Regulations

Initiative filing fee hike moves closer to approval

A proposal to make it more expensive to file a ballot measure in California is moving closer to becoming law, worrying both liberal and conservative groups that frequently utilize the initiative process. Democratic Assemblymen Evan Low of Campbell and Richard Bloom of Santa Monica have

Mandatory vaccination bill clears Legislature

Josephine Djuhana June 25, 2015

The mandatory vaccine bill, SB277, passed the state Assembly on a 46-30 vote during a Thursday hearing. Proponents of the bill say the passage is a victory for science and public health, while opponents decry the bill’s infringement upon parental

CA Uber ruling prompts sharp, varied reaction

Chris Reed June 23, 2015

The ruling of the California Labor Commission last week that an Uber driver is an employee of the company — not a contractor — prompted national and international reaction from economists and other close observers of the growing “sharing” economy.

Chamber warns arbitration bill will kill jobs

Dave Roberts June 20, 2015

When you take a job, should you be required to waive your right to have a future employment dispute adjudicated by the state labor commissioner or in civil court? That has increasingly become the case for job applicants. Forty-three percent

CA Uber driver ruled employee

James Poulos June 18, 2015

Navigating the choppy regulatory waters of America’s 50 states just became more difficult for Uber. The fast-growing startup that has roiled the taxi and livery industry was dealt an adverse ruling by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. As the New York Times

CA high court upholds affordable housing requirement

James Poulos June 17, 2015

Many Golden State developers must now include so-called affordable housing units in their sales plans. The California Supreme Court sided against the builders, who brought a contentious, high-profile suit against municipal policymakers. “At issue was a 2010 San Jose law that requires some new residential

Vaccine bill passes Assembly health committee

Josephine Djuhana June 10, 2015

On Tuesday, the California Assembly Committee on Health passed Senate Bill 277, the controversial mandatory vaccination bill. The bill was passed on a 12-6 vote, with one vote not recorded. According to a summary from the health committee, SB277: “Eliminates

S.F. Supervisors pass laws requiring health warnings on soda ads

Josephine Djuhana June 10, 2015

On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to pass legislation that would require posted advertisements for sodas and other beverages to include health warnings. Additional legislation bans the use of city funds to purchase sodas and sugar-sweetened

NFIB opposes four Sacramento bills

CalWatchdog Staff June 10, 2015

Here’s the analysis of four pieces of legislation in the California State Assembly and Senate by the National Federation of Independent Business California. The NFIB opposes all four bills. These bills were introduced by Democratic legislators. Assembly Bill 464: Transaction and use taxes: maximum combined

Banned guns not the ones used in crimes

Steve Miller June 8, 2015

In the wake of firearms madness on both sides of the issue comes a batch of material obtained via public records request from guns.com, a news website that editorially tilts toward the support of gun rights. The site found that