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CA Medical Board in new flap over painkillers

The Medical Board of California, which licenses physicians and responds to complaints about incompetence or misconduct, suffered an extraordinary rebuke in 2013 after legislative hearings exposed poor follow-through in responding to allegations that some doctors had a dangerous history of

CA Water Board prioritizes fish

Josephine Djuhana June 20, 2015

As severe drought conditions in California continue to worsen, state officials have started to roll out with new regulations to prioritize various water interests. On Wednesday, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted new emergency regulations to protect endangered and

Study: CA Obamacare clients struggle with cost

Chris Reed June 19, 2015

In May 2013, Covered California officials faced sharp criticism over claims that premiums would actually go down for many health insurance purchasers. Forbes.com’s Avik Roy wrote that the agency implementing the Golden State’s version of Obamacare needed to look at

Legislation to improve CA water storage introduced in House

Josephine Djuhana June 19, 2015

Improvements to and modernization of water storage capabilities in California and the rest of the U.S. will be made easier thanks to new legislation introduced in the House. Last week, Congressman David Valadao, R-Calif., introduced H.R. 2714, dubbed the “Dam

House votes to repeal medical device tax

Josephine Djuhana June 18, 2015

In a bipartisan vote of 280-140, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 160, dubbed the “Protect Medical Innovation Act,” which essentially repeals Obamacare’s 2.3 percent medical device tax. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in a prepared statement:

Covered California suffers financial drought

Josephine Djuhana June 17, 2015

California’s health insurance exchange is running out of money, and without federal grant assistance, may go bottom-up in the near future. Last week, Covered California released its June budget revision, unveiling a $335 million budget, up $2 million from a

Trailer bills seek to expand CA Water Board authority

Josephine Djuhana June 17, 2015

Two drafted trailer bill proposals seek to change regulations for water program fees and water systems. Draft Trailer Bill 807 would expand the State Water Resources Control Board’s authority by allowing it to impose operating fees paid by public water

Legislature passes record $117 billion budget

Josephine Djuhana June 16, 2015

On Monday, the California Legislature passed a $117 billion state budget on a 52-28 vote, meeting the June 15 deadline to send the bill to Governor Jerry Brown. The Legislature’s version of the budget allocates $117 billion in expenditures and

Counties say too much water goes to environmental supply

Josephine Djuhana June 16, 2015

Although water consumption has been on the decline in the state of California, county officials believe these rates can be lowered by cutting supplies to the environment and fisheries. Back in 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a statewide emergency

Coalition backing CA bullet train is fraying

Chris Reed June 15, 2015

Both in California and Washington, D.C., backers of the state’s controversy-plagued $68 billion bullet-train project are coming off a rough week. As CalWatchdog reported, a Los Angeles public hearing on proposed routes for the project in the San Fernando Valley