Inside Government

Back to homepage

Transparency initiative shaped nature of road-tax debate

  It’s no secret that the state’s legislative leadership is less than thrilled about an open-government initiative that California voters passed in the November election, and are doing what they can to undermine its clear intent. Yet, it’s a testament

Read More

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

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

Read More

Brown’s State of the State address is both conciliatory and defiant

Jerry Brown teetered between conciliatory and defiant in his annual State of the State address on Tuesday.   The popular Democratic governor echoed other Democratic leaders in the state by taking shots at Republican President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans

Read More

Assemblyman: Is Legislature’s contract with former U.S. Attorney General legal?

While the Legislature’s hiring of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made headlines on Thursday, the move may violate the state Constitution, according to an California assemblyman. Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, a Rocklin Republican, asked the California attorney general’s office on Friday

Read More

State senator calls for peaceful transition of presidential power

As the state’s 55 electors carry out their constitutional duty on Monday and cast their votes for president of the United States, one state senator is urging his colleagues and state to reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful transition of

Read More

LAO report: $1.3 billion state building plan lacks oversight

The $1.3 billion first phase of a project to build and modernize 11 state office buildings lacks adequate accountability and oversight and is behind schedule, according to a report.  The report, released by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office on Wednesday, identified three

Read More

Pentagon halts CA National Guard repayment demands

  Reeling from outrage over a costly bureaucratic misstep, the Pentagon has halted its efforts to force California National Guardsmen to personally repay salary bonuses that should not have approved in the first place.  As some observers concluded that only Congress could clean up

Read More

Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia: Queenmaker, powerbroker

Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia is mere months away from assuming the chairmanship of the Legislative Women’s Caucus.  While her ascendancy will need to be formalized with a vote of caucus members after November’s election, the vice chair, which Garcia is, has

Read More

Assemblyman accused of wife beating receives awkward tribute from legislators

Over the last few days of the session, legislators pay tribute for their fellows who will not be in the chamber next year. And while the tributes range in length and tone — one legislator joked (?) about his romantic

Read More

O.C. Congresswoman’s top aide resigns following eight-count indictment

The chief of staff to Rep. Mimi Walters resigned on Wednesday following an eight-count indictment related to his time in another member’s office, Politico reported. David Bowser was charged with using nearly $44,000 of congressional office funds of his former boss, former Georgia

Read More