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Gorell: CA prisoners live better than deployed military
On the Assembly floor today during debate of a prison bill, Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, R-Camarillo, put the contentious and often ridiculous situation into perspective. “Until our prison conditions rival those of our forward deployed military, I will not be sympathetic
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Audit uncovers embers in Cal Fire slush fund
A new state audit shows that in 2005 a secret, $3.66 million off-the-books account was established by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Wildlife Fire Investigation Training and Equipment Fund, a private, nonprofit account, was filled through
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SB 323 would yank Boy Scouts’ tax exemption
A bill to strip the Boy Scouts of their tax exemption if the organization refused to lift its ban on homosexual scoutmasters is the first of its kind in the country. The “Youth Equality Bill” is SB323 by Sen. Ricardo Lara,
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Dueling prison plans: Brown vs. Steinberg
SACRAMENTO — California continues to grapple with a 2009 federal court order requiring reductions in prison overcrowding. Two plans are before the Legislature: One by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento; the second by Gov. Jerry Brown. On Wednesday,
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Bill would allow AWOL state employees to keep jobs
SACRAMENTO — Imagine you miss work for five consecutive days and don’t call your supervisor to explain why. You probably wouldn’t have a job for very long. But employment conditions in state government are very different, and about to get
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Steinberg rushing arena bill through last days of session
Strange bedfellows are camping out under the bleachers to oppose an arena in Sacramento for the Kings pro basketball team. They're united in opposition because of the lack of public debate, the dubious numbers put out by the city and
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Sea of grimy mattresses evidence of need for recycling bill
A sea of used mattresses was on display at a press conference on the steps of the Capitol Wednesday. The stained, lumpy mattresses were a grimy but convincing prop for a bill which would create a recovery and recycling program for used
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Many reporters end up working for government
Who holds government accountable? We the People rely on the media. But the line between government and journalism has grown fuzzy. “‘Veteran Journalist’ Joins Kerry as Staff at State Department,” the headline reads today on the Weekly Standard. t Douglas Frantz
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Hearing uncovered abuse of CA special funds
SACRAMENTO — Only in government is borrowing considered a legitimate way to balance a budget. In California it has become standard operating procedure. To address this growing problem, the state’s Special Funds were the subject of a hearing last week
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AB 917 would send charter schools to the back of the class
The popularity and success of California’s 900 charter schools aren’t making everyone happy. Union leaders have tried to organize the non-union schools, but unsuccessfully. New tactic: Hamper the charters’ spread. AB 917, which just passed both houses of the Legislature,
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