Matt Fleming, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From Matt Fleming

Matt Fleming

Farm worker OT bill passes over objections about rule violations

A bill expanding overtime pay for farm workers passed the Assembly on Monday and now heads to the governor for a final verdict. The bill would, over the course of a few years, bring the overtime structure for farm workers in

Ferret ban in California not gone just yet

Matt Fleming August 25, 2016

Bad news for ferret lovers: Your pet is still illegal in California. But change may be coming. On Thursday, the California Fish and Game Commission continued reconsideration of the ban on domestic ferrets that’s been in place since 1933 until its

Assembly approves bill establishing state-run retirement accounts for all

Matt Fleming August 25, 2016

A savings-for-all plan passed the Assembly on Thursday that, if signed into law, will automatically enroll many employees into a state-run individual retirement system. Secure Choice, if implemented, would require employers of five or more people to automatically enroll employees

Assembly OKs CARB accountability measure, climate agenda headed to governor

Matt Fleming August 24, 2016

Lawmakers on Wednesday sent a measure to Gov. Jerry Brown creating legislative oversight of the California Air Resources Board — a vital piece in the state’s climate agenda. Assembly Bill 197’s companion legislation, SB32, which expands CARB’s authority to create and

Climate policy expansion clears biggest legislative hurdle

Matt Fleming August 23, 2016

An extension and expansion of one of the state’s landmark environmental laws cleared the Assembly on Tuesday — all but guaranteeing the bill’s ultimate passage. Senate Bill 32 would require the Air Resources Board to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions in

Legislature approves bill banning gender-specific bathrooms

Matt Fleming August 22, 2016

In what proponents labeled “the nation’s most inclusive restroom access law,” the California Legislature passed a bill on Monday requiring single-occupancy restrooms in businesses, government buildings and places of public accommodation to be open to all genders. If signed by

Farmworker overtime passes easy test in Senate, faces challenge in Assembly

Matt Fleming August 22, 2016

As expected, a bill expanding overtime pay for farmworkers passed the Senate on Monday along party lines. It moves to the Assembly next, where it died earlier this year. While farmworkers do get overtime, there is a much higher threshold than

Affordable housing deal appears dead for the year

Matt Fleming August 19, 2016

A deal to spur the construction of low-income housing statewide has apparently fallen apart, according to multiple media reports. Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, said talks have died for the year, largely because of Gov. Jerry Brown’s insistence to include provisions that would

Farmworker overtime bill to get second chance soon

Matt Fleming August 17, 2016

After a staged, 24-hour hunger strike, proponents of a bill to increase overtime pay for farmworkers announced on Wednesday the once-dead measure will be on the Senate floor next week. The hunger strike was designed link the legislators’ sacrifice of

New analysis ranks California nearly last in liberty

Matt Fleming August 16, 2016

When it comes to liberty, California is one of the most restrictive states on its citizens, according to a new study. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, in its “Freedom in the 50 States” report divided liberty into three categories: personal,