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Industry confronts new CA computer energy regs
California’s massive computing industry faced the prospect of sweeping changes at the hands of Golden State regulators worried that idle devices are drawing too much power at too great a cost. “All computers sold in California could be required to
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CA Senate panel kills whistleblower protection bill for the third time
For the third straight year, the Senate Appropriations Committee killed a bill on Thursday that would have extended whistleblower protections to legislative staff — a response to the unrelated legal troubles of three senators in 2014. There are already whistleblower
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CalWatchdog Morning Read – August 12
Legislature blocks bill punishing Fentanyl kingpins… … but allows secret talks at the coastal commission to continue Audit slams CalGang database Report ties Brown’s decisions to utility companies’ contributions Pot tax bill dies Good morning. TGIF. The Legislature headed home
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Bill removing tampon sales tax advances in Legislature
A bill to eliminate sales tax on feminine hygiene products came one step closer to becoming law on Thursday, ok’d by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Proponents have argued it’s a matter of gender fairness, as these products — including tampons,
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Cap-and-trade carbon tax showdown looms
Despite years of success in doing what it was supposed to do — cut emission levels — California’s controversial cap-and-trade system has run up against opposition that could be strong enough to sink it. But with nothing to lose
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Bill punishing Fentanyl kingpins dies in committee
A bill that would have imposed mandatory sentences on large-scale dealers of a powerful opioid responsible for a rash of deaths and overdoses over the last few years died in committee Thursday. Fentanyl, an anesthetic said to cause a euphoric high
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Charter school critiques: reasonable or political?
The California charter school phenomenon of rapid growth continues. More than 570,000 California students attended charters last school year — about 9 percent of total state enrollment — and the number would be considerably higher if charters could accommodate all
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CalWatchdog Morning Read – August 11
Controversial language dropped from Title IX bill L.A. has deadliest air in the country Audit of Brown’s twin tunnels project approved Dead parental leave bill enjoys new life Orange County supervisors fight transparency law hard Good morning and welcome to
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Controversial requirements dropped from Title IX, religious colleges bill
After weeks of opposition from religious colleges and their supporters, Sen. Ricardo Lara announced he would drop provisions from a bill that would have made it more difficult for faith-based institutions to receive Title IX exemptions. The Bell Gardens Democrat said
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CA poised to reform asset forfeiture by law enforcement
After a failed attempt last year, so-called asset forfeiture — the controversial nationwide practice used by cops to permanently seize property belonging to individuals who have run afoul of the law but have not been convicted — could soon be reformed in California
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