July 2015 | Page 7 of 8 | CalWatchdog.com

Archive

CA renewable energy yield yo-yos, raises concern

Gov. Jerry Brown and big majorities in the California Legislature are all aboard with plans to have the state get 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory goes even further. As Vox

CTA seems resigned to losing landmark dues case

Chris Reed July 6, 2015

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week to hear Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association drew considerable national attention as having the potential to deliver a body blow to public employee unions. In the case, an Anaheim teacher challenges the 1977 Supreme

CA tech doubles down on driverless cars

James Poulos July 6, 2015

Despite a spate of media attention surrounding a narrowly missed collision between two self-driving prototype vehicles, California companies fielding driverless cars forged ahead, insisting that the developing technology was safe and getting safer. An unexpected trial Both cars in the incident “were equipped with similar

Dem split stalls right-to-die bill

James Poulos July 5, 2015

Under pressure from powerful faith-based constituencies, Southern California Democrats serving in the Assembly have broken rank with their party and halted its so-called “right-to-die bill,” which cleared the Senate early last month. Unanticipated opposition “The state Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday postponed

Bill establishes new subsidy for biomass power plants

Josephine Djuhana July 5, 2015

Legislators seek to establish a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which would be funded by the cap and trade program adopted by the California Air Resources Board under AB32, and appropriate those dollars to the California Energy Commission to subsidize biomass

CA expands health entitlements

James Poulos July 3, 2015

As California included some unlawful immigrants in Medi-Cal, its version of the Medicaid program, a new study suggested that, nationwide, that population is holding down the costs of health entitlements. The findings promised to sharpen the debate over immigration reform and its connection to

House legislation targets environmental laws

Josephine Djuhana July 2, 2015

Last week, House Republicans introduced legislation to revise water policies in California and the rest of the West Coast, improving water reliability and making environmental laws more flexible. H.R. 2898, authored by California Congressman David Valadao, is backed by the

Smartphone kill-switch mandate takes effect

Josephine Djuhana July 2, 2015

On Wednesday, legislation requiring kill-switch technology for all smartphones sold in California took effect. Senate Bill 962 requires companies to embed specific kill switches in smartphones at the point of sale; the bill was passed by the Legislature and approved

Brown signs vax bill, drawing lawsuit vow

James Poulos July 1, 2015

As Gov. Jerry Brown signed a tough new vaccination bill into law, its vociferous opponents — who had fought the measure tooth and nail — vowed to sue the state and rally voters against it. Senate Bill 277 “requires almost all California schoolchildren

How will business lobby influence special session on transportation funds?

Joel Fox July 1, 2015

Governor Jerry Brown called special sessions to find permanent revenue sources to fund transportation infrastructure and Medi-Cal. The issue of keeping up with deteriorating roads has been a special concern to the business community and Brown is counting on business