economic meltdown and chaired by former state Treasurer Phil Angelides has scheduled a field hearing in Sacramento on Thursday, Sept. 23. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 Grand Terrace has not withheld federal taxes on council, commissioners -- Grand Terrace has not paid federal payroll taxes on City Council and planning commissioners' monthly stipends since the city was incorporated 32 years ago. DARRELL R. SANTSCHI in the Riverside Press -- 8/27/10 'California stop' might cost less if governor signs bill -- Make no mistake, the infamous rolling "California stop" on right turns is still illegal, and arguably more dangerous than ever. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/27/10 Anti-abortion pastor's convictions overturned -- An Alameda County court panel has overturned an anti-abortion pastor's convictions for illegally approaching patients outside an Oakland clinic, saying a judge's flawed instructions could have allowed jurors to find him guilty for conduct that was legal. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/27/10 Pony up $500, hang with Bo Derek -- all to help controller candidate -- Actress and model Bo Derek will be among those on hand for Fresno State football's home opener next week against Cincinnati, and for a $500 political donation to Republican controller candidate Tony Strickland, you could tailgate with her. Oh, and you also get a picture with her. John Ellis in the Fresno Bee -- 8/27/10 Parents of slain teen Chelsea King file with state for possible compensation -- The parents of San Diego County teenager Chelsea King have filed with the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, a possible precursor to seeking compensation for the murder of their daughter. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10
Weak GDP raises stakes for Obama, Fed -- Growth figures are expected to show the economy is almost at a standstill, but the government is running out of options to rebuild momentum. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/27/10
GOP wins to trigger wave of White House probes -- If President Barack Obama needed any more incentive to go all out for Democrats this fall, here it is: Republicans are planning a wave of committee investigations targeting the White House and Democratic allies if they win back the majority. GLENN THRUSH Politico -- 8/27/10 |
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