CalWatchdog Morning Read – April 22, 2016

by CalWatchdog Staff | April 22, 2016 9:59 am

Education division widening. Guns, gasses and high-speed rail

 

By CALWATCHDOG STAFF

Good morning and happy Friday!

Last week’s ruling by an appeals court that overturned the Vergara decision — which upended teacher tenure laws in the state — has only fueled the conflicts in education that make reform so difficult.

“For now, the decision puts California students and teachers in a precarious, and possibly untenable, position. On the one hand, the current Vergara ruling has denied that students have a right to an education that trumps teachers unions’ interests in protecting failing teachers…

“On the other hand, the new … ruling has denied that students — this time backed by unions — have a right to an education that meets some qualitative standard.”

CalWatchdog[1] has more. 

In other news:

• Counsel for the Legislature said that Gov. Jerry Brown exceeded his authority last year when he extended the provisions of AB32 — a greenhouse gas reduction law — beyond 2020 without legislative approval, reports The Sacramento Bee[2]. 
• Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom are fighting over who gets to pass gun control measures, both Democrats. Newsom is pursuing a ballot measure, which De León says could “derail” his efforts in the Legislature. The Los Angeles Times[3] has more. 
• Southern California has the highest gas prices in the country “by far,” reports the LA Weekly[4]. The average price per gallon in the region exceed that of Hawaii ($2.60) by 20 cents, although prices are easing. 
• The state rail authority announced on Thursday plans to link Merced to the initial segment for high-speed rail, which could add more than $1 billion to the project, reports the Los Angeles Times[5].
• Senate Republicans plan to announce a package of bills on Tuesday, which could focus on veterans issues, among other things.

Assembly:

• Gone ’til Monday.

Senate:

• Gone ’til Monday. 

Gov. Brown:

• Attending a climate change event [6]at the U.N. Headquarters in New York.

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Source URL: https://calwatchdog.com/2016/04/22/88197/

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