Mark Leno's Bully Bill Mill

DEC. 16, 2010 With California in the middle of the most devastating financial crisis in state history, Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, has introduced a bill purportedly aimed at stopping bullying in schools. But some are asking if it’s merely

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Paper Campaign Records Doomed

DEC. 15, 2010 Yesterday marked the final formal hearing of the Political Reform Act Task Force. Since early September, I’ve watched the 25-member panel, convened by Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Chairman Dan Schnur, thrash out ways to improve, tighten

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Brown tips his hand on taxes

DEC. 12, 2010 At Jerry Brown’s briefing Wednesday to discuss the dismal condition of the state budget, now plagued by a $25 billion deficit, the incoming governor said, “Everything should be on the table, and everyone should be at the

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Dancing At California’s Funeral

DEC. 9, 2010 After watching the swearing in of the Assembly on Monday, and feeling the party-like atmosphere in the room, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was watching dancing at a funeral. Apparently, some in the Assembly

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Another Reason Pringle Should Resign

DEC. 8, 2010 It’s always tough to get back into the reporting grind after a week’s vacation. Well, nearly always – when the California High-Speed Rail Authority is one of your beats, it’s actually quite easy. Waiting for me in

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WikiLeaks Good For Free Society

DEC. 5, 2010 The response by pundits to the latest WikiLeaks classified-document dump has reminded me of a preacher who decries pornography, but who also insists on reading the dirty magazines page by page so that he can better understand

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Why Californians Go To Texas

DEC. 2, 2010 When will enough be enough for California? How much longer is California going to roll over for Texas? Or North Carolina, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Tennessee or Utah? While these wonderful states are cherry-picking our surviving businesses, state

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State Has Yet To Hit Bottom

NOV. 28, 2010 Anyone who has dealt with a loved one deeply involved in some destructive behavior understands that there’s only so much you can do until the person hits whatever low point is necessary to spark a commitment to

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Brown May Downsize Commissions

NOV. 28, 2010 Gov.-elect Jerry Brown has a reputation for being frugal. Throughout his recent campaign, he referenced his unabashed personal frugality and said that if elected, it would translate to the governor’s office. Already, there are reports that Brown will

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Black Friday At Capitol Store

NOV. 26, 2010 It being Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, I decided to check out the place where the real power-brokers, the legislative aides and staffers who write the bills and reports that keep the state

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