Tag "Alex Padilla"
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CA Dems move to remake state voting
Pursuing a long-held dream of maximizing voter turnout, California Democrats have coalesced around legislation that would fundamentally transform the experience — and inconvenience — of casting ballots. “California elections would be radically retooled, with neighborhood polling places replaced by ‘voting centers’
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Secretary of State 2014: Tight race, cautious candidates
It’s one of the few competitive statewide races in California. And befitting a close contest, Democrat Alex Padilla and Republican Pete Peterson share remarkably close visions for the job of secretary of state. CalWatchdog.com asked the two candidates a half dozen questions about
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Legislature should have heeded Brit regulators on plastic bags
Dubious bills often get passed on the final night of the state legislative session, and 2014 was no exception: A measure to make California the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic bags. SB270 passed despite fierce opposition
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Update: Plastic bag ban passes Assembly
Update, 2:26 pm, Aug. 28: On a second vote, SB 270 just passed the Assembly. Despite strong momentum and an air of inevitability, California state legislators hit a major snag on Aug. 27 in their plans for a statewide ban on
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CA plastic bag ban would hurt environment
In this dysfunctional state, it figures the Legislature likely soon could ban plastic bags at stores. AP reports: “Senate Bill 270 passed the Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee on a 5-3 vote following the failure of similar bans on single-use grocery bags
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California experiments with open-source voting
After spending tens of millions of dollars in recent years on ineffective voting systems, California election officials are planning to experiment with an “open source” system that may prove to be the cure-all for secure, accessible balloting – or
Read MoreBill to ban plastic bags in California clears Senate committee
April 19, 2013 By Josephine Djuhana The war on plastic bags has returned with a vengeance, as legislators introduce new regulations that dictate what kinds of bags California shoppers are allowed to use when out shopping for groceries. SB 405,
Read MoreWatch for weak final version of teacher predator bill
March 23, 2013 By Chris Reed The California Teachers Association’s decision to quickly endorse a bill that would make it easier to fire depraved teachers was depicted in initial accounts as reflecting the CTA’s understanding that its image took a
Read MoreProponents, Opponents Exaggerate Prop. 32’s Effects
Sept. 6, 2012 By John Hrabe Labor unions rarely agree with their archenemies, the proponents of paycheck protection. Proposition 32, the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act,” has only hardened those battle lines. The measure would substantially change the way
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