|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension talks between Jerry Brown, Legislature fall apart -- Gov. Jerry Brown and Democrats in the California Legislaturehave failed to reach a deal on pension changes, Brown's office said today. David Siders SacBee Capitol Alert Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times$ Steven Harmon in the San Jose Mercury JUDY LIN Associated Press -- 7/3/12 Shades of Chris Christie: Rep. Pete Stark goes off on reporters’ “stupid” questions -- East Bay Rep. Fortney “Pete” Stark – the 20-term Democrat who’s brought in a new campaign team in the wake of his lackluster June primary showing — told reporters Tuesday that he isn’t likely to debate his Democratic opponent Eric Swalwell this fall because “we’d only get stupid questions like you’re asking.” Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics -- 7/3/12 No criminal charges against ex-Commerce Secretary John Bryson -- L.A. County prosecutors won't press criminal charges against former U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson in two alleged hit-and-run crashes in the San Gabriel Valley, officials said Tuesday. Andrew Blankstein and Robert Faturechi in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 Senate panel supports California 'fracking' moratorium -- A state Senate panel has approved legislation that would ban the use of hydraulic fracturing in California until regulators write rules governing the controversial procedure. Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 CA wildfire liability bill language emerges from the ashes -- California timber companies and other major landowners would pay significantly less money when found liable for wildfire damage under draft legislation that resurfaced Monday in the Capitol. Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/3/12 California administrator fined for conflict-of-interest violations -- A California real estate administrator has agreed to pay a $3,500 fine for violating conflict-of-interest rules when he gave the go-ahead on contracts involving a construction firm with which his wife’s company did business. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 California's table-saw safety bill is facing a fight -- The bill would require all new table saws sold in California to have 'injury mitigation technology,' but only one current saw — SawStop — is likely to qualify. Retailers and other toolmakers balk. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 Oakland Tribune photographer robbed at gunpoint -- An Oakland Tribune photographer on assignment Monday afternoon was robbed at gunpoint of her laptop and camera equipment, the sixth such incident involving a member of the media in the past six weeks, police said. Kristin J. Bender in the Oakland Tribune -- 7/3/12 Romney Campaign Declares a Truce on Obamacare -- It's becoming clear that the Republican has decided that focusing on the economy is a better way to defeat President Obama. Josh Kraushaar The Atlantic -- 7/3/12 Obama takes lead in Gallup polling -- For the first time since April, President Obama has opened up a sustained lead over Republican Mitt Romney in Gallup’s daily tracking poll of the presidential race. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 Polls: No big SCOTUS bump for President Obama -- President Barack Obama’s big win at the Supreme Court hasn’t translated into a significant polling bump — at least according to early returns. REID J. EPSTEIN Politico -- 7/3/12 CNN poll: 2012 race frozen -- A month ago, CNN showed Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney by just 3 percentage points among registered voters, 49 percent to 46 percent. Today, the network is out with a new survey — taken June 28 to July 1 — that shows the top lines of the race entirely unchanged. Obama still leads Romney, 49 percent to 46 percent. ALEXANDER BURNS Politico -- 7/3/12 Poll: Romney Claims Slight Edge in 15 'Battleground' States -- President Obama remains marginally ahead of Mitt Romney in a new national CNN/ORC International poll released on Monday, although Romney leads Obama in the 15 states identified by the network as battleground states. Steven Shepard National Journal -- 7/3/12 Jeffe: Wealthy Political Movers: Meet the Secret Boss of California -- Attorney and educational activist Molly Munger is just one example of really wealthy political neophytes who are becoming a new breed of Artie Samish-- the master lobbyist of the 1940s and 50s. Billionaire hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer is another. Sherry Bebitch Jeffe NBC LA Prop Zero -- 7/3/12 Fox: Legislature Must Go All-the-Way with Pension Reform -- The safest bet in Sacramento is that legislative Democrats will pass a package of modest pension changes this week that they will sell as “reform” in an attempt to convince voters to approve a $50 billion tax hike in November. Jon Coupal, John Kabateck & Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 7/3/12 State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier loses bid to force Metropolitan Transportation Commission into court over San Francisco building purchase with toll money -- The Assembly Transportation Committee rejected the senator's bill late Monday, which would have forced the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to seek a judge's approval of the contentious 2011 purchase. Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/3/12
California pension reform deal elusive as lawmakers near recess -- State lawmakers are racing to try to reach an agreement on pension reform before they leave on a monthlong summer break Friday, but one leader of the effort said Monday that sticking points remain and he is not sure a full plan will be ready for adoption this week. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 California's budget plan balanced with risky assumptions -- The budget signed by Gov. Jerry Brown assumes that California will take in revenue from the federal estate tax and that voters will approve $8 billion in tax hikes in the fall. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 Controller appeals ruling over lawmakers' pay -- The state controller announced Monday that he is appealing a judge's decision that prevents him from blocking lawmakers' pay if they fail to pass a balanced budget on time. Judy Lin Associated Press David Siders SacBee Capitol Alert Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 Noguez donor's firm got big cuts in property values -- In the years after the real estate bubble burst in 2008, Santa Monica-based Douglas Emmett Inc.'s pleas for tax breaks on its portfolio of posh office buildings met with only modest success. Jack Dolan and Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12 California legislators send Jerry Brown foreclosure relief bill -- California lawmakers approved today legislation aimed at strengthening the rights of homeowners facing foreclosure, leaving the fate of the heavily debated proposal in the hands of Gov. Jerry Brown. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert Marisa Lagos and Wyatt Buchanan in the San Francisco Chronicle Andrew Edwards in the Inland Daily Bulletin JIM MILLER in the Riverside Press -- 7/3/12 Senate committee votes to shift California water bond to 2014 -- Legislation that would shift an $11 billion water bond from the November ballot to 2014 cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee Monday on a bipartisan, 5-0 vote. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/3/12 Walters: Transportation conflict resurfaces for Gov. Jerry Brown -- Assembly Bill 1458 is a blast from Gov. Jerry Brown's political past. The measure by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, would undo a provision of the "governmental reorganization plan" that Brown has submitted to the Legislature. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/3/12 Bond insurer may contest Stockton bankruptcy -- A potential big loser in the bankruptcy filed by Stockton last week, an insurer backing a $121 million Stockton pension bond issue, is warning that it may contest the city’s eligibility for bankruptcy. Ed Mendel Capitol Weekly -- 7/3/12 PG&E rate plan would cost 15.6% more typically -- Pacific Gas and Electric Co. asked California regulators on Monday for permission to collect an extra $5.25 billion from its customers over three years to make the company's electricity and natural gas delivery networks safer and more reliable. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle Dana Hull in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/3/12 Assembly committee approves bill banning use of dogs in hunting bears -- A controversial bill that would ban dogs from being used to hunt bobcats and bears in California made it out of one Assembly committee today on its second try, but still faces fierce opposition from the California Houndsmen for Conservation. Hannah Madans SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/3/12 Super PAC, union reserve Sacramento ad time -- A Democratic super PAC and one of the nation’s biggest unions announced today they’re backing Democratic House candidates by reserving almost $20 million worth of television ad time in 38 markets across the nation – with the biggest buy in Sacramento. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 7/3/12 Controversial parking bill to be heard Tuesday -- A Bay Area lawmaker’s controversial bill to impose reduced parking requirements near major transit stops will be heard by a state Senate committee tomorrow, and cities and counties are out to stop it. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 7/3/12 San Diego fireworks bill fizzles -- Legislation that sought to exempt fireworks shows and other events in San Diego from environmental reviews fizzled before an Assembly committee Monday. Michael Gardner UT San Diego -- 7/3/12 Senate bill to determine need for transportation inspector general -- The Assembly Transportation Committee on Monday approved an amended version of Senate Bill 878 that would order the California Transportation Commission to examine whether an inspector general should be established to oversee state transportation agencies. Charles Piller in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/3/12
Online job openings climb in California -- Sacramento and all of California saw a surge in job vacancies advertised online in June, according to the latest monthly report of the Conference Board. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/3/12 Most Contra Costa cities again see dips in assessed property tax values -- Property values set for the purposes of collecting taxes will decline in 14 of Contra Costa County's 19 cities this fiscal year as a stubborn recession continues to hit local government budgets. Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/3/12 Mammoth Lakes files for bankruptcy over $43-million judgment -- The High Sierra town of Mammoth Lakes says it is filing for bankruptcy because it cannot afford to pay a breach-of-contract judgment won by a developer. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12
LAUSD rejects all inspector general candidates -- The Los Angeles Unified board has rejected all of the finalists to succeed the district's retiring inspector general and will launch another nationwide recruiting drive for candidates, officials said Monday. Barbara Jones in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/3/12 Judge nullifies statewide charter granted to Aspire -- A Superior Court judge in Alameda County has thrown out the State Board of Education’s approval for Aspire Public Schools to open charters throughout the state, bypassing local school districts. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 7/3/12 Second year of science remains a mandate -- Advocates of strengthening – or at least not weakening – the teaching of math and science won a partial victory in the final budget that Gov. Brown signed last week. A second year of science for high school graduation remains a state mandate, at the Legislature’s insistence, contrary to Brown’s proposal to make it optional. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 7/3/12 UC settles suit by arrested photographer -- The University of California has settled a lawsuit filed by a photojournalist who was arrested as he covered a 2009 UC Berkeley protest. Matt Krupnick in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/3/12
Medical providers - Providence and Facey - align to prepare for Obama plan -- Two San Fernando Valley area medical providers said Monday that they have formed an affiliation to better deal with the national health care law declared constitutional last week by a divided U.S. Supreme Court. Gregory J. Wilcox in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/3/12 The Perils of Medical Jargon -- When a doctor can’t explain their patients’ diagnoses and treatments in plain language, people suffer. Eve Harris KQED State of Health -- 7/3/12
Blue whales invade the bay: Ocean royalty comes for the krill, has company -- An abundance of krill is setting the stage for a spectacular show in Monterey Bay, drawing not only humpback whales and rare sharks, but scores of ocean royalty - blue whales. Jason Hoppin in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 7/3/12 Southern California black widows losing ground to less-toxic cousin -- Can the invasion of a non-native species ever be a good thing? In one case, while arachnologists might say no, homeowners in Southern California are likely to say yes. Susanne Rust California Watch -- 7/3/12
On the Midway's deck, military personnel take oath of citizenship -- After the ceremony was complete, after he had listened to the speeches and repeated the 141 words that made him a U.S. citizen, Marine Lance Cpl. Hua Fan admitted to being a bit overwhelmed. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/3/12
Hospital deal in danger as papers suggest breaches -- Mayor Ed Lee's deal with California Pacific Medical Center on a $2.5 billion overhaul of its San Francisco medical facilities is in jeopardy after internal financial documents were leaked showing hospital officials considered cutting hundreds of jobs, paying substantially less in charity care than envisioned in the deal, and could close a hospital despite pledging to keep it open. John Coté in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/3/12 Shorthanded Oakland police crime lab can't keep up -- The Oakland Police Department's crime lab is so overwhelmed with requests for evidence analysis, it has been unable to process more than 3,500 orders that could help solve homicides, sex assaults and other crimes committed in the city, the Alameda County civil grand jury found. Matthai Kuruvila in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/3/12 Police department has no budget for smartphones for touted mobile app -- Last week, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, his police chief, Greg Suhr, and his top political fundraiser, Silicon Valley investor Ron Conway, announced plans to develop a mobile phone application to make it possible for police officers to file reports from the field, allowing them to spend more time on the streets and less time at their desks. MATT SMITH Bay Citizen -- 7/3/12 Paul Seeman, on leave from bench, still gets paid -- The Alameda County Superior Court judge charged with bilking an elderly woman out of her life savings had good reason to step off the bench while his criminal charges are pending. Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/3/12
Obama's 5-point lead over Romney in Gallup poll largest since April -- President Obama has opened a 5-point lead over presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, his largest advantage in the Gallup daily tracking poll since April. Justin Sink The Hill -- 7/3/12
Romney, Obama Agree: Health-Mandate Penalty Isn't a Tax -- Mitt Romney's campaign is aligning itself with President Barack Obama—and breaking from Republican leaders—by saying the government will be imposing a penalty, not a tax, on people who don't buy insurance as required by the new health-care law. PATRICK O'CONNOR in the Wall Street Journal$ Karen Tumulty and N.C. Aizenman in the Washington Post -- 7/3/12 Romney plans summer visit to Israel -- Mitt Romney plans a trip to Israel this summer to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other political leaders, an aide to the Romney campaign confirmed Monday. Justin Sink The Hill -- 7/3/12 Predictions of health-care future depends on party -- Both Republicans and Democrats in Orange County are optimistic that the future of the Affordable Care Act, upheld in a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling Thursday, will go their way, according to an OC Political Pulse poll. Those are, of course, two opposite directions. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 7/3/12 Saunders: No way GOP could win on health care decision -- In the court of public opinion, Republican officials cannot win. It's a known fact, made more evident with each news cycle, that many campaign issues are lose-lose for the GOP. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/3/12 The political fallout from health care reform — in three charts -- The Supreme Court’s ruling in support of President Obama’s health care law isn’t even a week old yet but we are already seeing some fascinating numbers about how the ruling changed — or didn’t change — how people feel about the Affordable Care Act. Chris Cillizza in the Washington Post -- 7/3/12 |
Follow on Twitter
