May 2014 | Page 4 of 10 | CalWatchdog.com

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Swearengin had no faith in a) her constituents and/or b) herself

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin — an articulate, TV-savvy, photogenic Republican — is a good bet to finish second in the June 3 state primary for controller behind former Assembly Speaker John Perez, a Los Angeles Democrat who will then go

LA pot politics spreads statewide

James Poulos May 21, 2014

Thanks to Los Angeles, the politics of marijuana is lighting up in California this election season. Not only are L.A. laws, attitudes and consumption habits influencing neighboring counties, they’re impacting the statewide debate. The situation is that Proposition 215, which voters approved in

Covered CA = VA

John Seiler May 21, 2014

Some thoughts for Memorial Day, which approaches on Monday. If there’s one government program I favor, it’s helping America’s severely wounded veterans. When they signed up to defend our freedoms, they were promised that, should they be hurt in combat,

2007 press release shows rail authority touting CEQA compliance

Chris Reed May 21, 2014

A Tuesday afternoon AP story laid out the latest courtroom developments involving the bullet-train fiasco: “SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s $68 billion bullet train project should be exempt from the state’s strict environmental review process now that it is subject

Gov. Brown blames wildfires on global warming

John Seiler May 20, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown has been blaming the wildfires on global warming/climate. The Times summarized his recent statements: “We here in California are on the front lines,” Brown said on ABC in the first of two Sunday morning news show appearances…. The

CA Senate OKs GOP drought declaration

Wayne Lusvardi May 20, 2014

“Fire, water and government know nothing of mercy,” runs an Albanian proverb. So far in 2014, California has been wracked by merciless firestorms and severe drought even before the driest days of summer. And members of both political parties have

SB1188 could expand product litigation

Dave Roberts May 20, 2014

“California has consistently had one of the worst lawsuit climates in the nation, currently ranked at 47th for lawsuit fairness,” concluded the Institute for Legal Reform’s 2012 Lawsuit Climate Report. “The courts in Los Angeles rank as the country’s second

CA workforce participation hits 38-year low

Chris Reed May 20, 2014

The same state survey of labor statistics that led to headlines last week about California having its lowest unemployment rate in nearly six years also had some much less positive news. The California Center for Jobs & the Economy noted these stats

Pension costs burden CA budget

James Poulos May 19, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown still hasn’t gotten his state’s budget problems beat. A high-profile new report showed California still faces massive liabilities extending far into the future. The study, released by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, tallied over $340 billion in debts, deferred payment and other

San Fran = Rwanda

John Seiler May 19, 2014

San Francisco is by far the most liberal city in the United States. In the 2012 election, it voted 83 percent for Democratic President Obama and 13 percent for Republican Mitt Romney. So one would think that SF would have the