Breaking News

Future of CA marijuana still hazy

The biggest of the California marijuana initiatives has at last been unveiled. But it has yet to lock up enough support to wipe out the competition. Striking a balance “The Control, Regulate and Tax Cannabis Act of 2016 would allow

China joins growing interest in CA high speed rail

James Poulos October 10, 2015

Seeking to tout its market value, California’s High Speed Rail Authority recently solicited bids for private investment, drawing dozens of responses. “Facing criticism from opponents for the lack of private investors lining up to finance the $68 billion project, the rail authority asked

CA unions brace for SCOTUS hearing on dues

James Poulos October 9, 2015

Faced with the greatest legal challenge to their core source of revenue, California unions have braced for defeat and scrambled for alternatives. Some time after its new term begins this month, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Friedrichs v.

Brown vetoes numerous curbs on drone use; approves one

James Poulos October 8, 2015

Despite shooting down a series of bills intended to restrict the private use of drones in public airspace, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a fourth bill that restricted the use of drones around and above private property. “The law expands the state’s definition of invasion of privacy

Developer lobby helping to promote $9 billion education bond

Steve Miller October 7, 2015

A $9 billion school-construction bond that voters will decide on in November 2016 will be promoted heavily by titans in the construction industry that stand to profit mightily if the measure passes. The stakes for builders are high; failure to

Pension reform initiative reworked

James Poulos October 7, 2015

The leaders of California’s pension reform movement have scrapped their previous effort, introducing two new schemes instead. The news added a fresh twist to the state’s long-running game of political cat and mouse, which has seen state officials labor to cast would-be reforms

Brown signs right-to-die legislation

James Poulos October 6, 2015

Falling back on personal intuition, Gov. Jerry Brown signed physician-assisted suicide into California law. The move capped a long and sometimes tortuous effort to get legislation through the state Legislature, where opponents of elective death managed to mount a successfully targeted opposition

Anti-vax referendum push falls short

James Poulos October 5, 2015

The drive to restore California’s vaccination exemptions through the state referendum process has failed. At stake was Senate Bill 277, signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on a wave of concern that “herd immunity” among California children was compromised by a growing

Commission investigates Denti-Cal problems

Dave Roberts October 4, 2015

Half of California’s children are reliant for their oral hygiene on Denti-Cal, a state-run dental care system that has failed miserably. A state audit report in December 2014 chronicled the California Department of Health Care Services’ years of dental neglect

Brown signs ironic “Made in America” bill

James Poulos October 2, 2015

Known for his propensity to veto legislation that strikes him as ill-conceived, Gov. Jerry Brown surprised some observers by signing a bill critics describe as authorizing an outright lie. Supporters said the new law, passed as Senate Bill 633, merely