Posts From James Poulos
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100,000 lacking ID could lose Covered CA coverage
Covered California could lose up to 100,000 enrollees who haven’t proven their eligibility under the state’s version of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. According to the ACA, unlawful U.S. residents aren’t permitted to receive coverage. Yet, although California is home to
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Gerawan workers protest UFW as court date looms
A fresh twist has arisen in the drama surrounding Gerawan Farms’ dispute with United Farm Workers. The long-running controversy, which pitted Gerawan and its workers against the UFW and California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board, has been developing fast. The primary action
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Update: Plastic bag ban passes Assembly
Update, 2:26 pm, Aug. 28: On a second vote, SB 270 just passed the Assembly. Despite strong momentum and an air of inevitability, California state legislators hit a major snag on Aug. 27 in their plans for a statewide ban on
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Brown hits CalPERS on pension spiking
A bad month for CalPERS has gotten worse. On the heels of unfavorable news surrounding its investment strategy and leadership, the California Public Employee Retirement System provoked the wrath of Gov. Jerry Brown, who heaped scorn on its latest “pension spiking” plan. “Today
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Landmark water bond now faces voters
As August draws to a close, the state has seen a striking instance of successful high-level bipartisan wrangling. Sacramento secured a massive water bond package, putting $7.5 billion in bonds on the ballot as Proposition 1. Although legislators, and Gov. Jerry Brown,
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New CA pot bill snuffed out
Despite the backing of California cops, the latest effort to craft statewide rules on medical marijuana has stalled in Sacramento. Widely criticized as an imperfect bill, SB1262 nonetheless mustered support as a good faith attempt to bring order to the chaos
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Early release from CA prisons now a flood
Spurred by a series of court decisions ruling the state’s prison crowding unconstitutional, Gov. Jerry Brown’s ongoing “realignment” effort sought to make adequate room for the state’s worst convicts by diverting lesser criminals to county jails. There, however, the changes have caused a snowball effect.
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CA Senate pushes $400M Hollywood tax credits
A California Senate committee wants to quadruple the entertainment industry subsidies keeping production in Hollywood. With a unanimous vote, the appropriations committee passed a $300 million increase in tax credits for film and television, bringing the size of the controversial program
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GOP’s Texas-California connection grows
If present trends continue, California Republicans could set up a virtual government-in-exile in Texas. As is now well known, outmigration from California has reached historic highs. Although just 2.6 percent of the large Texas population is now Californian in origin, Texas has received the largest number
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Judge OKs Gerawan worker suit against ALRB
A historic lawsuit against California’s Agriculture Labor Relations Board is set to move forward. Brought by workers at Gerawan Farms, the suit alleged that the ALRB has violated the workers’ First Amendment right to freedom of association and their 14th Amendment right to
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