|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ethics complaint lodged against Rep. Darrell Issa -- The House Republicans' most dogged investigator of Obama administration doings, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Temecula, now faces his own potential ethics complaint. Michael Doyle SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/11/12 Jerry Brown administration issues furlough orders for holdout California state worker unions -- It's official. Gov. Jerry Brown has accomplished what his predecessor couldn't: All state workers under the governor's authority are now furloughed. Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 Cal State trustees to vote on pay for new campus presidents -- California State University trustees will vote next week on compensation packages for seven campus presidents, including three who would make more than their predecessors because they're slated to receive salary supplements from campus foundations. Laurel Rosenhall SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/11/12 UC proposes 20 percent tuition hike if tax fails -- UC regents next week will discuss the increase, which would take effect in January. If voters approve the tax package, which would include sales and income taxes, the 10-campus university would likely keep tuition at its 2011-12 levels. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/11/12 $594,000 a year? Some police chief salaries boosted with 'cashouts' -- Some police chiefs and other top municipal officials in California received hefty pay in their last years in office because of so-called employee "cashouts," records and interviews show. Sam Allen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 Voters support raising retirement age -- A large share of California’s electorate supports capping pensions for government workers and raising their retirement age, a new survey shows. JIM MILLER in the Riverside Press -- 7/11/12 Morning Joe’s Scarborough ‘Confesses’ His Son Benefits From Health Law -- Scarborough, a small-government conservative who has criticized presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney for being the “the godfather of Obamacare,” was wrapping up a health law discussion on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” when he said he had a confession to make: “I know one place where Obamacare is working,” adding he was “going to get killed for saying this.” Lisa Aliferis KQED State of Health -- 7/11/12 Brown signs homeowner bill of rights -- Framed against the backdrop of Californians on the verge of foreclosure, Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday, July 11, signed into law the Homeowner Bill of Rights to establish landmark protection rules for mortgage loan borrowers that were set to retire after three years. DEBRA GRUSZECKI in the Riverside Press Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/11/12 Changes coming to board that has been haven for ex-lawmakers -- Changes are coming to a state board that pays members $128,000 per year and has been a haven in years past for termed-out legislators appointed by the governor or legislative leaders. Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/11/12 End death penalty measure will be Prop. 34 on California's November ballot -- The so-called SAFE California Act was designated as that proposition on Wednesday. It asks voters to repeal the death penalty and replace it with life in prison without the possibility of parole. The measure would clear California's death row, which now has more than 720 inmates. Howard Mintz in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/11/12 Red-light cameras get reprieve – for now -- Riverside council members voted to allow two more months before deciding whether to cancel the city's red light camera program, opting to study it further and look at ways to get it out of deficit mode. ALICIA ROBINSON in the Riverside Press -- 7/11/12 Romney's speech to NAACP draws boos from audience -- But his sharp criticisms of President Obama and his vow to repeal Obama’s healthcare plan drew sustained boos — and some in the audience left more energized to work against his campaign. Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times$ JUANA SUMMERS Politico -- 7/11/12 Romney To NAACP: If You Knew My Heart, I Would Get Your Vote -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People this morning that his policies would be good for all Americans and that those of President Obama have not helped the nation's poorest people. MARK MEMMOTT NPR -- 7/11/12 Know Your Obama and Romney Outsourcing Claims -- You can see why Mitt Romney and President Obama love claiming the other is an outsourcer. Still, it's important to know that some of the outsourcing claims check out more than others. Here's a guide to both sides. ELSPETH REEVE The Atlantic -- 7/11/12 Gov. Brown signs bill barring tickets for parking at broken meters -- Gov. Jerry Brown has used his pen to address a pet peeve of many California motorists — getting a ticket for parking at a broken parking meter. Patrick McGreevy LA Times PolitiCal$ -- 7/11/12 How will Jerry Brown's big goals impact support for tax plan? -- Gov. Jerry Brown's push for higher taxes could be complicated by two of his other central goals -- pension changes for public employees and the construction of a high-speed rail line. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 California export trade regains strength in May -- California businesses shipped merchandise valued at $13.88 billion in May, up about 5.2 percent from $13.2 billion in May 2011, according to an analysis of today's U.S. Commerce Department trade figures by Beacon Economics, a consulting firm with offices in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/11/12 In Defense of Lindsey Graham—and (Legal) Tax Evasion -- Democrats are in full assault mode against Mitt Romney for his fancy accounting tricks, which include Swiss bank accounts and financial instruments in the Cayman Islands. But he's got a champion in South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who offered a defense Tuesday. DAVID A. GRAHAM The Atlantic -- 7/11/12
Another California city opts for bankruptcy -- San Bernardino became the third California city in that small span to choose Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection with a City Council vote on Tuesday night. Associated Press Michael B. Marois and Alison Vekshin Bloomberg Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 California appeals court to review ballot change that put Jerry Brown's measure on top -- A California appellate court will examine whether Democratic lawmakers violated the state constitution by using a majority-vote budget bill to move Gov. Jerry Brown's tax initiative to the top of the November ballot. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 California Deficit $1 Billion Smaller, Controller Says -- California ended its fiscal year with a shortfall that was $1 billion less than Governor Jerry Brown estimated in May, after the most-populous U.S. state collected more taxes and spent less in June than projected. Michael B. Marois Bloomberg -- 7/11/12 Walters: Jerry Brown's tax plan has a downside -- Whatever its other attributes or deficiencies may be, Gov. Jerry Brown's tax increase on the November ballot would make the state budget more dependent on personal income taxes and on the relative handful of wealthy Californians who pay most of those taxes. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/11/12 Morain: Money flows in battle against health reform -- House Republicans today plan to take what for now will be a symbolic vote to repeal President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, as a national campaign group backed by Aetna Insurance attacks Democrats over their health care stand. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/11/12 Riggs: California Voters Face Do-Over In November -- The late Assembly Speaker Jesse Unruh once said that if he had slain all his political enemies yesterday, he would have no friends today. Kevin Riggs NBC LA Prop Zero -- 7/11/12 Lucas: Whacking boards and commissions: The devil is in the details -- California must now muddle through without an Abalone Advisory Committee. And an Anti-Terrorism Information Center, Rural Health Policy Council and Human Resources Modernization project. Greg Lucas Capitol Weekly -- 7/11/12 Santa Clara County employee fights against paying full union dues -- A pharmacist with Valley Medical Center has filed an unfair practice charge against Santa Clara County's largest public employee union, saying it refused to honor his right to refrain from full dues-paying membership. Tracy Seipel in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/11/12 L.A. County law enforcers accused of withholding key evidence -- Suit alleges L.A. County prosecutors and sheriff's officials have for years concealed complaints about deputy misconduct and other important evidence in criminal cases. Jack Leonard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 L.A. County sheriff recalls 200 badges given to local politicians -- The action follows the release of a photo, in conjunction with the arrest of three Cudahy officials, of a woman in a nightclub wearing a councilman's badge. Robert Faturechi and Jeff Gottlieb in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 San Fernando councilman who had affair with colleague resigns -- Councilman Mario Hernandez stunned the community last year when he announced during a public meeting that he was having an affair with Councilwoman Maribel de la Torre. Hernandez' wife was sitting in the front row when he made the announcement. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Dana Bartholomew in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/11/12
California's bullet train faces new challenges after funding approval -- As California secures the riches needed to start building a high-speed rail line, some longtime bitter foes of the bullet train are beginning to back off -- yet from the courtroom to the boardroom, other opponents are preparing for one last shot at blocking the historic project. Mike Rosenberg in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/11/12 New bullet train plan ‘mangled,’ perhaps illegal, ex-rail booster says -- Even as the state Senate voted last week to approve California's $68 billion high-speed rail plan, opponents pressed forward on a Kings County lawsuit to stop the controversial construction project. Former California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Quentin Kopp, who led a 20-year fight for the bullet train, said he believes this latest lawsuit poses a real threat. Lance Williams California Watch -- 7/11/12
San Diego pension change faces uncertain path -- How exactly San Diego will implement a voter-approved pension overhaul remains uncertain as the city, its employee unions and a state agency wrestle in court over the best path forward. Craig Gustafson UT San Diego -- 7/11/12 Most Californians have a grim view of the economy, Field Poll finds -- The recession ended three years ago and unemployment is falling – but try telling that to most Californians. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/11/12 Wal-Mart hiring in Central Valley for smaller grocery-only stores -- Wal-Mart's new Neighborhood Market stores are coming soon to the Sacramento region, bringing even more competition for mainstream grocers already seeking concessions from union workers. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/11/12 New-home market shows signs of revival in Sacramento region -- First came signs of life in the resale housing market, with prices ticking upward and demand increasing in the first half of this year. Now, Sacramento's once-mighty new-home market appears to be stirring from its five-year coma. Hudson Sangree in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/11/12 California headed for record almond crop -- California is heading for a record almond harvest this fall. A combination of nearly perfect weather and millions of healthy, robust honeybees is expected to yield 2.1 billion pounds of nuts, the biggest crop in history. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12
San Francisco City College trustees try to calm fears -- A long, bright future is ahead for City College of San Francisco, but it's going to take a lot of hard work to get there. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/11/12 Brown’s veto throws wrench in AVID college prep program -- The national executive director of AVID, a successful college preparatory program for students in the middle, vowed Tuesday to continue a strong operation in California, in spite of Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto last month of $8.1 million in state funding for it. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 7/11/12 Imazeki: Move over, Sacramento, and give districts space to innovate -- Five years ago, then-Governor Schwarzenegger, then-State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, and the leadership of the Assembly and Senate commissioned a comprehensive summary and analysis of California’s school finance and governance systems. Jennifer Imazeki EdSource -- 7/11/12
State lawmakers grapple with essential health benefits -- The federal health care reform act requires most Americans to have health insurance by 2014. But what exactly will those insurance plans have to cover? KATHARINE MIESZKOWSKI Bay Citizen -- 7/11/12 Legislation aims to crack down on illegal medical spas -- Proposed legislation in California would increase penalties for illegally owning and operating medical spas, which in some cases are performing procedures without required medical supervision. Medical spas provide services such as laser hair removal, Botox injections and microdermabrasion. Anika Anand California Watch -- 7/11/12 Fat-Melting Device a Weighty Matter for FDA -- For several years, doctors and medical spas around the country have touted a fat-melting device called the LipoTron 3000, or Lipo-Ex, as a revolutionary way for people to slim down. Myron Levin and Stuart Silverstein FairWarning -- 7/11/12 Measure requiring condoms for porn films likely to go on ballot -- Faced with more than 370,000 signatures supporting a porn condom-use ordinance, Los Angeles County supervisors seem likely to put such a measure on the ballot this fall. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 FBI, state target East Bay doctor for large prescriptions of painkillers -- Three died under care of physician, one of state’s most prolific prescribers. CHRISTINA JEWETT California Watch -- 7/11/12
Contra Costa rejects latest iteration of Peripheral Canal -- Contra Costa County took an official "no" position on the contentious state and federal proposal to siphon Sacramento Delta water into central and Southern California through an underground tunnel. Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/11/12 After two years of La Niña, El Niño May Be on the Way -- If you thought the first six months of the year were chock full of weird weather events, just wait — according to climate scientists there is an increasing likelihood that El Niño conditions will soon develop in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Andrew Freedman KQED Climate Watch -- 7/11/12 Climate Change Will Unleash Buried Toxics -- Toxic sites ringing the San Francisco Bay tell the story of its recent past. Smelting plants, hazardous waste dumps, landfills, shipyards, fuel depots, and military bases recall an era when the bay was prized more for its tactical and commercial values than for its ecology. Nate Seltenrich East Bay Express -- 7/11/12 Alameda to allow construction of new apartments -- Island city changes decades-old zoning rules, paving the way for affordable housing. AARON GLANTZ Bay Citizen -- 7/11/12 At Orange County's Great Park, plan would double number of homes -- In exchange for allowing more than 10,000 homes around Orange County's Great Park, Irvine could receive up to $200 million from the developer. The city releases a draft environmental impact report on the proposal. Rick Rojas in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12
Federal judge upholds Sacramento curfew in Occupy lawsuit -- The Occupy Sacramento movement, which was kicked out of Cesar Chavez Plaza during late night and early morning hours, challenged that action as unconstitutional in federal court. Now it has been kicked out of there, too. Denny Walsh in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/11/12
Uncertainty, perils as Bay Area youths seek deportation reprieve -- As they await word on how the Obama administration will grant the work permits it promised to hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants, Lupe Pacheco and Efrain Molina think they have everything their daughter needs in a suitcase under the bed. Matt O'Brien in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/11/12 DEA installs license-plate recognition devices near Southwest border -- In their unending battle to deter illegal immigration, drug trafficking and terrorism, U.S. authorities already have beefed up border security with drug-sniffing dogs, aircraft and thousands more agents manning interior checkpoints. G.W. Schulz California Watch -- 7/11/12
Lopez: Cooley, Baca's silence is stunning -- Reports that the Sheriff's Department and district attorney's office withhold evidence from lawyers representing inmates alleging brutality are met with silence or a dismissive comment. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 Officer charged in Kelly Thomas' death leaves police force -- One of the Fullerton police officers charged in the beating death of Kelly Thomas is no longer employed by the city. Abby Sewell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 Lawmaker calls for full audit of developmental center police -- The state Assembly’s Republican leader on Tuesday called for an exhaustive audit of the police force at California’s board-and-care institutions for the severely developmentally disabled. Ryan Gabrielson California Watch -- 7/11/12 Oakland Mayor Jean Quan dogged by crime issue -- That was clear the other day when Quan joined Gov. Jerry Brown and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood at Jack London Square to talk up a $15 million federal grant for the city's port operations. Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/11/12 Bid to sell foie gras on U.S. land stirs up debate -- Experts can't agree on whether a restaurant located on federal land in California can legally subvert a new state law banning the sale of foie gras. Stacy Finz and Paolo Lucchesi in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/11/12 Medical Marijuana's Stealth Providers -- Meanwhile, delivery-only dispensaries are lawfully and stealthily providing patients with continued access to the drug. In fact, in a sign of the times, some battleground cities have banned storefronts, but permit delivery services. David Downs East Bay Express -- 7/11/12 LAPD looks to limit patrol car crashes -- What might the Los Angeles Police Department be able to learn from the trucking industry or the U.S. military? When it comes to safe driving and training employees to handle stressful situations, perhaps quite a bit. Eric Hartley in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/11/12
Obama takes middle class tax-cut to campaign trail -- President Obama took his tax cut push to the campaign trail on Tuesday, as he continued his efforts to appeal to middle class voters. JENNIFER EPSTEIN Politico -- 7/11/12
Lawmakers refuse to move beyond health care -- After years of debate, dozens of repeal votes and even a landmark Supreme Court ruling, Congress still refuses to get past President Barack Obama’s controversial health care law. BEN GOAD in the Riverside Press -- 7/11/12 Reid pushes Romney to follow ‘example set by father,’ and share more tax records -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday called on Mitt Romney to open up more of his tax records for public scrutiny, adding to a coordinated Democratic effort to pressure the presumptive GOP nominee. Alexander Bolton The Hill -- 7/11/12 McManus: Campaign ads -- an American art form -- I sat. I watched. Here are the highlights and lowlights so far. Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 Romney hits Obama tax plan, calls president 'outsourcer in chief' -- Mitt Romney brought his presidential campaign to the West Slope of Colorado on Tuesday, looking to energize his base here in a heavily Republican part of the state and highlight the continuing struggle to bring back jobs in a region where unemployment is higher than other parts of the nation. Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 Biden: Romney wants Latinos 'to show your papers, but he won't show us his' -- Vice President Joe Biden railed Tuesday against the GOP's hard-line stance on immigration in a speech warning Latino voters of the consequences if they "sit on your hands" in the coming elections. Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/12 When will Romney get specific on policy details? Party worries -- An increasing number of Republicans are nervous that Mitt Romney’s decision to forgo policy details on a range of topics will hamper his chances to become the 45th president. Cameron Joseph The Hill -- 7/11/12 |
Follow on Twitter
