John, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From John

John

Prop. 47’s drug-law reforms inject controversy

California’s decision to reduce sentences for some drug and property crimes has been heralded as a much needed reform of the criminal justice system. While it’s too soon to know what effect the measure is having on crime, critics charge it could jeopardize

Data show election participation varies greatly

John February 13, 2015

Just 42 percent of registered voters cast their ballots last November. But concentrating on that top-line number would be a mistake, said the state’s preeminent political data expert. “Overall, the turnout data show that the surface totals, like saying it was

State meets water conservation goals as drought lingers

John February 9, 2015

Californians are conserving water, but the historic drought still lingers. The state posted its best numbers in December, with statewide water conservation increasing 22 percent, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. By comparison, state water officials said conservation

Veteran lawmakers embrace new committee assignments

John February 3, 2015

As the new class of state lawmakers settles in to their jobs, Sacramento’s old hands are getting a jump start on the 2015-16 legislative session. Each session brings a biennial reshuffling of committee assignments. But some lawmakers aren’t waiting to get acquainted with their new perches. New

CA lawmakers deal pair of online poker bills

John January 30, 2015

State lawmakers have dealt out a pair of bills to legalize Internet poker in California. Assemblymen Mike Gatto, D-Glendale, and Reggies Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, have introduced separate proposals to allow online poker in the largest potential gaming market in the country. As many

Correa could benefit from his bill to accept late ballots

John January 28, 2015

Former state Sen. Lou Correa, D-Anaheim, is down but not out of the race for the Orange County Board of Supervisors. If he ultimately prevails, he can thank a change in state law to accept late absentee ballots, a bill authored by

Gun groups urge Supreme Court to take up SF gun case

John January 27, 2015

More than a dozen Second Amendment groups are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a high-profile challenge to a San Francisco gun-control measure. Led by the Firearms Policy Coalition, gun groups say the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Tom Steyer passes on U.S. Senate bid

John January 23, 2015

Billionaire climate change activist Tom Steyer has decided not to run for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s seat in 2016 when she retires. After two weeks of almost daily speculation of “will he or won’t he,” Steyer announced his decision in a blog

Hertzberg proposes $10 billion sales tax on services

John January 21, 2015

An influential state lawmaker is proposing a $10 billion sales tax on services that would include everything from accounting to yoga classes. State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, says the changing global economy requires a reevaluation of what’s considered subject to

Boxer exit begins CA youth shift in Congress

John January 19, 2015

Girls may run the world, as in the Beyonce song, but women run California’s congressional delegation. More specifically, older Democratic women — but that could change soon. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer’s retirement announcement earlier this month kicks off a major demographic shift