Regulations

Accusations fly over volatile CA gas prices

In an unusual exercise of power, California lawmakers in the state Senate launched a preliminary probe into the recent spike in Golden State gas prices. Although the numbers have dipped back down, and a big refinery explosion last month sidelined some

Feds cloud pot picture in CA

James Poulos April 8, 2015

Over the strenuous objections of some California lawmakers, the Department of Justice vowed to continue prosecuting the medical marijuana industry in the Golden State. Despite a recent bipartisan federal amendment de-funding the Department’s fight against medical marijuana, spokesman Patrick Rodenbush revealed to the

State is owed millions in allegedly unpaid fees from Verizon

Steve Miller April 6, 2015

Verizon owes $11 million to a state fund to help the poor, the hearing-impaired and people in rural areas access telecommunications service, according to a draft document from the state’s Public Utility Commission. The fees are owed on service to prepaid

Desalination gaining support as long-term response to CA drought

John April 2, 2015

With California’s snowpack at the lowest level in a century, Governor Jerry Brown announced Wednesday the first mandatory water reductions in state history. “Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow,” Governor Brown said at a

NFIB backs four business reform bills

John Seiler April 1, 2015

Here’s the analysis of four bills in the California Legislature by the National Federation of Independent Business California. The NFIB supports all the bills. Two are by Democrats, two by Republicans. Assembly Bill 52: Public accommodations: construction-related accessibility claims. It’s

Bill could halt Airbnb, vacation rentals in some CA cities

John March 31, 2015

Travel has never been easier or more affordable — thanks to the proliferation of online accommodation marketplaces. Whether you’re planning a weekend trip to Napa Valley or the family’s spring getaway to Disneyland, non-traditional accommodation services, such as Airbnb, provide travelers with a range of

Committee passes double holiday pay bill

Dave Roberts March 30, 2015

A bill requiring California businesses to provide double pay for employees working on Thanksgiving and Christmas recently passed the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, despite concerns that it will further hurt the state’s business climate and may be unconstitutional. Assemblywoman

Studies show tradeoffs on health vs. environment

Wayne Lusvardi March 27, 2015

Two new studies show cleaning the environment to improve health is about tradeoffs. One study is on clean-air regulations, the other on diesel truck exhausts. The studies give policymakers more information on the choices they will be making. The first

CA officials move to vaporize e-cigs

James Poulos March 25, 2015

With public opinion in flux and anti-tobacco activists on edge, the California Department of Public Health has rolled out “Wake Up,” a slick new ad campaign to discourage the use of e-cigarettes, or “vapes.” Recently, CDPH pronounced e-cigs a threat to public

Study: Vast CA solar power possible using existing infrastructure

Chris Reed March 24, 2015

A new study for Nature Climate Central journal says California could have abundant solar power to meet all of its needs — and without building huge fields of solar arrays like the Tonopah facility by Interstate 15 near the Nevada