Regulations

24 years of Caltrans well-drilling ignored laws; risked groundwater contamination

Sacramento County is threatening to fine Caltrans millions in taxpayer dollars for drilling hundreds of wells over a period of decades in violation of laws aimed at protecting groundwater, records show. The county set the possible fine at as much as

Legislature raises CA smoking age to 21; pending Brown’s signature

James Poulos March 12, 2016

Triggering the sort of speculation about nationwide change California’s new regulations often inspire, legislators approved bills raising the legal age for smoking and vaping to 21. “The California state Senate voted Thursday to raise the legal age to buy and use

New influx of federal funding for CA mortgage relief

James Poulos February 27, 2016

The federal government has supplied California with additional funds and time to continue its multi-year foreclosure relief program. The effort “intended to prevent home foreclosures that was expected to shut down next year is instead being expanded and extended following a new influx

Kashkari makes splash in new job with Fed

Chris Reed February 22, 2016

California’s 2014 Republican gubernatorial nominee Neel Kashkari has dropped a bombshell in his new job as president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. In a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., the 42-year-old former PIMCO executive and Orange County

CA lawmakers plot CPUC’s demise

James Poulos February 9, 2016

The California Public Utilities Commission may not live to see the next presidential election. Under a new proposal put forth by Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Glendale, the new chairman of the Committee on Utilities and Commerce, the CPUC — long under

CA could ban encrypted smartphones

James Poulos February 2, 2016

A worldwide controversy over whether to ban encrypted smartphones has opened a new front in California, where lawmakers introduced legislation that would crack down on the devices. Assembly Bill 1681, introduced by Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, would mandate that phones

Gas leak ruling provides secrecy and legal defense to SoCal Gas

Tori Richards January 26, 2016

Government officials have ordered the Southern California Gas Co. to shut down its leaky Aliso Canyon well, yet the ruling is far from a victory for the thousands of sickened Porter Ranch residents, an attorney charges. On Saturday, Jan. 23, the

CPUC slaps Uber with big fine

James Poulos January 25, 2016

To play in California, Uber must pay. “The California Public Utilities Commission agreed last Thursday with a judge’s recommendation to fine Uber $7.6 million for failing to meet data reporting requirements in 2014,” the Los Angeles Times reported. “Uber will appeal the

CA rejects VW recall plan

James Poulos January 25, 2016

Thanks to California regulators, Volkswagen hasn’t yet found a way out of worldwide trouble. Federal agencies have flexed their muscles in tandem. “U.S. regulators rejected Volkswagen AG’s plan for recalling nearly 500,000 diesel-powered cars,” as the Wall Street Journal noted. “The Environmental Protection Agency,

New regulation fights shadow lobbying

Matt Fleming January 22, 2016

The state’s political watchdog agency unanimously approved a new regulation on Thursday making it harder for lobbyist groups to conceal influence peddling activities, known informally as “shadow lobbying.” Currently, anyone who spends $5,000 or more to influence legislative or administrative action is