CalWatchdog Morning Read — April 8, 2016

08 Apr, 2016 by CalWatchdog Staff

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Good morning! TGIF.

California drivers will spend around $2 billion in fees associated with cap and trade, according to a report released Thursday.

And lawmakers are lining up to spend that money with 36 proposals worth at least $7.5 billion pending in the legislature, according to a separate report released Thursday.

All of the proposals claim to spend the money on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as required by law, although legislative analysis suggests that is probably more true in some instances than in others. CalWatchdog has more.

In other news:

— In the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is gaining on frontrunner Hillary Clinton in California. But his shot at victory is dependent on groups of voters who are “less certain to turnout on Election Day,” reports the The San Jose Mercury News. As a footnote, The Weekly Standard looks at why general election electability does not seem to matter to primary voters.

— Gov. Jerry Brown was reluctant to adopt an increase to a $15 minimum wage, but said he was able to come aboard thanks largely to an opt-out mechanism that will allow whoever is governor to pause the increases in times of economic turmoil. But will anyone actually do that? History suggests no, reports CalWatchdog.

— Critics are unhappy with Attorney General Kamala Harris’ probe into the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in southern California. After a huge breakthrough that found secret deliberations on handwritten notes, which one observer called “the most remarkable piece of investigative work,” the investigation seemed to stall, the observer added. Capitol Public Radio has more.

Congressional Tidbits:

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, is cutting short a trip to Israel to return home and deal with several campaign finance issues, including about $1,424 worth of video game purchases, $1,128 in travel, $1,650 to Hunter’s children’s school and $1,137 paid to an oral and facial surgeon, all of which were listed in reports as personal expenses or mistaken charges “to be paid back” according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report.

And the chief of staff to Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Irvine, resigned this week after he was charged on an eight-count indictment stemming from misuse of official funds during his time in another members office, reports CalWatchdog.