CalWatchdog Morning Read – May 11

 

• Prop. 30 extension qualifies for ballot
• Kamala Harris under fire
• UC Regents discuss sexual harassment and violence in private
• Lawmakers carve out ex parte communications

Good morning! We’re told it’s California Day of the Teacher, so be sure to celebrate. 

Proponents of the 12-year extension of a “temporary” income tax on the top 2 percent of earners (Prop. 30) will announce today that the measure has collected the required signatures and will be on November’s ballot.

The measure is just rounding out an already crowded ballot. Last week, proponents of a transparency measure announced it had qualified for the ballot.  

The revenue will go primarily to bolster education funding, but will also contribute to Medi-Cal as well. 

The measure comes at a time when the state is wrestling with the fact that its budget is over-reliant on personal income tax. Critics say a Prop. 30 extension only perpetuates that problem. 

The Prop. 30 announcement will be in Sacramento at 12:30 p.m. 

In other news:

• The five top candidates for U.S. Senate met in the final debate of the primary, with four firing at frontrunner Kamala Harris, the Democratic Attorney General. The Los Angeles Times has more. 
• The UC Regents will discuss sexual violence and harassment on campus, particularly in response to an ongoing scandal at UC Berkeley, although critics say Wednesday’s closed-door meeting is just a way for the university system to “shield itself from embarrassment over the growing scandal,” reports The San Jose Mercury News. 
• And speaking of secrecy: “California generally bans private conversations, known as ex parte communication, between state agencies, boards or commissions and representatives of groups with pending cases before them,” writes The Sacramento Bee. “The intent of the law is to promote public transparency, create even playing fields and prevent the unfair influence of decision-makers. But over time, lawmakers have made nearly 15 exceptions to the rule.”

Also on the website: California pollution credits may expand to Brazil

Assembly:

• Packed Appropriations Committee hearing at 9 a.m.

Senate:

• Light committee schedule today, but the Governance and Finance Committee will hear a bill on the “Diaper Tax.” 

Gov. Brown:

• In Los Angeles today, speaking at the inaugural California-China Business Summit at 9:30 a.m.

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