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gigi
- Politics:Democrat
Poll: Brown, Boxer lead GOP opponents
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown and Sen. Barbara Boxer are holding on to lead their Republican opponents in a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. Read More »
CalSTRS funding gap looms
The second-largest public pension fund in the nation dropped in value by 25 percent in 2009. That has fanned the flames for reformers who say the California State Teachers' Retirement System is unsustainable. Read More »
Jerry Brown takes off gloves, dings Gavin Newsom
Jerry Brown promised to "mix it up" this morning on his weekly call into San Francisco radio station KGO. And mix it up he did. Listen here. The attorney general and undeclared Democratic gubernatorial candidate was asked about San Francisco Mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom's recent remark that Brown didn't appear to have "fire in his belly" for the race. Read More »
State leaders lobby Congress for federal funds
California's state leaders are in Washington today and Thursday for the first round of visits this year to press the federal government for billions of dollars to help the state's beleaguered budget. Read More »
Three Democrats emerge in state Assembly battle on Peninsula
Before most voters have even started paying attention, a lot has happened in the 2010 race for Ira Ruskin's seat in the state Assembly. Six candidates, all Democrats, have filed papers to run for the seat. Three have dropped out, leaving two experienced local politicians and one first-time candidate. Read More »
FACT CHECK: Dealmaking common under Schwarzenegger
In a widely reported national interview over the weekend, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson by saying the Democrat withheld his vote on health care legislation to get more money for his state. Read More »
Walters: Schwarzenegger's job programs same old stuff
Arnold Schwarzenegger, undeterred by past misadventures, is plunging again into the murky world of political economics, wherein politicians claim to magically create jobs. Read More »
Walters: California economy still waiting for recovery
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared this week that "the worst is over for California's economy" and predicted happy days ahead, saying, "Our economy is well-positioned to take advantage of the future." Read More »
Feinstein to gov: Crisis not D.C.’s fault
California’s senior senator didn’t appreciate Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger telling the congressional delegation today in his State of the State speech that it should reject the health reform bill because of what he called “sweetheart deals,’’ that other states are getting. Read More »
Court cuts could cost L.A. County's economy $30 billion
A study finds that if budget shortfalls continue, dramatic revenue and job losses in the legal services industry and other businesses could result in the next four years. Read More »
Behind-the-scenes maneuvers on parental reforms
A new year, same old power plays. There likely will be action today in the Assembly on compromise Race to the Top legislation, as scheduled. But instead of one big bill, two reforms opposed by the school boards association and the state teachers union will be shoved into a separate bill, which the lobbies hope to kill. At least that’s the word I got late last night, after a day of intense negotiations. Read More »
Lawsuits involving furloughs of state workers
Here is a listing of some of the lawsuits filed against the state over the administration’s furlough practices. The listing includes those who filed the suit, the date it was filed, the legal issue involved and the result, if any. Some cases were combined, some have not yet been scheduled for hearings, and appeals have been filed in others. The list will be updated on merits. Read More »
Senator stands by moderate label
Around this time every year, special interest groups in California publish grades for state lawmakers - ranking Assembly members and Senators on how often they stood up for the environment or for business owners or for public schools. Read More »
O.C. reps not sold on Obama economic plan
President Barack Obama's prescription for the ailing job market Tuesday didn't sit well with Orange County's congressional lawmakers who want the administration to stop spending and take the long economic view. Read More »
LAUSD to vote on two-year budget plan Tuesday
The Los Angeles Unified school board is expected to vote on a two-year budget plan today that calls for the elimination of more than 5,000 district positions unless employee unions agree to furloughs and pay cuts. Read More »
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Schwarzenegger's green legacy at risk
This week, state parks officials are expected to release the list of up to 100 California state parks that will be closed to save money.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who worked hard to build green credentials, will become the only governor ever close Read More »
Sacramento-area hospitals use simple ways to cut mistakes
In this story about cutting-edge innovation in hospital care, you won't read about robots or nano-devices so small you need a microscope to see them. Read More »
Annual California school evaluations released show some improvement
The state Department of Education released school ratings this morning that paint an incrementally improving portrait of California's kindergarten-12th grade public education system. Read More »
Bullet train development gaining speed
But for Ed, his wife Judy and some of their neighbors there's also a downside: The 220-mph electric rail line is being routed right through his Rosedale-area neighborhood on an elevated track 30- to 40-feet off the ground. And that will affect property values and the quality of life in their horse-friendly tract. Read More »
Fresno County's Capitol display to target water crisis
Fresno County supervisors agreed Tuesday to turn over the county's display case in the state Capitol to a group of water advocates who want to show a video detailing how the water crisis has hurt Valley farms. Read More »
USDA disaster declaration offers California drought relief
Relief is on the way for Valley farmers, but not to the level some had hoped. Central San Joaquin Valley farmers suffering drought-related crop losses will be eligible for assistance after the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 50 of California’s 58 counties natural disaster areas. Read More »
Schwarzenegger signs Healthy Families bill
"I'm proud to say that amidst the toughest of times and the most difficult choices we have found an innovative way to protect the health of our most precious resource, our children," Schwarzenegger said during a ceremony to mark the bill's signing. Read More »
Medical marijuana ban comes before appeals court today
Do cities have the right to ban medical marijuana dispensaries? The answer may hinge on a lawsuit being heard today before California's 4th District Court of Appeal. Read More »
Meg Whitman's voting record short, sparse
Almost 9 million Californians cast ballots in the 2003 special election that swept movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger into the Governor's Office. Meg Whitman wasn't among them. Read More »
Protest planned for University of California system
Rallies, walkouts and teach-ins are scheduled today, the first day of fall classes on seven campuses, in reaction to state budget decisions that are forcing higher student fees and staff pay cuts. Read More »
Vernon abandons plans for huge power plant
The industrial city of Vernon has abandoned a three-year-old proposal to build a 943-megawatt power plant bitterly opposed by the communities that surround it. Read More »
San Jose and other redevelopment agencies across California score a victory vs. the state — for now
California's redevelopment agencies have won a major victory in their battle to keep the state from grabbing hundreds of millions of tax dollars. Read More »
Los Angeles County expects H1N1 flu vaccine this week
First shipments of FluMist are expected to arrive in clinics and doctors offices by Wednesday. School-age children in particular are encouraged to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Read More »
Gasoline prices drop in California, U.S.
The average retail cost of a gallon of regular falls 2.9 cents to $3.069 in the state as refineries increase production. The nationwide average declines 3.1 cents to $2.468. Read More »
Plunge in new car sales contributes to historic sales tax drop
Details of Bakersfield's historic sales tax plunge in the second quarter show dramatic drops in new car sales, grocery store receipts and oilfield equipment purchases. Read More »
California State Furloughs Are Adversely Affecting College Students
With the budget problems we have, I don't think there isn't anything sacred these days. Everyone is going to have to have some type of cut. I just hope that the Governor's office it kept in line and doesn't continually raid education. The combination of existing cuts with teacher furloughs can really diminish the appeal of California public colleges as world class institutes.
Community colleges must share in higher education recovery
Though community colleges will never get the funding of UC or State institutions, they still play a key roll in higher education. They are a launching pad for kids who don't have the money to get into college right away or need a few additional years to mature academically.
Democrats prepare to counter Schwarzenegger’s gas tax plan
Completely eliminating the diesel tax accounts for corporate welfare! Disel is what the trucking/transportation industry uses.
Oakland's Marijuana Business Tax
Something like this should be implemented state wide if complete legalization fails. This is a great start to legitimizing the marijuana economy.
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Is Going Too Green Bad For California's Job Market?
Like with any large scale legislation regulators will have to ease it in. I can see how going green too fast can be problematic. That is why Obama is still looking to develop offshore oil while also going green at the same time. It can't all just happen at once!