Seen at the Capitol

Vacancies, dysfunction cause legislator-pay commission to cancel meeting

Last month, CalWatchdog reported that the commission on state lawmaker pay was plagued by vacancies. This month, the California Citizens Compensation Commission had to cancel its annual meeting scheduled for Wednesday due to lack of quorum. The seven members of the

Senate Republican policy priorities aim to make Golden State more affordable

Matt Fleming April 27, 2016

Senate Republicans packaged their best policy proposals on Tuesday, a series of bills aimed at helping veterans, seniors, homeowners and renters as well as parents and students. Jean Fuller, the Senate Republican leader, pointed to California’s high rents, high poverty rate and

Lawmaker accused of domestic violence to stay in Assembly leadership

Matt Fleming April 23, 2016

Assemblyman Roger Hernández, who last week was placed under a temporary restraining order from his wife, will not be stripped of his committee chairmanship, Speaker Anthony Rendon said on Friday, despite pressure from the influential leaders of the women’s caucus. In a statement to CalWatchdog,

After rash of overdoses, Senate advances bill to punish Fentanyl traffickers

Matt Fleming April 6, 2016

A Senate panel unanimously advanced a bill on Tuesday that would significantly increase the penalties for possession of large quantities of the powerful opioid Fentanyl, a drug that has led to a wave of overdoses in Sacramento recently. Fentanyl, which is reported to

Lawmakers OK state-wide $15 minimum wage

Matt Fleming March 31, 2016

The Legislature passed it, the governor said he’ll sign it, and so a $15-per-hour minimum wage is all but a done deal. The measure, which raises the wage from $10 per hour incrementally until 2022 and 2023 (depending on the

State leaders, labor groups announce deal on $15 minimum wage

Matt Fleming March 29, 2016

Democratic lawmakers and labor groups announced on Monday a deal to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Gov. Jerry Brown and Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de León of Los Angeles, joined by representatives of the Service Employees

Fuller puts first responders front and center

Matt Fleming March 8, 2016

With an increasingly contentious campaign season in full swing, it’s easy to forget that occasionally there’s positive news in public office. Senate Minority Leader Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, took the time to honor first responders from her district on Monday —

Rendon’s Assembly speakership sweeps in change

Matt Fleming March 8, 2016

Assemblyman Anthony Rendon’s swearing in as speaker on Monday signaled a fresh start as optimism warmed over the Capitol. At the swearing in, the paramount Democrat drew a standing ovation from the crowd and an impassioned introduction in both English and

Vacancies plague commission determining elected official pay

Matt Fleming March 1, 2016

It’s almost that time of year again when a panel of citizens will decide whether to raise pay for the state’s top elected officials. But as it stands now, the California Citizens Compensation Commission will be woefully underrepresented when it meets

Homeless ‘human rights’ bill rankles Sacramento officials

Chris Reed March 1, 2016

In California, helping the homeless is a popular issue in some cities and some political circles. In San Diego, elected officials of both parties say they don’t just want to reduce downtown homelessness, they want to end it. In Santa