Posts From James Poulos
Back to homepageDirectly drinking treated wastewater could be in Californians’ future
For the first time, California regulators have warmed to the idea of directly serving up treated sewer water to residents, underscoring the difficulty officials have had in uniting around alternative means of setting the state’s water policy on stable
Read MoreCA Democrats target health care costs, seek Obamacare coverage for undocumented immigrants
On several fronts, California Democrats have used the tail end of this political season to push for advances on their health care agenda — with mixed results. In Sacramento, they succeeded in passing legislation targeting health care cost sticker-shock
Read MoreGov. Brown signs captive orca ban
Capping off a protracted political battle focused around animal rights and aquatic entertainment at SeaWorld, the San Diego’s longstanding tourist attraction, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that will bring California’s iconic relationship with captive orcas to an end. Wave of criticism Authored by
Read MoreGov. Brown signs controversial new climate bills
Over staunch opposition on his right, Gov. Jerry Brown signed several new climate bills into law, aiming to keep California on the regulatory trajectory first set during former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration. That suite of laws, “in which polluters pay to
Read MoreBill Clinton fills in for ailing Hillary at CA fundraisers
With a string of key donors left in the lurch by her recent health troubles, Hillary Clinton dispatched her husband Bill to California to fill in. Political fallout “She was forced to leave a 9/11 memorial event in New
Read MoreSacramento seeks central taxi regulations
The latest battle in California’s ongoing legislative and regulatory war over ridesharing services has shifted to new ground, as livery supporters rallied to pass a new bill concentrating decision-making in state hands. Although car companies based in San Francisco would be spared
Read MoreKamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez race for U.S. Senate hits fever pitch
With just a few months remaining in the race to replace outgoing Sen. Barbara Boxer, the struggle has sharpened between leading Northern Californian candidate Kamala Harris and the Southland’s Loretta Sanchez. Seeking an edge against her opponent, who’s leading,
Read MoreTwo bills targeting rape pass Legislature, head to Gov. Brown’s desk
A series of high profile rape accusations led California lawmakers to pass new legislation designed to remove a judge’s discretion in certain cases and to lift the burden on victims to bring suit before the law allows the validity of their claims
Read MoreCA Democrats nearly double state Republicans
California Republicans hit a new low in statewide registration relative to Democrats, whose ranks have surged in the Golden State despite a sour public mood and a less charismatic presidential nominee than in recent election cycles. “The California Democratic Party added
Read MoreCA Supreme Court shuts down lawsuit against teachers union job protections
Declining to hear an appeal, the California Supreme Court brought an apparent end to the saga of California’s historic lawsuit against teachers union job protections, alleged to violate students’ constitutional rights. A majority of justices “declined to hear the case, Vergara v. California, and
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