March 2015 | CalWatchdog.com

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Harris tempts challengers with ‘blood sport’ politics

Attributing her success to a “blood sport” view of politics, California Attorney General Kamala Harris has established herself as the leading contender to replace Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who is retiring in Jan. 2017. “I always start my campaigns early, and I run

Fiorina for president? How did 2010 Senate bid work out?

Chris Reed March 31, 2015

As the first woman CEO of a Fortune 20 company, and as a former Silicon Valley-based senior executive with Hewlett-Packard, AT&T and Lucent, Republican Carly Fiorina has major credibility as a potentially trailblazing female political candidate. That’s why her declaration

DWP employees paid up to three times that of private sector

John Seiler March 31, 2015

A new study by the California Policy Center found that employees at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power make up to nearly three times the pay of their private-sector equivalents: “The largest premiums are found in generic jobs

SCOTUS sides with CA school banning American flag shirt

James Poulos March 31, 2015

After five years of controversy and litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand one of the most controversial rulings to come out of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Known for how often it is overturned in the higher court,

Bill could halt Airbnb, vacation rentals in some CA cities

John March 31, 2015

Travel has never been easier or more affordable — thanks to the proliferation of online accommodation marketplaces. Whether you’re planning a weekend trip to Napa Valley or the family’s spring getaway to Disneyland, non-traditional accommodation services, such as Airbnb, provide travelers with a range of

Hoover analyst: CA already met 50% renewable goal

Wayne Lusvardi March 30, 2015

Eureka! California already surpassed Gov. Jerry Brown’s 50 percent goal for renewable energy power by 2030. It did so, in fact, in 2011. That’s the conclusion of an article in the March-April issue of Eureka, a new periodical by the Hoover

Franchise Tax Board continues to pursue microchip inventor

James Poulos March 30, 2015

The microchip powers the California, American and world economies. But the man who officially invented the chip, Gilbert Hyatt, just can’t shake the Golden State’s taxman, even after he moved to Nevada. Reported the Sacramento Bee, “Hyatt, who moved from Southern California to

Committee passes double holiday pay bill

Dave Roberts March 30, 2015

A bill requiring California businesses to provide double pay for employees working on Thanksgiving and Christmas recently passed the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, despite concerns that it will further hurt the state’s business climate and may be unconstitutional. Assemblywoman

Solar panels might not help home values

John Seiler March 30, 2015

Putting solar panels on home roofs is the rage in California with all our sunshine. But it might not help home values if the panels are leased. The problem is the new owner, in addition to qualifying for the mortgage,