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Congress could nix California retirement program

The House of Representatives voted to axe California’s planned retirement savings program, throwing the future of it and similar efforts around the country into serious doubt. “Despite a plea from California Gov. Jerry Brown, the state’s GOP representatives voted

CA drought: New front in federal blame game

Chris Reed August 24, 2015

When it comes to the federal government’s seemingly muted response to a severe drought in its most populous, richest state, Republicans and Democrats in Congress have faced sharp criticism. GOP lawmakers from California and their supporters are accused of offering

Congress still divided on how to address CA drought

Chris Reed May 21, 2015

California’s leaders have faced sharp criticism over their perceived failure to prepare the state for the current severe drought. But if criticism of the state government is warranted, Congress may deserve some blame as well. House members from the Central

California’s Beltway delegation double-dips on pensions

Steve Miller March 17, 2015

They’re called double-dippers: those who take a pension payout from one government job while earning a salary doing another. Last year 19 of California’s 55 members of the U.S. Congress drew pensions from a state-backed public retirement plan, according to a CalWatchdog.com

New poll reveals Californians’ low approval of Congress

John Seiler February 26, 2015

A new Field Poll shows Californians have maintained their recent disdain for the U.S. Congress. During 2000-2003, approval was as high as 50 percent. Today it’s just 18 percent. That’s actually up a little, from the 10 percent to 13 percent

Boxer exit begins CA youth shift in Congress

John January 19, 2015

Girls may run the world, as in the Beyonce song, but women run California’s congressional delegation. More specifically, older Democratic women — but that could change soon. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer’s retirement announcement earlier this month kicks off a major demographic shift

Congress switches to dynamic scoring

John Seiler December 1, 2014

This should have happened the last time Republicans took over all of Congress, in 1995. The new GOP majority is switching budget calculations to “dynamic scoring.” The L.A. Times reported: For years, leading GOP lawmakers have wanted to change the

Obama’s Thanksgiving turkey: 3,145 new regulations

John Seiler November 27, 2014

As if the California Legislature passing nearly 1,000 new bills a year were not enough. President Obama’s White House just released 3,415 new regulations, making 330 millions Americans into turkeys just before Thanksgiving. The Daily Caller reported: While Americans are focused

$26 minimum wage?

John Seiler May 8, 2014

California’s minimum wage rises to $9 an hour from $8 on July 1. Then in 2015, it rises to $10. That’s still pretty low for this expensive state. So Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., is proposing $26 an hour. That still

Water bill in Congress ‘puts families before fish’

Katy Grimes February 4, 2014

A bill to address California’s drought and future water supply in the House of Representatives has Gov. Jerry Brown angry. Brown said the water bill is “an unwelcome and divisive intrusion” into California’s effort to manage the state’s drought, the