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Back to homepageAssembly confirms Maldonado
APRIL 22, 2010 Today the Assembly voted 51-18 to confirm Senator Abel Maldonado for Lieutenant Governor. Back in February, the Assemblyfailed to secure 41 votes for approval — or rejection — so Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger simply renominated him. The Senate, which
Read MoreSnake Oil Legislators
APRIL 21, 2010 Nearly every person I talk to is either feeling the crush of the bad economy or knows people who are really suffering. Which leads me to believe that most California legislators don’t run in the same circles
Read MoreBrown calls market 'dangerous'
APRIL 20, 2010 By CALWATCHDOG STAFF Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, in response to a question from a TV reporter about the role of religion in public life, called for a living family wage and described the marketplace as “dangerous.”
Read MoreCalifornia’s Debt Bondage
APRIL 20, 2010 By JOHN SEILER In my previous article on finding ways to suspend some state spending for a year to help solve the $20 billion deficit problem, “Initiatives tax state budget,” I looked at initiatives voters passed that
Read MoreMoving California forward?
APRIL 20, 2010 By KATY GRIMES In one of the most relevant legislative hearings held recently, the Assembly Budget Committee heard testimony from members of California Forward, the group proposing the controversial voting threshold change from the current two-thirds vote
Read MoreGreenlining Series: 'Diversity' pays off
This is the fifth part of a series produced by CalWatchdog and the Examiner regarding the Berkeley-based Greenlining Institute, a low-income housing advocacy group that critics say intimidates banks and helped cause the housing meltdown. APRIL 20, 2010 By MARK
Read MoreDon't Dis The Public Safety Unions
I heard a very disturbing story today on a Sacramento radio news program, leaving me to wonder what happened to the “Protect and Serve” oath for public safety workers. Firefighting and policing are voluntary careers — no one forces anyone
Read MoreMaking The State's Debt Coherent
Assembly member Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, introduced a bill in January requiring the state budget to include and account for an estimated $200 billion in unfunded liabilities. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), these liabilities include pensions and retiree
Read MoreGreenlining Series: Intruding on private charities
APRIL 19, 2010 This is the fourth part of a series produced by CalWatchdog and the Examiner regarding the Berkeley-based Greenlining Institute, a low-income housing advocacy group that critics say intimidates banks and helped cause the housing meltdown. By TORI
Read MoreHotel Taxifornia
The Eagles band is starting a tour Tuesday around California and the West Coast. I’ve come up with some new lyrics, which I’m sure they’ll use, for their signature song. It’s called… “Hotel Taxifornia” On a dark desert highway, cool
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