Inside Government

Proposed bill seeks to recoup costs of special elections

An assemblyman will soon introduce legislation aimed at curbing the cost to taxpayers when a legislator retires from their position early, forcing a special election — but it may stop short of recouping costs in other instances. The bill would require legislators —

Legislature plans to close entrance to public, provide lobbyists special access

John January 18, 2016

Though it brands itself as “the people’s house,” the California State Capitol will soon become less accessible to the public, while continuing to provide lobbyists with “special access.” Beginning February 1, the California state Legislature intends to convert its east entrance

Sen. Huff: People are sick of partisan politics

Matt Fleming January 16, 2016

2016 started with a bit of a bipartisan bump with Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León and former Senate Republican leader Bob Huff at center stage. When the Senate reconvened two weeks ago, de León of Los Angeles and other

Will 2016 be the ‘Year of the Initiative’?

Joel Fox January 5, 2016

The Legislature is back in town this week but in the major policy issues department the Legislature is likely to be a sideshow in what can be labeled the Year of the Initiative. With a rush to place measures on

Obama plans Asia summit in CA desert

James Poulos December 31, 2015

Allied nations have begun to RSVP to President Obama’s next big summit, hosted in California next year. “During an Asian tour last month, Obama invited leaders from the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the Sunnylands resort in Rancho

Resigning lawmaker Henry Perea takes job with pharmaceutical industry

John December 26, 2015

Assemblyman Henry Perea, who announced earlier this month his intention to resign from the Legislature, has revealed that he’ll be taking a job with the pharmaceutical industry. State law bans the Fresno Democrat from lobbying his former colleagues for one year following his tenure

Controller Betty Yee publishes salary data for cities, counties

John December 21, 2015

Public employees at California cities and counties took home more than $36 billion in compensation last year, according to new payroll data released by the state’s chief fiscal officer. State Controller Betty T. Yee disclosed the 2014 payroll data from 54 counties

CalPERS board accused of bullying, deceit, flouting laws

Chris Reed December 9, 2015

A member of the CalPERS board has gone rogue, using public records laws to get documents from the agency while facing warnings that it is unacceptable for him to criticize staff at board meetings. Ed Mendel has details at Calpensions.com:

Glazer hopes to lead centrist movement

Dave Roberts December 8, 2015

Correction: Due to a reporter error, an earlier version of this article mistakenly reported that Assemblywoman Catharine Baker supports the extension of Prop. 30 taxes. Baker does not, in fact, support the proposed extensions. Steve Glazer – bald, bespectacled and

Democrat lawmaker resigns to explore job market

John December 3, 2015

A Fresno Democrat, who has frequently authored legislation on behalf of major interest groups, will resign his position in the state Legislature to take a job advocating in the Capitol. Assemblyman Henry T. Perea, a Central Valley Democrat, announced Tuesday his resignation