Matt Fleming, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From Matt Fleming

Matt Fleming

California, Trump on collision course over sanctuary cities

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his administration would block federal funding for cities that don’t cooperate with federal immigration laws, with Democratic leaders in the state vowing to fight back. A handful of California cities, like Los Angeles and

Brown’s State of the State address is both conciliatory and defiant

Matt Fleming January 24, 2017

Jerry Brown teetered between conciliatory and defiant in his annual State of the State address on Tuesday. The popular Democratic governor echoed other Democratic leaders in the state by taking shots at Republican President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans

Legislature to consider taxing snacks

Matt Fleming January 20, 2017

A tax on snacks may soon be back. A bill introduced by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, would roll back the sales and usage tax exemptions for certain, less-nutritious, snack foods. The measure, part of Garcia’s agenda to highlight inequities in the

Assemblyman wants Russian hacking, election influence, taught in schools

Matt Fleming January 19, 2017

Should Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election be taught in schools? One assemblyman thinks so. The extent to which Russia interfered is still being investigated, but reports suggest there’s consensus among U.S. intelligence officials that Russia hacked emails of Democratic

Many of California’s congressional Democrats skipping inauguration

Matt Fleming January 17, 2017

At least 15 of the 39 House Democrats from California are planning to boycott the presidential inauguration of Republican Donald Trump, according to multiple reports. The reasons range from district work, to disdain for Trump, to responding to Twitter polls.

Assemblyman wants to crack down on unpermitted, self-driving vehicles

Matt Fleming January 12, 2017

It’s not enough that Uber killed its unpermitted, self-driving-vehicle pilot program in San Francisco just a week after it started; an assemblyman wants to squash any further attempts to test vehicles without a permit as well. Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San

State finds savings in minimum wage increase, but counties get the bill

Matt Fleming January 12, 2017

The good news: Last year’s deal to increase the minimum wage won’t cost the state nearly as much as was projected. The bad news: Providing certain health care services just became way more expensive for the counties. The Brown administration is ending

Brown budget projects $2 billion deficit, calls for more savings

Matt Fleming January 10, 2017

Gov. Jerry Brown preached prudence on Tuesday as he unveiled his 2017-18 state budget, proposing no new major spending programs while taking a wait-and-see approach to the incoming Trump administration, even as other prominent California Democrats brace for the unknown.

Assemblyman: Is Legislature’s contract with former U.S. Attorney General legal?

Matt Fleming January 6, 2017

While the Legislature’s hiring of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made headlines on Thursday, the move may violate the state Constitution, according to an California assemblyman. Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, a Rocklin Republican, asked the California attorney general’s office on Friday

Legislature’s top two Democrats hire former U.S. attorney general to fight Trump administration

Matt Fleming January 5, 2017

The top two Democrats in the Legislature announced early Wednesday morning that they were hiring former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as outside counsel in the ongoing fight with Republican President-elect Donald Trump. In a joint statement, Speaker Anthony Rendon,