California Policy & Politics This Morning
Silicon Valley would welcome McCarthy as new House speaker -- Though representing a solidly Republican, largely agricultural district hundreds of miles away, McCarthy has talked often about Silicon Valley's huge potential as an economic driver and political force. And he has earned a reputation for being curious about new technology and responsive to the tech sector's needs. Josh Richman in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/26/15
Could John Boehner's resignation help the drought, California agriculture? -- Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), who as House majority leader is the leading candidate to replace Boehner, has pushed back at environmental regulations governing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and favored more water transfers to Central Valley growers hit by cutbacks from federal water projects. Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/26/15
Meet Kevin McCarthy, the potential next speaker of the House -- Voting record and rundown of the issues: If tea party Republicans think they're going to replace Boehner with one of their own, it's surely not McCarthy. Amber Phillips in the Washington Post -- 9/26/15
California regulators restore emissions-cutting fuel rule -- California regulators on Friday restored ambitious rules to cut transportation fuel emissions 10 percent within 5 years. The rules further strengthen California's toughest-in-the-nation carbon emissions standards, but oil producers warn the changes could drive up costs for consumers at the gas pump. Judy Lin Associated Press -- 9/26/15
San Jose Mayor endorses Khanna in Silicon Valley House race -- Striking a blow to embattled eight-term Rep. Mike Honda, who’s now under the shadow of a House ethics investigation, Democratic challenger Ro Khanna Friday announced endorsements from three prominent South Bay officials in his bid for the 17th Congressional District seat. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/15
Richmond youths sound off to U.S. attorney general about bad cops -- Cops who treat city kids with respect instead of an iron hand are too few and far between, a handful of Richmond youths told the U.S. attorney general on Friday. And Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who said she had come to Richmond to listen, sat quietly and listened. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/15
Indian prime minister seeks to connect in Silicon Valley swing -- Silicon Valley, a favorite stop for American politicians, especially those with their hands out, is hosting India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, this weekend. It’s the first visit to California by an Indian head of state in 33 years. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/15
Final tally of lawmakers’ votes: ayes, nays and taking a pass in 2015 -- Lawmakers miss votes for multiple reasons. Sometimes they are not present because of illness or have been excused from session for legislative or personal business, such as campaign meetings. Sometimes lawmakers are present yet still don’t vote. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/26/15
Report recommends expanding SeaWorld killer whale tanks -- SeaWorld should be allowed to build a much larger facility for its killer whales, a state government report recommended Friday in a move that outrages animal rights groups that see it as a step toward breeding more orcas in captivity. Julie Watson Associated Press Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/26/15
UC Davis veterinarians treating dozens of pets badly burned in California wildfires -- In a brightly lit makeshift burn unit inside the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, a feline wildfire victim, her face raw and her paw pads seared bright red, quivered in the arms of technician Robin Fisher. Cynthia Hubert in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/26/15
Greenhut: Pols don't tout cost of warming policies -- California’s advocates for an aggressive approach toward fighting man-made global warming sometimes imply it is a cost-free exercise, as they argue that the emerging (and highly subsidized) green-jobs industry will make up for any job losses from the higher taxes and tougher regulations imposed on traditional building projects. Steven Greenhut in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/26/15
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls
SDG&E Seeks Customer Money To Help Pay 2007 Wildfire Costs -- The San Diego-based utility filed paperwork Friday asking to pass along 90 percent of the remaining the cost of expenses. The blaze was one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, with 1,300 homes burned and two people killed. Erik Anderson KPBS -- 9/26/15
Citizens group appeals San Onofre ruling -- The San Diego consumer group suing to reverse the San Onofre settlement that charges ratepayers billions of dollars for the failed nuclear plant has taken its case to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/26/15
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Airbnb spending more than $3.5 million to fight new rental rules -- As election day nears, contributions are flooding into the campaigns for and against San Francisco’s November ballot initiatives, with Airbnb putting up more than $3.5 million to fight tougher restrictions on short-term rentals. Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/15
Feds Urge California Wildfire Victims to Register for Help -- Officials from the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency appeared at a news conference in San Andreas, urging residents of Calaveras County to register for help with temporary housing as they clear debris and rebuild. Associated Press -- 9/26/15
Hot Bay Area economy props up California -- The technology-heavy San Francisco Bay Area almost single-handedly propped up California’s otherwise lethargic economic performance in 2014, a new report from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/26/15
California pension measure may be rewritten by Chuck Reed after contested summary by Kamala Harris -- Former Mayor Chuck Reed said Friday he will either rewrite his state ballot measure that asks voters to approve public pensions or sue state Attorney General Kamala Harris for what he calls a "misleading and unfair" description designed to negatively sway voters. Ramona Giwargis in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/26/15
TJ has what SD wants: a nice, new stadium -- Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a new stadium not far from downtown San Diego. Mark Zeigler in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/26/15
Residents want L.A. to do more to enforce short-term rental regulations -- As Airbnb and other platforms make it easier to rent out rooms or whole homes for short stays, the debate over regulating such rentals has revolved around what kinds of rules Los Angeles should enshrine. But for many Angelenos, the bigger question is whether the rules will have any teeth. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/26/15
Education
L.A. Unified to get $6.4 million in settlement over iPad software -- The Los Angeles Unified School District has reached a tentative $6.4-million settlement over Pearson educational software that it purchased but barely used. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/26/15
Immigration / Border
Immigration group planned California girl's pope encounter for a year -- Sophie Cruz's brief encounter with Pope Francis during his parade in Washington this week appeared to be the kind of spontaneous moment that is so endearing about this pope: an initially hesitant young child wrapping an arm around his neck as he offers a kiss and a blessing. Alicia A. Caldwell Associated Press -- 9/26/15
California Issues Half a Million Immigrant Driver Licenses -- California has issued more than half a million driver's licenses to immigrants in the country illegally under a program that began this year. Armando Botello, a spokesman for the state's Department of Motor Vehicles, said Friday that the milestone was reached last week. Associated Press -- 9/26/15
Environment
Diesel Emission Tests To Change In California -- The California Air Resources Board is notifying car manufacturers that it will enhance its testing of diesel engine emissions. The move comes as a result of Volkswagen’s admission that it manipulated diesel emission tests in the US. Regulators say current testing techniques don’t always indicate how a car will perform on the road. Amy Quinton Capital Public Radio -- 9/26/15
EPA takes over groundwater cleanup in North Orange County, site may go on Superfund list -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken over cleanup of the northern portion of the largest groundwater basin supplying drinking water to Orange County and is investigating whether to classify it as a Superfund site. Aaron Orlowski in the Orange County Register -- 9/26/
Also . . .
‘Enough is enough’ moment for Garcetti: kids shot near taco stand -- A drive-by shooting in South Los Angeles this week that led to the hospitalization of three children prompted Mayor Eric Garcetti and police Chief Charlie Beck on Friday to say “enough is enough” in a plea for an end to the bloodshed. Ken Stone Mynewsla.com -- 9/26/15
Group gets judge’s OK to parade nude in San Francisco -- It’s illegal to go naked in public in San Francisco, unless you’re part of an event with a city permit, like a parade. And that’s what 50 to 100 nudists plan to do on city streets Saturday, with an assist from a federal judge. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/15
Critical Mass takes high road this month after August’s attack -- For the first time since a video of a cyclist smashing the window of a driver’s car went viral and cast a pall over the event, hundreds of riders gathered at Justin Herman Plaza Friday night for Critical Mass, a monthly protest ride through the streets of San Francisco. Kale Williams in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/15
Beltway
Billionaire Steyer calls for more Democratic debates -- Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer on Friday afternoon called on the party to add another debate focused on climate change and clean energy, adding his voice to a pitched disagreement over the number of Democratic debates. Gabriel Debenedetti Politico -- 9/26/15
Donald Trump’s size fixation -- To Donald Trump, size matters. The GOP pack leader and former reality television star constantly touts the number of attendees at his events and sometimes wildly exaggerates, an unusual habit for a presidential candidate. He also publicly attacks journalistic accounts of crowd sizes that do not match his own narrative, another habit peculiar to his candidacy. Ben Schreckinger Politico -- 9/26/15
Behind Boehner's decision to call it quits -- Mike Sommers was the only one John Boehner trusted with the news. The speaker's 40-year-old chief of staff, who began his congressional career as an intern for Boehner in 1997, had been developing the exit plan for some time. Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan Politico -- 9/26/15