Inside Government

Controller expands eClaim feature for unclaimed property

California’s chief fiscal officer is making it easier to reclaim private property held by the state. State Controller Betty T. Yee announced earlier this month an expansion of the eClaim feature for the state’s unclaimed property program. Property owners will now

Hundreds of Californians seek custom oil and gas maps following governor’s request

John November 19, 2015

Hundreds of Californians have requested free custom research of their property from state regulators, following the governor’s request for a personal evaluation of oil, gas and mining interests on his Northern California ranch. Earlier this month, the Associated Press first

CA transparency reform initiative filed

James Poulos November 10, 2015

A new state ballot initiative aimed at bringing greater transparency to Sacramento has been filed with the attorney general’s office. Charles Munger, Jr., one of the state GOP’s most substantial activists and donors, linked up with former state Sen. Sam

Congressional conservatives clash with CA GOP

James Poulos October 27, 2015

In a broad turnabout, the fortunes of California Republicans in Congress have waned as conservatives on the Hill have gained the advantage. The shift, which began with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., withdrawing abruptly from a race for Speaker he had seemed certain

Unique “behested” campaign donations prop up nonprofits, political endeavors in growing numbers

Steve Miller September 21, 2015

Donations to special interests on behalf of statewide officeholders have grown from $250,000 in 2000 to $4.9 million so far this year, records show. The donations, which can be solicited by the charity or the officeholder, are unlimited and need

Is Jerry Brown interested in presidential bid? Or just trolling Clintons?

Chris Reed September 20, 2015

In the hours leading up to the second round of Republican debates on Wednesday at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, the Drudge Report gave prominent play to vague hints of interest in a presidential run dropped by Jerry Brown

Brown gets bipartisan rebuke on drought policies

Chris Reed September 16, 2015

The reporters who cover state government have paid plenty of attention to Gov. Jerry Brown’s failures on big initiatives in the Legislature this month, in which the governor got nowhere with his agenda in special sessions on health funding and

Assembly Republicans select Chad Mayes as next leader

John September 4, 2015

Come January, Assembly Republicans will have a new leader. On Tuesday, the 28 Republican members of the lower house selected Assemblyman Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley as their next leader. The caucus did not release the specific tally for the

Taxes vs. reform — Transportation negotiations continue

Joel Fox August 25, 2015

Watching the maneuvering to pass a transportation revenue package in the special session, I can’t help but think of the observation by that great philosopher Yogi Berra who said: “It’s déjà vu all over again.” The legislative scrum over a

University of California and stem cell agency highest paid state workers

John August 24, 2015

California taxpayers paid out big bucks to state workers in 2014. How much? More than the Gross Domestic Product of 100 countries, according to new data published by the State Controller’s office. In 2014, more than 650,000 state employees earned a total