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Last shots taken at Schwarznegger -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the four legislative leaders appeared poised Wednesday afternoon to agree on fixes to the $26.3 billion budget deficit, but labor leaders and Democratic lawmakers were taking some final shots at the governor for failing to include tax hikes in his proposed solutions. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/15/09 Of Compromises and Crises -- The buzz around the state Capitol grows louder this afternoon that a deal is close at hand on a $26.3 billion solution to California's gaping budget deficit. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 7/15/09 Sanchez mentioned as possible candidate for governor -- Campaign talk about Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, has lately focused on whether Republican Assemblyman Van Tran can mount a competitive challenge against her. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 7/15/09 Balance of power in flux on California tax board -- Judy Chu's departure for Congress leaves an opening on the evenly divided panel. Corporations want a business-friendly replacement while consumer advocates hope for another liberal. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 BART headed back to the bargaining table -- BART negotiators are headed back to the bargaining table next week after train operators and station agents Tuesday unanimously rejected a management contract offer, dashing hopes for a quick settlement that would erase the possibility of a strike. Denis Cuff in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/15/09 Newsom seeks to extend L.A. reach with Padilla appointment -- Gavin Newsom, who faces significant challenges to gain political traction in Southern California, today named state senator and former Los Angeles city council member Alex Padilla to chair his 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Peter Hecht SacBee Capitol Alert Juliet Williams AP -- 7/15/09 California lawmakers, governor nearly in agreement on budget, leaders say -- After late-night meetings with Schwarzenegger, legislative leaders say work on a final budget deal should be wrapped up today. 'Difficult decisions' still ahead, a governor's spokesman cautions. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 UC regents panel approves employee furloughs lasting 11 to 26 days -- A University of California panel on Wednesday voted to force employees to take time off from work as one response to $813 million in state cuts. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 CA Dems file to block Schwarzenegger's TV spots -- The California Democratic Party has filed a complaint with the state's Fair Political Practices Commission, seeking to block Governor Schwarzenegger's latest television spots about the state's budget crisis on the grounds that they violate state campaign finanace regulations. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 7/15/09 Arnold’s privatization plan full of holes, foes say -- County social services officials and consumer advocates say Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s eleventh-hour plan to privatize the health and human services eligibility process could be disastrous. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 7/15/09 Legal pot could generate $1.4 billion in revenue, tax board says -- California could see a nearly $1.4 billion per year increase in state revenues were it to legalize marijuana, the state Board of Equalization says in an analysis of pending legislation to to do that. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 CalPERS sues rating companies over $1 billion in bond losses -- The California retirement fund says Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings issued 'wildly' wrong risk assessments. Jerry Hirsch and Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Debate over hefty cigarette tax increase heats up -- Health care advocates are imploring Republican lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to rethink their opposition to taxes, especially in light of recent poll findings that show Republican voters overwhelmingly in support of increasing tobacco taxes to help solve the state's $26.3 billion deficit. Steven Harmon in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/15/09 Legal pot could generate $1.4 billion in revenue, tax board says -- California could see a nearly $1.4 billion per year increase in state revenues were it to legalize mariijuana, the state Board of Equalization says in an analysis of pending legiislation to to do that. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/15/09 How that claim of 25 percent fraud may have spread -- The origin of a mystery statistic at the Capitol may be peeking through the sands of time. Susan Ferriss SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/15/09 Cal State Chancellor Reed criticizes low standards at high schools -- California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed said that what passes for algebra in high schools is really “algebra light,” and characterized as “outrageous” that school districts don’t require more of their students. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Southern California median home sales price surges in June -- The increase to $265,000 reflects a recent trend of higher-priced properties taking a greater market share. Sales volume reaches a 30-month high. Peter Y. Hong in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09
Schwarzenegger orders 2,000 more state jobs cut -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered department heads to eliminate 2,000 jobs on top of the 5,000 positions he wants to cut as part of his budget solution, his officials said Tuesday. Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/15/09 Two-tier California pension proposal on hold -- California will not impose a two-tier pension system promising lower benefits to future state workers as part of any wide-ranging deal to solve its $26.3 billion budget shortfall, The Bee has learned. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 California's Democratic lawmakers say budget agreement is near -- Leaders have reportedly resolved differences over education cuts. But the governor's office says difficult decisions have yet to be made. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Herdt: Lottery idea rises again -- As state elected leaders and their staffs continue this week to pore over the budget looking for places to cut, trim, snip and hack, one idea for generating new revenues without raising taxes is undergoing a rebirth: spiffing up the California Lottery. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 7/15/09 California credit rating downgraded again -- A major Wall Street ratings house downgraded California's long-term bond rating Tuesday, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's aides warned he might cut 2,000 state worker jobs to help balance the budget. Kevin Yamamura and Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 Testing lawmakers? -- Dorothy Cummings and Gary Ellis have been approved by the secretary of state to try to qualify a ballot measure that would require all state legislators to be tested for the illegal use of drugs and the "habitual use of alcohol." Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 How will Meg Whitman spend a $15 million contribution to her own campaign? -- Few political junkies were surprised Monday when Republican Meg Whitman announced she had plunked down $15 million from her own wallet to bolster her gubernatorial campaign. Ken McLaughlin in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/15/09 California nursing board executive officer Ruth Ann Terry resigns -- Terry had been the appointed executive officer for nearly 16 years. A report by The Times and ProPublica found that the board often took years to discipline nurses accused of egregious misconduct. Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Ex-FPPC chairwoman Liane Randolph changes sides, joins Dream Team -- A former chairwoman of the Fair Political Practices Commission -- who once battled Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in court over campaign finance laws -- now serves as an attorney and advocate at the lobbying and legal firm hired by Schwarzenegger’s multi-million dollar political committee, the California Dream Team. Anthony York in Capitol Weekly -- 7/15/09 California could lose a House seat after 2010 census -- Experts think the size of the state's delegation will probably remain unchanged, but even that would break a historical pattern. Richard Simon in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Matier & Ross: Migden called wild ride 'state business' -- One of the reasons the state agreed to shell out $335,000 to settle a lawsuit over Carole Migden's infamous wild ride and rear-ender was that the then-state senator crashed while on state business. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/15/09 Walters: Out-of-staters gleefully delve into California's woes -- National Public Radio is running a series of broadcasts this week called "California in Crisis." And NPR is not alone. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 Judy Chu trounces rivals in congressional race -- State Board of Equalization member Judy Chu has won the special election for the 32nd Congressional District seat to become the first Chinese American woman in the House of Representatives. Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 California's mutual-aid fire system may buckle -- Without even thinking about the cost, local firefighters routinely race to respond to mutual-aid calls across California knowing they are needed to save lives and property. Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 7/15/09 CalBuzz: 5 Questions: How Laura Chick Watchdogs Stimulus -- With California receiving billions in federal stimulus dollars, the chief watchdog on how the money gets spent is former Los Angeles Controller Laura Chick. Susan Rose CalBuzz -- 7/15/09
One BART union votes to reject contract offer -- BART train operators and station agents voted unanimously Tuesday to reject management's latest contract offer, opening the door to a possible strike. For now, however, further negotiations are likely. Rachel Gordon in the San Francisco Chronicle Denis Cuff in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/15/09 California businesses get IOUs instead of cash, and some are just fine with that -- Christian Bartels has received about $150,000 in IOUs this month from the state of California. And the funny thing is, he's not that mad about it. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/14/09 Silicon Valley apartment rents fall 3.8%; biggest decline in nation -- Reined in by recession and rising unemployment, apartment rents in Santa Clara County dropped a record 3.8 percent last quarter — more than any other market in the country. Pete Carey in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/15/09 Sacramento-area rents fall for third straight quarter -- A massive deflationary spiral that has pushed home values down by half or more from their housing boom highs is now destabilizing pricing at large apartment communities across the capital region. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 Capital-area jobless rate to hit 13.5 percent in 2010, report says -- The state budget crisis and a still-weak housing market will push the Sacramento region's unemployment rate to 13.5 percent by the middle of next year, according to a forecast released Tuesday by California State University, Sacramento. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 800 demonstrators march on Disney over labor dispute -- Roughly 800 Disney hotel workers, union organizers, outside demonstrators and members of the Episcopal clergy marched from the Convention Center, shutting down Harbor Boulevard to the Disneyland entrance Tuesday afternoon – another protest rally in the labor dispute between Disney and workers at the three Disneyland hotels that has simmered at a stalemate for a year-and-a-half. Adam Townsend in the Orange County Register -- 7/15/09 Intel results beat forecasts; shares jump -- The chip giant reports $8 billion in second-quarter revenue, pointing to sales of the Atom processor for netbooks. It posts a loss, however, primarily because of a European Commission fine. Alex Pham in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Retail Pro's HQ leaving San Diego for Folsom -- Retail Pro International LLC, which provides point of sale software to 35,000 retail stores in 63 countries, is moving its headquarters from San Diego to Folsom because of the city's lower cost of business operations. Li Lou in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 Jobs at risk as Health Net loses defense contract -- Hundreds of jobs at Health Net's Rancho Cordova offices may be in jeopardy after the Department of Defense dropped the company from its stable of insurers. Bobby Caina Calvan in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09
UC staff protests proposed furloughs -- They're protesting at the University of California, exercising free speech and making demands. But those with the raised fists and angry placards aren't students. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/15/09
Valley lawmakers clash over water -- Sharp partisan conflict now divides San Joaquin Valley lawmakers who had been united as they sought solutions to the region's water shortage. Michael Doyle in the Fresno Bee -- 7/15/09 LA exploring ways to make the city 'greener' -- Hoping to make the city greener, Los Angeles officials are looking at burying utility lines at a faster pace, cleaning up the city's river and rehabbing municipal buildings. Rick Orlov in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 7/15/09 Reflective roof paint repels the heat -- Hyperseal paints can reduce the costs and energy needed for cooling by lowering the amount of heat a building absorbs from the sun. White roofs may be the new green. Tiffany Hsu in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Water wholesaler to fund in-the-red rebate program into coming fiscal year -- Southern California water managers agreed Tuesday to fund millions of dollars in pending rebate applications for low-flow toilets and other conservation devices and approved another $19 million to pay for the program for the coming fiscal year. JANET ZIMMERMAN in the Riverside Press -- 7/15/09 49ers reveal details of Santa Clara stadium plan -- The 49ers haven't decided whether the proposed new stadium in Santa Clara will have grass on the field, but they know for sure it will have plants on the roof. Mike Swift in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/15/09 Sea lions are flooding into Bay Area rescue centers -- The numbers are up so far this year as many are found stranded and malnourished. Julie Anne Strack in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09
Hiring process for immigrants to get tighter -- Getting a job could become harder soon, particularly for immigrants, and not just because of the recession. The federal government is tightening the hiring process to ensure that employees are legally entitled to work in this country. Hiram Soto in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 7/15/09
Lazarus: Organ donors run risk of being denied health insurance -- By not making clear the financial risk of organ donation, insurers put donors in danger of losing affordable coverage and discourage potential donors from helping someone in need. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 Massachusetts Takes a Step Back From Health Care for All -- The new state budget in Massachusetts eliminates health care coverage for some 30,000 legal immigrants to help close a growing deficit, reversing progress toward universal coverage just as Congress looks to the state as a model for overhauling the nation’s health care system. ABBY GOODNOUGH in the New York Times -- 7/15/09 Sacramento council places 45-day moratorium on pot dispensaries -- The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday night to place a 45-day moratorium on medicinal marijuana dispensaries in the city while officials explore stricter regulations on the businesses. Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09
Few plaintiffs in Ford case use coupons as lawyers reap millions -- Fewer than 100 consumers out of a million covered in a class-action lawsuit settled in Sacramento Superior Court have redeemed coupons to buy a new Ford, but that hasn't stopped their lawyers from cashing in on a sweet payday. Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 Lopez: Drumming up support for community arts -- Activists work to find ways to save youths through art. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 L.A. ethics officials vote to tighten lobbying rules -- After more than a year of deliberations, the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission voted today for a plan aimed at making it easier for the city to enforce its lobbying rules. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 A new bid to restrict paparazzi -- Told that paparazzi are jeopardizing safety and privacy, California lawmakers today advanced a proposal that would allow steep fines for illegally taking and distributing photos and videos of celebrities and others who are engaged in ``personal or familial activity.’’ Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/15/09 2009 Oakland officer-involved shootings plunge -- Officer-involved shootings in Oakland plummeted to two so far this year, reflecting a dramatic decrease over past years. Matthai Kuruvila in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/15/09 Measure would extend safe-surrender period -- Lawmakers are considering modifying the state's safe-surrender law to extend the amount of time that mothers can anonymously surrender their babies, from three days after birth to 30. PHILIP RILEY in the Riverside Press -- 7/15/09 Sacramento supervisors restore 70 sheriff's deputies jobs -- Seventy fewer Sacramento County sheriff's deputies will be receiving a layoff notice thanks to the Board of Supervisors. Robert Lewis in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/15/09 Murder charge in death of cyclist in SoCal -- A 20-year-old man on probation for two drunken driving convictions has been charged with murder and other counts in the death of a bicyclist. AP -- 7/15/09 |
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