April 2014 | Page 9 of 12 | CalWatchdog.com

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State Senate postpones hearings for ethics training

In response to ongoing corruption cases, the California State Senate will postpone all committee hearings scheduled for April 23 and in their place host an all-day ethics discussion and training session. In a Wednesday afternoon email (reprinted at the end

Assembly committee to look at Leg treatment of women employees

John April 11, 2014

This week, the California State Assembly announced the creation of a new select committee to investigate issues facing women in the workplace. Speaker John A. Perez, who made the announcement on Equal Pay Day, said that he’s tasked Assemblywoman Lorena

Why CalSTRS fix is impossible: It would force cut in teacher take-home pay

Chris Reed April 11, 2014

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System is terribly underfunded. The last official report put its shortfall at $74 billion. State officials say it needs an infusion of $4 billion more money a year for decades to come. This week, as

Californians: Government is a ripoff

John Seiler April 10, 2014

I’ve been wondering when most people would figure out that government is nothing but a ripoff, with the swag going to billionaire crony capitalists and highly paid public “servants.” As the dreaded April 15 approaches, when government gets serious about

CA media: GOP dysfunction bigger topic than mass poverty

Chris Reed April 10, 2014

The Los Angeles Times’ news analysis about how recent controversies are likely to hurt California Republicans with two constituencies they are trying to woo — Latinos and women — isn’t loaded or biased. It’s likely true. Here’s a bit of

CA farmers lead new immigration push

James Poulos April 10, 2014

Immigration has become the biggest national issue involving California’s farmers. In the state’s agricultural heartland, a host of issues are on the agenda, ranging from this year’s painful drought to marijuana eradication. But one matter looms large. Farmers need more

Surprising new study scores California sprawl

James Poulos April 9, 2014

A new national study is making waves for the way it ranks California cities. No matter how pleasant the weather, residents and visitors alike have complained for decades about sprawl. Highways jam with cars. Convenience stores and strip malls

Will new community power beat PG&E prices?

Wayne Lusvardi April 9, 2014

Sonoma Clean Power officials and advocates got a charge from recent news that 95 percent of county eligible ratepayers will be switched to their electricity service from Pacific Gas & Electric. The switch was automatic, although ratepayers could opt out

Assembly District 74: Taxes, fire pit issues burn bright in race

John April 9, 2014

Grassroots vs. the establishment. Taxes and fire pits. In the heart of conservative Orange County — would you expect anything else? The race for California’s 74th Assembly District features some familiar storylines as three Republicans and two Democrats campaign for this