Ted Gaines | CalWatchdog.com

Tag "Ted Gaines"

Brown vetoes numerous curbs on drone use; approves one

Despite shooting down a series of bills intended to restrict the private use of drones in public airspace, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a fourth bill that restricted the use of drones around and above private property. “The law expands the state’s definition of invasion of privacy

CA lawmakers square off against drones

James Poulos August 17, 2015

In an all-too-real conflict between man and machine, a string of high-profile clashes between drones and public servants has helped spur an effort to crack down on the airborne bots in California. But at the same time, civil libertarian concerns

Temperatures rise in CA vax battle

James Poulos February 19, 2015

The measles outbreak has injected the California Legislature with a new urgency in dealing with vaccine issues. First up is a new bill, as yet without a number, by state Sens. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, and Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, the latter

Legislative bipartisan criticism aims at Covered CA spending

Tori Richards February 12, 2014

Responding to a state senator’s call for an investigation into the marketing budget of California’s Obamacare exchange, the agency says it is in great financial shape and even received high marks for an audit conducted last year. “By 2015/16,

CA senator seeks audit of state Obamacare exchange

Tori Richards February 3, 2014

A California state senator is seeking to audit the state’s Obamacare exchange after a CalWatchdog.com story revealed that $1.37 million was spent on a campaign featuring an eight-hour web stream starring a gyrating Richard Simmons. The Jan. 16 event — now immortalized on YouTube — showed

Covered California video features gyrating Richard Simmons

Tori Richards January 30, 2014

Facing a $78 million budget shortfall, Covered California spent $1.37 million on an outreach campaign that included a video featuring exercise guru Richard Simmons gyrating on the floor and hugging a kneeling contortionist whose buttocks stuck in the air. The

‘Arena derangement syndrome’ afflicts Sacramento

Katy Grimes January 7, 2014

Call it “arena derangement syndrome,” or ADS. It afflicts cities trying to use taxpayer money for new sports arenas or stadiums. It’s now threatening the validation of 35,000 ballot initiative petition signatures that would halt the proposed subsidy of a new

Audit uncovers embers in Cal Fire slush fund

Katy Grimes September 10, 2013

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