John, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From John

John

Legislature plans to close entrance to public, provide lobbyists special access

John January 18, 2016

Though it brands itself as “the people’s house,” the California State Capitol will soon become less accessible to the public, while continuing to provide lobbyists with “special access.” Beginning February 1, the California state Legislature intends to convert its east entrance

Years after CalWatchdog investigation, bill to end sub-minimum wage advances

More than 2 million workers in California are celebrating the new year’s bump in the minimum wage. Effective January 1, the state’s minimum wage increased from $9 to $10 an hour. But, not all workers in the state benefited from

Covered California extends signup deadline after long waits, call surge

John December 27, 2015

A surge of last-minute callers inundated the state’s health insurance exchange for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, forcing the agency to extend its hours of operation and the sign-up deadline for obtaining federally mandated health insurance. The

Resigning lawmaker Henry Perea takes job with pharmaceutical industry

John December 26, 2015

Assemblyman Henry Perea, who announced earlier this month his intention to resign from the Legislature, has revealed that he’ll be taking a job with the pharmaceutical industry. State law bans the Fresno Democrat from lobbying his former colleagues for one year following his tenure

Controller Betty Yee publishes salary data for cities, counties

John December 21, 2015

Public employees at California cities and counties took home more than $36 billion in compensation last year, according to new payroll data released by the state’s chief fiscal officer. State Controller Betty T. Yee disclosed the 2014 payroll data from 54 counties

Initiative filing fee hike inspires wave of unconventional proposals

John December 18, 2015

A tenfold increase in the initiative filing fee was supposed to reduce the number of long-shot proposals in circulation. “The updated filing fee set by this bill will deter frivolous submissions,” Assemblyman Evan Low, author the new initiative fee increase, said in a

Initiatives filed to extend Prop. 30 tax hikes

John December 15, 2015

California’s temporary income tax hikes aren’t set to expire until 2018, but that hasn’t stopped Sacramento special interest groups from laying the groundwork for campaigns to extend Proposition 30. In recent months, sponsors of tax increases have filed the necessary

Democrat lawmaker resigns to explore job market

John December 3, 2015

A Fresno Democrat, who has frequently authored legislation on behalf of major interest groups, will resign his position in the state Legislature to take a job advocating in the Capitol. Assemblyman Henry T. Perea, a Central Valley Democrat, announced Tuesday his resignation

Gavin Newsom transforms Lt. Governor’s post

John December 1, 2015

A lieutenant governor’s only job, the old joke goes, is to wake up every morning and check the governor’s pulse. The position has been considered so pointless that even Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for eliminating the post in 2012.

Controller expands eClaim feature for unclaimed property

John November 21, 2015

California’s chief fiscal officer is making it easier to reclaim private property held by the state. State Controller Betty T. Yee announced earlier this month an expansion of the eClaim feature for the state’s unclaimed property program. Property owners will now