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Union battles Caltrans over “inadequate” new office space, $1.7 million partitions

A public employees’ union is questioning Caltrans’ pricey decision to move one of its district offices from one side of Orange County to the other, noting the high cost of new cubicle partitions and the lack of space to accommodate new

Directly drinking treated wastewater could be in Californians’ future

James Poulos September 19, 2016

For the first time, California regulators have warmed to the idea of directly serving up treated sewer water to residents, underscoring the difficulty officials have had in uniting around alternative means of setting the state’s water policy on stable

CA Democrats target health care costs, seek Obamacare coverage for undocumented immigrants

James Poulos September 17, 2016

On several fronts, California Democrats have used the tail end of this political season to push for advances on their health care agenda — with mixed results. In Sacramento, they succeeded in passing legislation targeting health care cost sticker-shock

Gov. Brown signs captive orca ban

James Poulos September 15, 2016

Capping off a protracted political battle focused around animal rights and aquatic entertainment at SeaWorld, the San Diego’s longstanding tourist attraction, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that will bring California’s iconic relationship with captive orcas to an end. Wave of criticism Authored by

Gov. Brown signs controversial new climate bills

James Poulos September 15, 2016

Over staunch opposition on his right, Gov. Jerry Brown signed several new climate bills into law, aiming to keep California on the regulatory trajectory first set during former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration. That suite of laws, “in which polluters pay to

Bill Clinton fills in for ailing Hillary at CA fundraisers

James Poulos September 15, 2016

With a string of key donors left in the lurch by her recent health troubles, Hillary Clinton dispatched her husband Bill to California to fill in. Political fallout “She was forced to leave a 9/11 memorial event in New

Prop. 54 legislative transparency measure faces little opposition

Matt Fleming September 14, 2016

For all the fighting and million-dollar spending over November’s 17 ballot measures, one proposal stands nearly unopposed. Not entirely unopposed, but the committee against a measure aimed at making legislative proceedings in Sacramento more transparent is unfunded and run entirely by the pro

Gov. Brown vetoes no-tax-on-tampons bill, host of others

Matt Fleming September 13, 2016

Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a package of bills on Tuesday that would have eliminated sales tax on tampons and diapers. In total, Brown killed seven niche tax cuts totaling around $300 million in revenue, arguing the tax cuts should be

Sacramento seeks central taxi regulations

James Poulos September 13, 2016

The latest battle in California’s ongoing legislative and regulatory war over ridesharing services has shifted to new ground, as livery supporters rallied to pass a new bill concentrating decision-making in state hands. Although car companies based in San Francisco would be spared

Prop. 53 could have far-reaching consequences for state project financing – or not

Steven Greenhut September 13, 2016

SACRAMENTO – Most California voters are unfamiliar with the inner workings of the municipal-bond process. Many are likewise unfamiliar with the differences between, say, “general obligation” bonds and “revenue” bonds. Nevertheless, they will be asked Nov. 8 whether to require