Regulations

Analysis: Which proposed bills help, hinder, small businesses

Among the approximately 2,000 bills considered in the California Legislature this year, many affect small businesses. Here’s the analysis of four by the National Federation of Independent Business California: Assembly Bill 23 and Senate Bill 5, the Affordable Gas Tax for Families

Big twist in San Diego stadium saga

Chris Reed March 22, 2015

A stadium task force named by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has been holding a rapid-fire series of meetings with football, development and finance officials about the challenge facing California’s second-largest city in keeping the Chargers from bolting town for

LAO: CA housing costs likely to keep ‘rapidly rising’

Chris Reed March 21, 2015

The state Legislative Analyst Office’s new report on the high cost of housing in California got some coverage around the state, with a primary focus being its call for 100,000 additional housing units being built a year. The LAO says

Undocumented immigrants hit the road with CA driver’s licenses

James Poulos March 20, 2015

After two months of granting driver’s licenses to once-undocumented immigrants, California officials reported big numbers. The Golden State program has supplied licenses to almost 150,000 immigrants. Supporters of the move have been quick to tout its perceived advantages — and to boost participation

iPoker: Tribal coalition not bluffing against opponents

John March 17, 2015

A powerful coalition of the state’s most prominent Native American tribes isn’t bluffing in its opposition to one proposal to legalize online poker in California. Led by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, a half-dozen tribes have registered their opposition to

Drive to remove red-light cameras speeds up in CA

James Poulos March 16, 2015

Californians soon may put in the rear-view mirror the gaze of red-light cameras. In the wake of an appeals court ruling that defended the constitutionality of tickets issued to motorists caught running red lights, Assemblyman Matthew Harper, R-Huntington Beach, introduced Assembly

FPPC staff backs decreased disclosure

Chris Reed March 15, 2015

The Internet has made quick, easy disclosure of information the norm in news and social media. This has led reformers to call for a new era in campaign finance in which all political donations are disclosed in almost real time.

Alternative fuel companies cheer, oil industry questions CA carbon regulations

Dave Roberts March 12, 2015

The California Air Resources Board’s plan to renew the Low Carbon Fuel Standard elicited cheers at a recent Board meeting from its main beneficiary: alternative fuel companies. More lukewarm was the petroleum industry, which could lose billions of dollars as it transitions

CA “community solar” fight looms on subsidy issue

Chris Reed March 11, 2015

Hawaii’s boom in residential solar power is inspiring advocates of the alternative energy resource to push hard in states across the U.S. for rooftop solar power, both for personal use and as part of the larger electricity grid. One in

Lawmakers seek soda warning labels

John March 9, 2015

A group of state lawmakers wants to single out “The Coke Side of Life” for a mandatory warning label that could send the Pepsi Generation to unhealthy beverages. State Senator Bill Monning, D-Carmel, and seven of his Democratic colleagues have proposed the Sugar-Sweetened