Tag "Jim Patterson"
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Two new headaches for California high-speed rail project
The California High-Speed Rail Authority – the agency in charge of building the state’s bullet train system – has already faced a tough year, with Gov. Gavin Newsom signaling in February that he’s not confident the full system can ever
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Report on massive cost overrun may be turning point for troubled bullet train
Despite Gov. Jerry Brown’s full-throated defense of the troubled bullet train project in his State of the State speech Thursday in Sacramento, a consultant’s report warning of a huge cost overrun on the project’s first segment in the Central Valley
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DMV truck-test backlog sparks bipartisan privatization bill
SACRAMENTO – California state officials are worried about a shortage of certified truck drivers to meet the state’s growing transportation needs, yet a reported testing backlog at the California Department of Motor Vehicles is undermining efforts to get more truckers on
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Accusations of political retaliation against a fellow Democrat, as told by Twitter
A bill to expand parental leave was killed in committee Wednesday, leaving the Twitterati to speculate there was an appearance of retaliation by the chairman, Assemblyman Roger Hernández. The perceived retaliation came two months after the West Covina Democrat was asked
Read MoreCalWatchdog Morning Read – April 14, 2016
CalWatchdog Morning Read – April 14, 2016 By CalWatchdog Staff Good morning everyone, and goodbye Kobe Bryant, who scored 60 points last night in his final game as a Los Angeles Laker and a professional basketball player, capping a 20-year career. As
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Assembly panel kills bill to shift costs of special elections away from taxpayers
A bill that would have shifted the costs of most special elections away from the taxpayers and onto the outgoing legislator died in committee on Wednesday. Since 2013, counties have spent around $21.7 million on special elections, according to a
Read MoreCalWatchdog Morning Read – April 13, 2016
*|MC:SUBJECT|* – CalWatchdog.com View this email in your browser Breaking News CalWatchdog Morning Read – April 13, 2016 By CalWatchdog Staff Happy Wednesday the 13th! Since 2013, California counties have spent $21.7 million on special elections largely to replace state lawmakers who
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How much taxpayers lose in special elections
Henry T. Perea’s decision to vacate his Assembly seat early cost Fresno County a half-million dollars — enough to pay for four sheriff deputies — and has reignited a discussion on the cost of special elections. The Fresno Democrat announced
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Rendon’s Assembly speakership sweeps in change
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
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Patterson bill: Pay for your own special election
State legislators occasionally leave office early — often for higher office or to cash in as a lobbyist — sticking taxpayers with the hefty price tag of electing a replacement. But a bill introduced Friday would shift the costs from taxpayers to
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