January 2015 | Page 4 of 10

Archive

Clintons could influence Boxer successor

Through their political ups and downs, Bill and Hillary Clinton managed to steadily expand their network of professional and personal relationships. In addition to supplying them with a formidable base of loyalty and resources heading into 2016 and Hillary’s expected presidential

UC president appears to cave in fight with Gov. Brown

Chris Reed January 22, 2015

Three months ago, University of California President Janet Napolitano triggered a fight with Gov. Jerry Brown and leaders of the Legislature when she persuaded the UC regents to commit to a five-year plan in which tuition was raised by 5

Sen. Villaraigosa?

John Seiler January 21, 2015

Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is looking for voters to promote him to U.S. senator in 2016. The Times ran an analysis of his pluses and minuses. Basically, his strength is that he’s a Latino candidate who could count on Southern

Hertzberg proposes $10 billion sales tax on services

John January 21, 2015

An influential state lawmaker is proposing a $10 billion sales tax on services that would include everything from accounting to yoga classes. State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, says the changing global economy requires a reevaluation of what’s considered subject to

Recreational pot’s hazy CA future

James Poulos January 21, 2015

A majority of Californians now favors the legalization of marijuana — not just for medical purposes, but recreational use. The state’s voters legalized medical marijuana with Proposition 215 in 1996. But so far, the state has not followed Colorado, Alaska,

Covered CA facing 2015 adjustments

James Poulos January 20, 2015

After posting some of the biggest numbers in the Obamacare firmament, Covered California is putting the squeeze on Golden Staters. Amid concerns that bureaucratic and administrative rules will reverse initial gains, the statewide exchange is stressing the substantial increase in

State of the Union won’t help shrinking CA middle class

John Seiler January 20, 2015

California is a place where middle-class jobs are vanishing faster than a politician’s word of honor. But it’s not surprising President Obama discussed this problem in last night’s State of the Union Address. His solution has three parts: 1. Raise

IRS now comes for Covered CA folks

John Seiler January 20, 2015

The Grim Reaper — the IRS — comes for everybody in the end. Even if you get what was supposed to be “free” or at least “subsidized” medical insurance under Covered California, our state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act,

Feds, CA clash over funding private water projects

Wayne Lusvardi January 19, 2015

Last week, President Obama dumped a bucket of cold water over his fellow Democrats in California on water policy. He’s emphasizing private investment, while they’re trying to ban it. His Environmental Protection Agency announced on its website: “WASHINGTON — The

Food stamps up in CA, down in Kansas

John Seiler January 19, 2015

Despite the economic recovery, poverty is increasing in California. It’s one of the few states to see an increase in the use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.