July 2015 | Page 3 of 8 | CalWatchdog.com

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CA Indian tribes’ opposition to Serra sainthood grows

While Gov. Jerry Brown and other dignitaries are meeting with Pope Francis in Rome and at the Vatican this week to talk about climate change and other issues, the pope is under fire back in California. A growing number of

CA Dems push ambitious energy bill

James Poulos July 24, 2015

A bold and controversial new bill, introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore and leading Democrat Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, advanced through the Assembly on the strength of Gov. Jerry Brown’s vociferous rhetoric on climate change. As CBS Los Angeles reported,

Brown pushes climate policy with Pope Francis

James Poulos July 23, 2015

This week, Gov. Jerry Brown drew global headlines as one of the most outspoken officials at a world conference on climate change and slavery hosted in Vatican City by Pope Francis. A play for leadership Gov. Brown was intent on taking the

DMV issues 400,000 licenses to unauthorized immigrants

Chris Nichols July 23, 2015

The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued nearly 400,000 driver licenses to unauthorized immigrants from January through June, following the start of a contested new law that green-lighted such action. The Safe and Responsible Drivers Act was passed by the

Bill could make it easier to increase transportation taxes

Dave Roberts July 22, 2015

A bill that a taxpayer group is calling an attack on Proposition 13 and which the California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed a “job killer,” was approved by the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee last week. Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4

Uber expands CA access despite fines

James Poulos July 22, 2015

For ride-booking services such as Uber and Lyft, California’s roller-coaster ride has only just begun, with recent developments underscoring high demand among the public and high levels of discomfort among public officials. As regulators have cracked down in some places —

’13th checks’ scrapped in San Jose pension deal

Chris Reed July 22, 2015

In June 2012, San Jose voters by a more than 2-to-1 margin approved an ambitious pension reform measure meant to bring down long-term costs of retirement benefits for city employees. The night of the election, the San Jose police union

Bill gives illegal immigrants access to Medi-Cal

James Poulos July 21, 2015

California Democrats have ramped up their push to extend health benefits to in-staters who immigrated unlawfully. High-stakes legislation Sacramento Democrats have advanced a piece of legislation, authored by State Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, that would grant access to Affordable Care Act benefits to unlawful immigrants. SB4, which would

DOJ advisory groups violate open meetings requirements

Steve Miller July 21, 2015

A subcommittee inside the California Department of Justice is accused of meeting in violation of the state’s open meetings act by failing to publicly disclose what actions it will be discussing in its required public meetings notice. A cadre of

Pro sports nonprofits seek special exemption from state raffle rules

John July 20, 2015

Professional sports franchises have a track record of securing special exemptions from environmental regulations, landing sweetheart bond financing deals and collecting direct government subsidies for stadiums. Now, the nonprofit arms of these billion-dollar businesses are looking to gain a special exemption