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Hoover conference reaches consensus on some areas of pension reform

Today the Hoover Institution released a crucial document in California’s debate over pensions, “California Public Pension Solutions: Post-Conference Report.” The conference itself took place last October. But its debates and findings now have been compiled for everyone to read and

Gov. Brown redefines ongoing programs as emergency drought aid

Wayne Lusvardi February 20, 2014

Thirty-four days after California Gov. Jerry Brown declared an official statewide drought emergency, he joined State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John A. Perez on Feb. 19 in announcing an emergency drought aid package. (They

Obama drought relief package aids his constituency

Wayne Lusvardi February 19, 2014

On Friday Feb. 14, President Barack Obama choppered into California’s drought zone in Democratic-leaning Fresno. As shown in the adjacent photo from the White House, he traveled with U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Rep. Jim Costa, all California

‘No Party Preference’ gains in CA voter registrations

John Seiler February 18, 2014

“No Party Preference” continues its gradual rise in voter registrations according to new data released today by California Secretary of State Debra Bowen. As of Dec. 31, 2013, registration was: Democratic: 43.6 percent, down from 46.8 percent in 1997; Republican:

UC workers approve strike vote

John February 17, 2014

More than 21,000 workers at the University of California have voted to go on strike. An overwhelming 96 percent of the university’s service workers and patient care employees approved the strike authorization after three days of voting, union officials announced on Friday. The

Ivanpah solar plant bets on wrong technology

Joseph Perkins February 16, 2014

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz was in the unincorporated San Bernardino County community of Nipton Thursday, where he dedicated the new $2.2 billion, 392-megawattt Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (SEGS). “The Ivanpah project is a shining example of how America

Gov. Brown maintains sizable fundraising lead over GOP opponents

John February 13, 2014

California Governor Jerry Brown begins his re-election campaign with $17 million in the bank. The incumbent Democrat governor, according to state disclosure reports released recently, raised $9.9 million last year — with the overwhelming majority of those funds coming from big corporations,

Legislative bipartisan criticism aims at Covered CA spending

Tori Richards February 12, 2014

Responding to a state senator’s call for an investigation into the marketing budget of California’s Obamacare exchange, the agency says it is in great financial shape and even received high marks for an audit conducted last year. “By 2015/16,

CA jobs growth continues strong

John Seiler February 12, 2014

New data show strong jobs growth continuing in California throughout the year. That’s good news for the state’s workers. And it’s especial good news for one jobholder in particular: Gov. Jerry Brown, who is being coy about a re-election run

Will GOP learn from Faulconer’s win in San Diego?

Chris Reed February 12, 2014

San Diego voters elected affable, seemingly moderate Republican Councilman Kevin Faulconer as mayor in a special election Tuesday night, making him the biggest large-city GOP mayor in the United States. But before Republicans tout Faulconer’s unexpectedly decisive 9 percentage point