Posts From Matt Fleming
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Matt Fleming
Average Joe seat on state commission filled by the well-connected
Stockton’s Anthony and Rima Barkett were hosting a fabulous party in Rome in 2007 to discuss what the world could do to stop the Darfur killings. The party’s guest list included actors Don Cheadle and George Clooney, two Nobel Laureates
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State food stamp enrollment increases, eligible population decreases
Not only is the number of Californians participating in the state’s federally funded food stamp program increasing, but the number of eligible recipients is decreasing, according to state and federal data. California for years has lagged behind the rest of
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Civil liberty groups fighting license suspensions for those guilty of “being poor”
A band of civil liberties groups are demanding that California courts stop suspending drivers licenses for failure to pay traffic fines, a practice they argue overwhelmingly affects low-income drivers. A 2013 provision in the state budget offered major relief of fines due before Jan. 2013
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State’s top cyberdefender steps down after months of criticism over security lapses
Michele Robinson, the state’s top officer in charge of cybersecurity, stepped down last week after spending the last seven months under fire for widespread lapses in the state’s safeguards against hacking. In an email to colleagues, Robinson was vague about her reasons, mentioning some
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Big money readies for fight over tax extension
A hospital association just pumped $12.5 million into an effort to extend a tax on top earners — a tax that’s provided billions of dollars in education funding since 2012. In fact, the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems quadrupled its investment
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Fuller puts first responders front and center
With an increasingly contentious campaign season in full swing, it’s easy to forget that occasionally there’s positive news in public office. Senate Minority Leader Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, took the time to honor first responders from her district on Monday —
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Rendon’s Assembly speakership sweeps in change
Assemblyman Anthony Rendon’s swearing in as speaker on Monday signaled a fresh start as optimism warmed over the Capitol. At the swearing in, the paramount Democrat drew a standing ovation from the crowd and an impassioned introduction in both English and
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How much does Sanchez’s House experience matter in the Senate?
Loretta Sanchez spent much of her time at the California Democratic convention last weekend trying to persuade the party faithful that her 19 years of experience in Congress makes her the best choice to replace Democrat Barbara Boxer in the U.S. Senate. Unlike
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Vacancies plague commission determining elected official pay
It’s almost that time of year again when a panel of citizens will decide whether to raise pay for the state’s top elected officials. But as it stands now, the California Citizens Compensation Commission will be woefully underrepresented when it meets
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Affordable housing may be limited by new state environmental rules
A new rule designed to promote urban development and curb both car usage and greenhouse gas emissions may end up making cities less affordable and more congested, critics say. The rule would modify how traffic is evaluated during a critical
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