August 2014 | CalWatchdog.com

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AG’s low-key Vergara appeal has damage-control vibe

Without fanfare, Attorney General Kamala Harris appealed the Vergara decision throwing out state teacher tenure and job-protection laws late Friday at the direction of Gov. Jerry Brown and with the encouragement of state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. Unlike

Torlakson says real problem is low teacher pay, not tenure

Chris Reed August 30, 2014

This was predictable: Friday’s announcement that state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson wanted an appeal of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu’s ruling that teacher tenure laws are unconstitutional because they funnel the worst teachers to struggling schools

Bill would end Medi-Cal asset seizures

John Seiler August 29, 2014

“Nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes” is an old saying. California also has seizures after death. Now, the California Legislature just passed a bill to limit the seizure of the estates of Medi-Cal recipients. The Mercury-News reported:

100,000 lacking ID could lose Covered CA coverage

James Poulos August 29, 2014

Covered California could lose up to 100,000 enrollees who haven’t proven their eligibility under the state’s version of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. According to the ACA, unlawful U.S. residents aren’t permitted to receive coverage. Yet, although California is home to

Gerawan workers protest UFW as court date looms

James Poulos August 29, 2014

A fresh twist has arisen in the drama surrounding Gerawan Farms’ dispute with United Farm Workers. The long-running controversy, which pitted Gerawan and its workers against the UFW and California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board, has been developing fast. The primary action

Unions win court round in battle with charter cities

Chris Reed August 29, 2014

Unions lost round one of their battle with California cities over “prevailing wages” on public works projects in 2012. That’s when the California Supreme Court ruled against a law they’d gotten the Legislature to pass targeting charter cities for their

Historic Vergara ruling finalized; state has weighty decision on appeal

Chris Reed August 28, 2014

A court decision that puts the interests of Latino and black students and parents on a collision course with those of the mostly white members of the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers has been finalized: The

Gut and amend time

John Seiler August 28, 2014

“Laws are like sausages. You should never see them made,” is a variant on a saying by Otto von Bismarck. The old Prussian has been dead 116 years, but if he came back he certainly would recognize the California Legislature’s

Update: Plastic bag ban passes Assembly

James Poulos August 28, 2014

Update, 2:26 pm, Aug. 28: On a second vote, SB 270 just passed the Assembly. Despite strong momentum and an air of inevitability, California state legislators hit a major snag on Aug. 27 in their plans for a statewide ban on

Uber, Lyft compromise on ridesharing regulations

John August 28, 2014

Uber and Lyft, two of the country’s leading ridesharing companies, reached a compromise with state lawmakers on Wednesday over new regulations of the industry that is changing how people get around town. Assembly Bill 2293, which had been strongly opposed by the