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My experience ‘enrolling’ in Obamacare/Covered California

With all the hoopla surrounding Obamacare, I decided to call and sign up for its implementation in our state, Covered California. I dialed 1-800-300-1506. Jose answered. He was polite but rattled when I told him I’d rather talk to him,

Elizabeth Emken: ‘It’s time to un-ring the Obamacare bell’

Katy Grimes November 15, 2013

Note: This is the second in a series of profiles of the four major candidates for the crucial 7th Congressional District in California. The first, on Republican Igor Birman, is here. Elizabeth Emken says it is a good time to

Gov. Brown’s ambitious school reform morphs into union payoff

Chris Reed November 13, 2013

In 2013, maybe more than ever, the key to figuring out how California works is understanding that by far the most powerful forces in state politics are the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers and the 500,000

Young CA programmers build better health care website

Adam O'Neal November 13, 2013

On Tuesday, Quinnipiac University released a poll indicating that President Obama’s approval rating had hit an all-time low. He has lost the faith of a majority of voters on issues ranging from the budget to healthcare. To put it in

Special interest contributions dwarf alleged FBI bribes to Ron Calderon

John Hrabe November 12, 2013

Undercover FBI agents, posing as Hollywood producers in search of a tax credit, allegedly set up a $50,000 “special fund” with Ron Calderon’s name on it. The state Senator, according to an affidavit obtained by Al Jazeera America, allegedly spent

Opponents of transgender law seek repeal

Adam O'Neal November 12, 2013

A coalition of conservative groups, collectively known as Privacy for all Students, has submitted more than 600,000 petition signatures to get an initiative to repeal a law that grants certain rights to transgendered students in California. AB 1266—which was passed

Covered California required heath insurers to cancel plans

Katy Grimes November 8, 2013

President Obama just apologized for the millions of insurance policy cancellations under the Affordable Care Act, usually called Obamacare. He also has blamed “bad apple” insurers for the cancellations. But in California, critics of the program insist the cancellations were

CA lawmakers hold hearings on Military Sexual Trauma

Katy Grimes November 7, 2013

SACRAMENTO — California legislators are looking into Military Sexual Trauma, commonly called MST, among troops based in California. So far, no bills have been introduced. The military, including the California National Guard, largely is governed by laws passed by the

More food stamp cuts coming

Adam O'Neal November 7, 2013

Last week, expansions ended to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as the Food Stamp program. Food stamp recipients will see their benefits cut depending on the size of their family. A family of four, for example, will

Friday hearing: Will judge ‘have the [guts]’ to shut down bullet train?

Chris Reed November 7, 2013

On Aug. 16, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny handed down a landmark ruling against the $68 billion California bullet-train project. Kenny held that the state High-Speed Rail Authority’s plan to begin construction in the Central Valley in coming months