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Trump to scrap vehicle mileage standards – fight with California, environmentalists likely

President Trump on Wednesday launched the first salvo in what seems likely to end up a war with the state of California and many liberal states over vehicle mileage rules that Gov. Jerry Brown and environmentalists depict as crucial to

Rematch coming of high-profile 2014 race for state superintendent of public instruction

James Poulos March 15, 2017

The most expensive contest on the 2014 California ballot is set to return next year. “Marshall Tuck, who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent schools chief Tom Torlakson in a contentious 2014 race that became a proxy fight over a lawsuit on teacher

‘Gender injustice’ behind call to reduce taxes on tampons

Steven Greenhut March 14, 2017

SACRAMENTO – In his veto message of a series of tax-reduction bills last September, Gov. Jerry Brown explained that “tax breaks are the same as new spending – they both cost the general fund money.” He said such measures should

Proposed bill would mandate 100 percent renewable energy in California

James Poulos March 10, 2017

Joining a would-be trend that includes lawmakers in deep blue Massachusetts, Senate majority leader Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, has unveiled a new proposal that could become California Democrats’ answer to the limits of cap-and-trade. “The California Senate leader has introduced legislation that

CA GOP cheers federal support for new water bills

James Poulos March 9, 2017

Central California residents, long hoping for federal water reform, have begun to see some movement from Washington. Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., has rolled out language designed to “build on last year’s legislation that was loved by farmers and loathed by

California high court says public records are public, even on a private email

Steven Greenhut March 7, 2017

SACRAMENTO – Earlier this month, the California Supreme Court unanimously overturned an appeals court decision that had provided a large loophole in the state’s public-records act. The case, City of San Jose v. Superior Court of Santa Clara County, revolves around

California’s universal health care proposal includes covering undocumented immigrants

Drew Gregory Lynch March 6, 2017

State Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, has introduced a bill to overhaul California’s health care system to create a single-payer model, the latest example of the Golden State bucking the Trump agenda and taking a “go it alone” approach.

California prison reform laws under fire in aftermath suspected gang member’s murder of Whittier cop

Drew Gregory Lynch March 3, 2017

After the killing of a Whittier police officer by a man with suspected gang ties, new focus is being drawn onto California Assembly Bill 109 – legislation signed into law by Gov. Brown in 2011 that critics say illustrates the danger of

Traffic deaths spike in California, U.S.

James Poulos March 2, 2017

Following a nationwide trend, traffic deaths in California have spiked, alarming analysts and prompting fresh questions about technological distractions like smartphones, and fueling debate over how policymakers can or should respond. The news was relayed in a report by the National

Sacramento Democrats propose single-payer health care in California

James Poulos March 2, 2017

Sacramento Democrats have centered attention around a shot at universal health care for all Golden State residents. “In a surprise move made in response to President Donald Trump’s push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, two California lawmakers