December 2014 | CalWatchdog.com

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Mary Nichols the ‘rock star’ bureaucrat

America is supposed to be a democracy ruled by “We, the people.” Actually it’s rule by bureaucracy. The vast bureaus of federal, state and local governments run our lives, and there’s not much that can be done about it until

Thieves rip $800,000 in computers from San Jose State

John Seiler December 31, 2014

Can’t blame this one on Kim Jong Un of North Korea. Thieves ripped off $800,000 of computer equipment from San Jose State. The Contra Costa Times reported: Without a central warehouse or reliable system for keeping track of the valuables

Gov. Brown pardons 105 ex-cons, rescinds one

John December 31, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown offered Christmas Eve pardons to 105 Californians. But before the paperwork reached the Secretary of State’s office, that number was reduced by one. After facing questions from the Los Angeles Times, Brown retracted the pardon of Glen

Will Little Hoover compel green-energy testimony?

Wayne Lusvardi December 31, 2014

Here’s the 13,000-megawatt question to be answered in 2015: Will the Little Hoover Commission begin issuing subpoenas in 2015 to compel Gov. Jerry Brown and California legislative leaders to meet green energy accountability requirements spelled out in its 2012 report, “Rewiring

CalSTRS to sock local school budgets

John Seiler December 30, 2014

California’s pension crisis just keeps getting worse. The major crisis now is the California State Teachers’ Retirement System. Gov. Jerry Brown warned about the crisis in his Jan. 2014 budget proposal, but didn’t do anything about it. Election year. We’ll