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Average Joe seat on state commission filled by the well-connected

Stockton’s Anthony and Rima Barkett were hosting a fabulous party in Rome in 2007 to discuss what the world could do to stop the Darfur killings. The party’s guest list included actors Don Cheadle and George Clooney, two Nobel Laureates

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State’s top cyberdefender steps down after months of criticism over security lapses

Michele Robinson, the state’s top officer in charge of cybersecurity, stepped down last week after spending the last seven months under fire for widespread lapses in the state’s safeguards against hacking. In an email to colleagues, Robinson was vague about her reasons, mentioning some

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State auditor warns government agencies in danger of hacking

State Auditor Elaine Howle, who issued a report last year warning of cybersecurity problems at dozens of state agencies, says the problems remain mostly unaddressed. Testifying at a recent hearing of the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection and

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Rendon’s Assembly speakership sweeps in change

Assemblyman Anthony Rendon’s swearing in as speaker on Monday signaled a fresh start as optimism warmed over the Capitol. At the swearing in, the paramount Democrat drew a standing ovation from the crowd and an impassioned introduction in both English and

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Bauman has large lead in race for CA Democratic Party chair

SAN JOSE – The widespread support for Eric Bauman at the state Democratic Party convention last weekend made it seem as though he were running uncontested for party chair. Bauman was everywhere. He introduced past Assembly speakers at one party

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Some legislators proudly refuse pay increases

Only in public office could the distinction of lowest paid be worn as a badge of honor. But Richard Roth, a Riverside Democrat, has refused every pay increase since being elected to the state Senate in 2012, making $90,526 per year

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Assemblymember to consider value of breasts in workers comp

Asm. Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, will hold an informational hearing on Tuesday titled “Establishing the Evidence Based Value of Women’s Breasts in Workers’ Compensation.” While details are sparse, the explanation in the hearing’s notice — a copy of which was

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Kamala Harris not likely to be Supreme Court nominee

While Kamala Harris has a good shot at becoming the next U.S. senator from California, she has little shot of becoming the next Supreme Court nominee, despite multiple media outlets floating her name as a possibility. Harris, California’s Democratic attorney

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Green targeting of dissident CA Dem off to bad start

Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown, a moderate African-American Democrat from San Bernardino seeking her third term, has brushed back the first challenge to her re-election by Eloise Reyes, a Colton attorney strongly backed by environmental groups. Brown easily won her local party

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New regulation fights shadow lobbying

The state’s political watchdog agency unanimously approved a new regulation on Thursday making it harder for lobbyist groups to conceal influence peddling activities, known informally as “shadow lobbying.” Currently, anyone who spends $5,000 or more to influence legislative or administrative action is

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