Politics and Elections

Guerrilla marketing fuels OC mystery campaign

John September 18, 2014

Less than seven weeks from Election Day, political campaigns are looking for novel ways to distinguish themselves from all the election-related noise. In Orange County, one creative independent expenditure has turned to a mysterious guerrilla marketing campaign to get its

In debate, Torlakson misrepresents teacher-discipline bill

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson debated challenger Marshall Tuck on Wednesday night and once again found himself on the defensive over the teacher tenure laws targeted in the Vergara decision. Cabinet Report details how Tuck went after …

Absurd Prop 2 provision shows extent of teacher unions’ clout

Chris Reed September 17, 2014

If you want an example of just how powerful the teachers unions are in Sacramento, consider Proposition 2. The measure was placed on the November ballot by the Legislature at the urging of Gov. Jerry Brown, who depicts it with

Dems spending more campaign cash against Dems in open primary system

James Poulos September 17, 2014

Since the advent of the “jungle primary” system that runs the top two votegetters in the general election, Democrats have outspent Republicans when pitted against a member of their own party. That is to say California’s open primary system has caused Democrats to spend

Hospitals seek veto of workers’ comp expansion

Dave Roberts September 16, 2014

California hospitals could be facing millions of dollars in increased workers’ compensation claims if a bill sponsored by the California Nurses Association is signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. As of Tuesday afternoon, Brown had not made a decision. Assembly

GOP banks on Silicon Valley inroads

James Poulos September 16, 2014

California’s tech titans are giving the Republican Party a second look. Political and tech observers alike have agreed these are early days for a realignment of Silicon Valley voters. Nevertheless, the titans’ interest in GOP candidates and causes — and the corresponding

Chamber of Commerce touts pension reform, backs pension arsonist

Chris Reed September 16, 2014

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce stunned a lot of people last month when it endorsed Democrat incumbent Scott Peters over Republican challenger Carl DeMaio in the 52nd congressional district race in an affluent swath of San Diego and its northeastern

Kashkari would veto gun bills

John September 15, 2014

GOP candidate Neel Kashkari assured gun owners Friday he’s opposed to controversial gun-control measures now sitting on the desk of his Nov. 4 election opponent, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown. The four measures, which include a ban on home-built firearms and the importation

Super PAC $ floods Peters vs. DeMaio congressional race

Chris Reed September 12, 2014

San Diego residents can’t watch a major sporting event without seeing repeated ads paid for by national super PACs trashing congressman Scott Peters, a moderate Democrat, or his Republican opponent, former City Councilman Carl DeMaio, an outspoken libertarian. The flood

Missing from CA’s economic ‘comeback’: Los Angeles

Chris Reed September 11, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown’s daily push to depict California as being in a sharp rebound from the 2007-2009 economic meltdown ignores the fact that the recession never went away in a majority of the state’s 58 counties, especially those in inland