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CA Budget: New spending dwarfed by billions set aside in reserves
When the annual California budget debate began in earnest with Gov. Jerry Brown’s release of a proposed 2018-19 fiscal plan in January, progressives were ready to go with a long list of new spending proposals. Many hoped to both expand
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Bill tightening police use of force rules passes committee
California legislators moved a step closer last week to tightening the rules governing police use of force. In the face of staunch opposition from law enforcement groups, the Senate Public Safety Committee voted 5-1 in favor of Assembly Bill 931
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Gas tax repeal will be on California ballot in November
The initiative to repeal the controversial gas tax in California will be on the ballot in November, with the secretary of state confirming Monday that organizers received enough signatures to qualify. Senate Bill 1, passed last year, raised the base excise tax on
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Wary of bankruptcy, PG&E seeks protection from wildfire costs
California’s three large investor-owned utilities are renewing efforts to allow them to make ratepayers cover the costs of wildfires that authorities blame on utilities’ mistakes or poor maintenance. Pacific Gas & Electric officials made this clear last week when they
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Push to rebrand GOP undercut by evidence of potent anti-tax focus
A group of moderate California Republicans that wants the party to rebrand itself as both pro-business and pro-environment and show a willingness to work with Democrats on some issues is back in the news this week. Led by Assemblyman Chad
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Report: Prop. 47 reduced recidivism, did not cause spike in violent crime
Despite debates over the wisdom of criminal justice reforms in recent years, Proposition 47 succeeded in reducing recidivism and did not cause a spike in violent crime, according a report released last week from the Public Policy Institute of California.
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Assemblywoman cleared of harassment may face new heat
The “Me Too” anti-sexual harassment campaign that quickly yielded several resignations by state lawmakers last fall appears to have hit a lull in Sacramento with Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, now seemingly on track for re-election this November despite scandalous
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Plan to split California into three states makes it onto November ballot
A plan to split up California into three separate states has gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s office confirmed this week. The initiative received around 600,000 signatures — almost double the amount
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Protesters calling for more affordable state interrupt Senate
It was not business as usual in the state Capitol Monday, as protesters calling for anti-poverty measures and a more affordable California interrupted a floor session of the state Senate. Members of the California Poor People’s Campaign have been rallying
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#MeToo activists, criminal justice reformers at odds over judge’s recall
The voters of Santa Clara County have spoken, and the judge who in 2016 gave a light sentence of six months in jail to a Stanford swimmer convicted of three counts of felony sexual assault was recalled last week. But
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