Tag "transparency"
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Transparency activists seek CA sunshine
National Sunshine Week — an effort to increase and encourage government transparency — has come and gone in California while multiple types of state secrecy continue to draw fire from lawmakers and citizens. Budgeting has topped the list of recent complaints. “The
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New regulation fights shadow lobbying
The state’s political watchdog agency unanimously approved a new regulation on Thursday making it harder for lobbyist groups to conceal influence peddling activities, known informally as “shadow lobbying.” Currently, anyone who spends $5,000 or more to influence legislative or administrative action is
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Government transparency effort faces union backlash
Senate Bill 331, a bill sponsored by government employee unions that is on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk, is touted as increasing transparency in contracting by certain local governments. But critics say the bill’s provisions are actually intended to punish agencies
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Legislative transparency bill shelved again
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was mocked for saying about the Affordable Care Act, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it away from the fog of the controversy.” But that type of legislating-in-the-dark
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Records of lawmakers a step closer to transparency
A judge has found that the records of lawmakers can be subject to open records requests, making California one of 28 states in which the records of state lawmakers are open to the public. The April 3 ruling interprets a part
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Study: CA ranks last in spending transparency
California ranked at the bottom for the second consecutive year on the annual report on state government transparency compiled by the Public Interest Research Group, an investigative and advocacy organization based in Boston. And the state’s beleaguered Department of Technology, or CalTech, can be assigned part
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CA advances transparency — but needs some work
This is Sunshine Week, a time to promote transparency in government. An AP analysis found that the Obama administration, which came into office promising to be the most transparent ever, has become more secretive. Fortunately, things are better out here
Read MoreBudget ‘transparency’ murky in Senate
June 14, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — I watched in dismay as Senate Democrats voted yesterday to bypass proper procedure in order to play politics with the budget. They withdrew several of their budget bills from the Rules Committee,
Read MoreAssembly budget secrecy ahead; 37 empty budget bills passed
May 14, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — Another secretive budget is in the near future as Democrats passed 37 empty budget “spot bills” Monday. It was business as usual in the Assembly. Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, D-Los Angeles, the author of
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