Political Stories
Top stories
Jerry Brown charts cautious course in State of the State address — Gov. Jerry Brown, charting a cautious course in his State of the State address, warned Thursday of a future economic downturn and urged lawmakers to restrain spending despite state budget surpluses. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article; San Francisco Chronicle article; AP article; KQED report; ‘Jerry Brown’s State of the State, annotated’ in Sacramento Bee
Feinstein water plan would fund recycling, desalination and storage – California’s congressional delegation continued to wrangle over how to respond to the Golden State’s water crisis Thursday when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released what she called a “discussion draft” of proposed legislation. Feinstein said in a statement that the bill addresses long-term and short-term water concerns. LA Times article
State budget
Report: California should have flexibility to spend funds — An independent analysis says California lawmakers should have more flexibility to spend billions of dollars collected through the state’s landmark cap-and-trade program. AP article
Gov. Brown
Sacramento Bee: Jerry Brown lays out big water plan in minimalist speech – We understand why the governor would downplay his plans. Any project that costs $15.5 billion and involves the Delta is controversial, and he doesn’t believe he needs specific legislative approval for it. Still, the video should be considered a soft launch to a coming campaign of public persuasion – one that will have to get more direct if it is to be successful. Sacramento Bee editorial
Dan Walters: Governor’s same old, same old — Gov. Jerry Brown’s monotonic address Thursday, just shy of 20 minutes, essentially repeated everything he has been saying lately about everything, without a single new angle on any issue. A politician who once set himself apart from the herd by proposing bold, even wacky, new things that earned him the much-hated sobriquet of “Governor Moonbeam,” has evolved into a dependable political helmsman. Walters column in Sacramento Bee
Cathleen Decker: From ideology to pragmatism: The political twists of Jerry Brown — To watch Jerry Brown is to marvel at just how many political lives he can squeeze into his years on stage. The California governor who delivered his State of the State speech Thursday from the Capitol’s Assembly chamber was self-congratulatory but cautious, praising moves California has made to right its ship but warning of the vast needs and demands ahead. Decker in LA Times
Brown’s plan to fix transportation infrastructure may hit road block — Two priorities California Governor Jerry Brown outlined in his State of the State speech will require Republican support. But the parties appear closer to agreement on health care funding, than on road repairs. Capital Public Radio report
Bill Whalen: A reality check on Brown for president — Exit a wounded Hillary, enter a prominent Democrat to rescue the party – none other than California’s governor. OK, let’s all take a deep breath – and a reality check. Whalen op-ed in Sacramento Bee
Valley politics
AD 34: Fong racks up big endorsements in Assembly run — Vince Fong, a Republican candidate for the 34th Assembly District seat, was endorsed this week by Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall. Fong is among three people so far who have announced their intention to run in June’s top-two 34th District primary. He’s quickly racking up big-name endorsements. They include his boss, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, state Sen. Jean Fuller and Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, all Bakersfield Republican representatives, and Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood. Bakersfield Californian article
Statewide politics/Ballot Measures
Rocky Chavez, Duf Sundheim define stances on federal immigration — Assemblyman Rocky Chávez, R-Oceanside, said he wouldn’t curtail or lessen the process by which immigrants go about becoming U.S. citizens. Duf Sundheim, the other GOP candidate to participate, recalled telling a recent meeting of conservatives he also doesn’t support deporting the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. Sacramento Bee article
Kamala Harris touches Democratic themes on statewide tour stop — State Attorney General Kamala Harris eased into her role as U.S. Senate candidate on Thursday, hitting themes popular with Democratic voters at a meet-and-greet event with activists in downtown Sacramento. Sacramento Bee article
Other areas
FPPC cracks down on reporting for California lobbyists – While all eyes were on Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of the State address Thursday, the Fair Political Practices Commission unanimously approved a major change in the reporting of influence payments. Sacramento Bee article
Millions of Californians could regain driver’s licenses under new bill – The California Department of Motor Vehicles could suspend a driver’s license only for serious traffic violations related to DUIs and reckless driving, under a new bill introduced to the Legislature last week by California Sen. Bob Hertzberg. KQED report
Rep. Ami Bera’s votes leave Democrats debating whether to support him – Bera’s votes on issues such as Syria refugees and trade are coming under intense examination as local Democrats debate withholding endorsement from him in his re-election race against Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, a Republican. Sacramento Bee article
Cryptic fragrances: Questions, legislation linger in California — A California law, the California Safe Cosmetics Act, requires cosmetics manufacturers to report any products that contain ingredients known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. The data is posted on a website at safecosmetics.cdph.ca.gov. However, the public database does not list ingredients identified as trade secrets, including fragrances. Capitol Weekly article
News Stories
Top Stories
Most of San Joaquin Valley on state list of critically overdrafted groundwater basins — The state Department of Water Resources on Thursday released a list of 21 groundwater basins and subbasins that are overdrafted, causing land subsidence, chronically lowered groundwater levels and, in the case of the Salinas Valley, seawater intrusion. Eleven of the areas are in the San Joaquin Valley. Fresno Bee article
With state deadline looming, cities and counties rush to ban pot cultivation – As California seeks to regulate its medical marijuana economy, as well as set rules for personal cultivation, a March 1 deadline is making scores of cities and counties paranoid about how to govern pot. Sacramento Bee article
San Joaquin County mayors meet with peers to confront common problems – Turlock, California, Mayor Gary Soiseth knows how to work a room. Sometimes, it starts with silence. “I never go into a conversation, whether it’s here or in Afghanistan, where I do all the talking,” Soiseth said. This week, among hundreds of customarily voluble elected officials convened at the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ annual winter conference, Soiseth is getting plenty of practice on both ends of the conversational spectrum. McClatchy Newspapers article
Jobs and the Economy
Fresno County’s oilfields feel the hurt of low crude prices – Specific numbers about the economic impact of falling oil prices are difficult to come by, but the anecdotal effects are being felt in Fresno County. County Assessor Paul Dictos said that three years ago, when oil prices were riding high, the assessed value of the county’s oilfields amounted to about $1.1 billion for property tax purposes. By last year, as crude oil was tanking on the world’s commodity markets, the assessed value had slid to about $700 million. Fresno Bee article
Bakersfield faces budget crunch as sales tax revenue drops – The city of Bakersfield is searching for ways to tighten its fiscal belt thanks in part to lower oil prices. Over the past twelve months, city sales tax revenue has been nearly 5 percent below budget expectations. That’s left the city council considering mid-year budget adjustments, seeking to trim $1.4 million from this year’s books. KVPR report
This time, cheaper oil does little for U.S. economy – It has been a truism of the American economy for decades: When oil prices rise, the economy suffers; when they fall, growth improves. But the decline of oil prices over the last two years has failed to deliver the usual economic benefits. New York Times article
Next step in transportation tax: Priority setting by city — If you live in a city and want to know specifically how a transportation tax in Stanislaus County might affect your life, keep an eye on your city council over the next few weeks. Those leaders will be getting into the nitty gritty of which streets and intersections in your area would get upgrades first, if voters approve the tax in November. Modesto Bee article
Stanislaus 911 dispatchers air views on contract proposal from Joint Powers Authority – Emergency dispatchers for Stanislaus Regional 911 have endured the sharp-edged analysis of consultants, who have concluded they receive generous paychecks that drive up the costs of dispatch operations. On Wednesday, the dispatchers aired their concerns with prolonged labor negotiations, telling the Regional 911 commission that contract proposals will force them to seek jobs with other agencies. Modesto Bee article
California’s four largest health plans could owe California $10 billion in back taxes — California’s four largest health plans may be on the hook for $10 billion in state back taxes — and at least $1 billion every year going forward — if a closely watched legal case does not break their way. San Jose Mercury News article
Major insurers offering new options for ride-share drivers — Major insurers are jumping into the pool to provide new auto insurance coverage options to California drivers working for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. Sacramento Bee article
Staff union ratifies new labor deal with SEIU Local 1000 – Administrative staff members who work for SEIU Local 1000 have ratified a contract with a small raise for senior employees, ending nearly four years of contentious talks. Sacramento Bee article
Sacramento Kings value rises to $925 million — Exactly three years ago Thursday, a pair of would-be purchasers from Seattle put what seemed like an absurd price tag on the Sacramento Kings: $525 million. That turned out to be cheap. The Kings are now worth $925 million, according to the latest annual valuations from Forbes magazine. Sacramento Bee article
Michael Hiltzik: San Francisco just learned the cost of doing NFL a favor – You could call it adding insult to injury: After the National Football League‘s49ers abandoned San Francisco for a new stadium in Santa Clara in 2014, the NFL threw its former franchise city the crumb of a week of branded events leading up to this year’s Super Bowl, to be played at the new venue on Feb. 7. San Francisco is now confronting the bill for hosting those events. They’ll cost more than $4.8 million in public services, almost none of which will be reimbursed. Hiltzik column in LA Times
How Disney chief Robert Iger’s NFL efforts fell short – Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Iger has had a string of hits lately, including clinching the all-time domestic box-office crown with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Last week, however, he was dealt a rare setback – NFL owners voted to allow the Ramsfranchise to move to Inglewood, rejecting a rival plan backed by Iger to build a stadium for the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders in Carson. LA Times article
Ed Coghlan: How California can make it easier to do business – “Economic inequalities exist throughout California.” That is how Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia described a compelling economic challenge in California. Coghlan in California Forward
CalPERS chief executive announces retirement — Anne Stausboll announced her retirement Thursday as chief executive of CalPERS, ending a tenure during which she guided the nation’s largest public pension fund through a bribery scandal and the financial markets crash. Sacramento Bee article
Michael Fitzgerald: Hipsters with a head for business – Port City Pomade, a hair lube for hipsters, went to No. 1 on Amazon.com recently in the Personal Care section. Port City Pomade is made in Stockton. Fitzgerald column in Stockton Record
Coffee with a cause moves to downtown Fresno – Something new is brewing in an empty building in a corner of downtown: Lanna Coffee Co.’s new home. The Fresno-based coffee company with a mission moved into 617 Broadway St. earlier this month. Fresno Bee article
New restoration projects underway at the Fox – The historic Visalia Fox Theatre is getting some major updates done thanks to some local service clubs. Roughly $3,500 was awarded to the Visalia Fox from the Tulare County Historical Society, Kaweah Kollectors and the Visalia Breakfast Rotary. Money given by the historical society was awarded through a grant while the other funds were donated. Visalia Times-Delta article
Legendary grape grower betting Lake County will be the next Wine Country – Andy Beckstoffer is a legend in California wine; is there any other way to put it? San Francisco Chronicle article
Study: Airbnb landlords rent out properties full time — While the average Joe struggles to make rent in the Bay Area’s inflated housing market, a new study claims local Airbnb landlords are making millions by essentially turning their properties into illegal hotels. San Jose Mercury News article
Walmart must rehire 16 workers fired for striking, labor board rules — The National Labor Relations Board ruled that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. retaliated against workers for participating in strikes and must rehire 16 former employees, including seven in California. LA Times article
Agriculture/Water/Drought
Heavy rains boost Pine Flat Reservoir, still a long way from full – There’s a chance that Pine Flat reservoir could fill up this year, but the Kings River Water Association said it would take at least another two months of heavy snowfall for that to happen. Fresno Bee article
Can El Nino save drought-battered California? Here’s why it’s not that simple — Many of the state’s major reservoirs are below historical averages — Lake Shasta is at 40% when the average is 60%, while Lake Oroville is at 34% when the average is 54%. But don’t start replanting your front lawn just yet. LA Times article
Mission accomplished: Sacramentans cut water use in drought by 30 percent in 2015 — It seemed like a tall order: California drought regulators were demanding that urban residents slash water consumption by 25 percent, and even more in the Sacramento area. Sacramento residents met the state’s mandate. The region reduced water use by 30 percent in calendar 2015, according to data released Thursday by the Sacramento Regional Water Authority. Sacramento Bee article
Salas bill seeks water storage – Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, has introduced legislation that would clarify that $2.7 billion set aside in the 2014 water bond for water storage projects would be used to build two new dams in California. Hanford Sentinel article
Roger Bales: Sierra is white with snow, but more drought solutions needed – The founding faculty member and distinguished professor of engineering at UC Merced writes, “Yes, it’s nice to see snow, and those Californians dreaming of a white Christmas saw that dream come true in the Sierra. But dreaming isn’t going to solve the state’s long-term water problems. For that, we need shared strategy and cooperation.” Bales op-ed in Modesto Bee
Stockton water now being treated with chloramines – Water treated with chloramine disinfectant is coursing through north Stockton pipes, city officials confirmed Thursday. Stockton Record article
High levels of chromium-6 still found in Los Banos water – Water samples from wells serving the city of Los Banos continue to show high levels of a toxic chemical, according to a quarterly report being sent to consumers. Merced Sun-Star article
Amanda Ford and Janaki Jagannath: Westlands’ new front group hides farmworker reality – The members of The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water writes, “The El Agua campaign is a distraction from the truly perverse inequities farmworker communities experience with respect to access to water.” Ford/Jagannath op-ed in Fresno Bee
Turf rebate recipients will have to decide how to report funds on federal taxes — Southern Californians who received cash rebates for replacing their lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping will soon get a federal tax form in the mail reporting the amount, but water officials said Thursday it is still not clear whether the reimbursement will be taxable. LA Times article
Criminal Justice/Prisons
Critics question California’s single-drug execution plan – The state’s plan for single-drug executions in California would give prison officials a choice among four lethal chemicals. But two of them are no longer available from the manufacturers, and the other two have never been used for executions. San Francisco Chronicle article
California cops frustrated with ‘catch-and-release’ crime fighting — An experiment has been underway in California since November 2014, when voters approved Proposition 47: put fewer lawbreakers in jail without increasing crime. The measure converted a list of non-violent felonies into misdemeanors, which translated into little or no jail time for crimes such as low-value theft and possession of hard drugs. NPR report
Bakersfield Police Department to investigate possible connection between bomb threats – The Bakersfield Police Department has opened an investigation into multiple bomb threats, including threats in other states, that have occurred over the past week to find out if they are connected. Bakersfield Californian article
Prosecutors to continue seeking death penalty in prison killing — Prosecutors will continue to seek the death penalty for a Kern Valley State Prison inmate charged with his cellmate’s death in 2013. Bakersfield Californian article
Education
Government to reveal colleges with Title IX waivers – The Department of Education said on Wednesday that it would create a searchable database that reveals the names of colleges and universities that have received exemptions on religious grounds from federal civil rights protections. New York Times article
California teacher shortage could get worse, report warns – The teacher shortage in the K-12 system has become so critical that a local school district is offering a $10,000 signing bonus for its next math and science teachers. But the shortage, which began to show its effects in 2014 in Monterey County, is likely to get worse statewide if it’s not addressed, according to a report released Tuesday. Contra Costa Times article
California threatens to take money from schools with under-vaccinated kids – In an effort to get more kids vaccinated on time, the state of California says that it will financially penalize schools that wrongly admitted a high percentage of kindergartners who were overdue for their second dose of the measles vaccine. KPCC report
California Economic Summit on community college chancellor search – “California must significantly improve the knowledge, skills and abilities of young adults for the economy to thrive and to meaningfully reduce the income gap.” Those words are from a letter co-signed by 13 members of the California Economic Summit Workforce and Advancing Manufacturing teams delivered Wednesday to the California Community Board of Governors regarding the search for a new state Chancellor. California Economic Summit website
YouthBuild lauded for keeping Fresno students from repeat offenses – Fresno students who were incarcerated and enrolled in the nonprofit education and job skills program YouthBuild are highly unlikely to relapse into criminal behavior, according to a report released Thursday. Fresno Bee article
California Supreme Court to review opinion in UCLA stabbing case – The California Supreme agreed Thursday to review an appellate court decision that public colleges and universities have no responsibility to protect students from violence committed by other students on campus. LA Times article
West Hills College to expand technology — As the start of the new semester moves forward, West Hills Community College plans to expand technology and make it more accessible for students to enroll in classes and further their education. Hanford Sentinel article
Credit union branch at Merced High School first of its kind in county — It’s been said that an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. For five seniors at Merced High School, they’re gaining knowledge about both investments and interest. Merced Sun-Star article
‘High-impact’ step for schools: Help students get health insurance, feds say — Lengthy, complicated and expensive programs are used in schools every day to improve student performance, but last week the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services kept it simple. If schools want to take one action to boost student attendance, health, behavior and learning, they should help uninsured students enroll in health insurance, the departments said. EdSource article
Energy/Environment
Court rejects bid to delay Obama rule on climate change – In a significant victory for President Obama, a federal appeals court on Thursday rejected an effort by coal companies and more than 20 states to block the president’s signature rule on planet-warming pollution from coal-fired power plants while a lawsuit moves through the courts. New York Times article
State proposes new oil field injection rules – California’s Department of Conservation on Thursday released the first draft of new rules it says will improve the safety of oil field injection operations common in Kern County, including wastewater disposal facilities and “cyclic steam” wells. Bakersfield Californian article
Gas company forced to resume offering rental houses to Porter Ranch families – The Los Angeles city attorney has forced the Southern California Gas Co. to back down from a plan the utility quietly put in place this week to stop offering rental houses to Porter Ranch families dislocated by the nearby gas leak. LA Times article
Maya Golden-Krasner: Fracking may be linked to Porter Ranch gas leak – The Los Angeles-based attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity writes, “Did fracking play a role in the Porter Ranch natural gas leak, one of the biggest environmental disasters in recent California history?” Golden-Krasner op-ed in Sacramento Bee
Turmoil at Coastal Commission worries environmentalists – The potential shake-up at the California Coastal Commission raises questions about the direction of an agency often caught in the friction between property owners and conservation along the 1,100-mile coast. AP article
Ski resort seeks prosecution of snowboarder accused of triggering avalanche — Sugar Bowl Resort and Placer County sheriff’s officials say they will seek prosecution of a snowboarder accused of triggering an avalanche in a closed area of the resort Friday. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article
Health/Human Services
Caltrans found liable for valley fever infections in Kern – The California Department of Transportation is on the hook for $12 million in damages after a jury in Solano County found Thursday that the agency concealed the presence of valley fever fungal spores at a construction site in western Kern County, causing five individuals to contract the disease and suffer debilitating, life-long effects, according to the plaintiffs’ law firm. Bakersfield Californian article
New food safety rules loom over industry — As Food and Drug Administration officials issue rules to enforce the sweeping Food Safety Modernization Act, people involved in Kings County’s food production chain – from the farm to the burger joint – are thinking about what it means for their operations. Hanford Sentinel article
Hospitals failed to report outbreaks linked to tainted scopes, Senate report says – A Senate investigation of deadly infections spread by contaminated scopes found that not one of the 16 or more American hospitals where patients were sickened appeared to have properly filed the required federal report. LA Times article
Bizarre birth defect is on the rise, the CDC reports — Physicians are seeing more instances of a birth defect in which infants are born with their intestines extruding from the stomach wall. The increase has been driven by a sharp rise in the defect among babies born to young African American mothers, says a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. LA Times article
Land Use/Housing
Residents challenge, support new environmental report on widening 24th Street — Eleven residents gave the Bakersfield Planning Commission what it asked for Thursday night: critical public comment, more negative than positive, about the city’s redone environmental report on the 24th Street widening. Bakersfield Californian article
Transportation
TSA finds 20 percent more guns in carry-on bags in 2015, and most are loaded – Airport security screeners in the U.S. found a record high number of firearms in carry-on bags last year, and most of them were loaded, officials said. LA Times article
RTD: Youth, adult violators to face same punishments – Youngsters who cause problems or disturbances on public transit systems in San Joaquin County no longer will be sent to court to resolve the matter. San Joaquin Regional Transit District’s Board of Directors last week approved amendments to the agency’s code of conduct policy and ordinance that will allow minors to resolve violations and citations administratively. Stockton Record article
Biking and walking plan to give healthier, safer options — With safer bicycling and walking paths in the works, Hanford City planners are hoping more citizens will be able to ditch their cars and take advantage of healthier modes of transportation. Hanford Sentinel article
Other areas
Defying the ban: Medical marijuana patients find ways around local bans — Communities throughout the valley are rushing to ban medical marijuana. In part one of this two part series, Valley Public Radio introduced you to the people pushing or resisting the ban and how they have affected your community. KVPR report
Tulare bans future dispensaries – Tulare City Council is not waiting until April 20 to take a stand on marijuana within the city limits. Council members voted this week to approve a set of ordinances that ban the commercial use of marijuana, including regulating the cultivation, transportation and dispensaries. Visalia Times-Delta article
Hanford Fire Department improves response times – While the city moves forward with plans for a third fire station, the Hanford Fire Department is continuing to respond to a growing number of calls for service. Hanford Sentinel article
Merced wants trial program to cut down on false alarms – It’s been two years in the making, but the city of Merced appears to be making moves to implement a false-alarm ordinance, which officials say could save the city from unnecessary law enforcement expenses and time. Merced Sun-Star article
Bakersfield city employee dies after falling from golf cart – An employee of the City of Bakersfield died Saturday after falling from a golf cart operated by a fellow city worker. Two city employees were riding in a golf cart style vehicle at about 9 p.m. Jan. 14 in the city’s corporation services yard in the 4100 block of Truxtun Avenue, according to a Bakersfield Police Department news release. Bakersfield Californian article
Guy Fieri visits four Stockton eateries for ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ — Food Network personality Guy Fieri and his production crew rolled into Gian’s Delicatessen at 2112 Pacific Avenue just before 3 p.m. Thursday with a police escort and a trail of fans who wanted to snap photos of the celebrity chef and restaurateur with the signature platinum blond hair and red Camaro. Stockton Record article
Sacramento Bee: New mayor and council should hire Sacramento’s next city manager – A majority of current council members may not want to relinquish hiring power, but their duty is to city residents. The argument for moving faster is to make sure City Hall’s momentum isn’t slowed by a leadership vacuum. But it’s much more important to have a strong city manager who has the full support of his bosses, especially the mayor. Sacramento Bee editorial
Shawn Hubler: The man who gave north state its style — Before he became one of the more connected political figures in California – before his six terms in the Assembly, before his time at the head of the state Department of Parks and Recreation and his stint on the California Coastal Commission, before he became a wealthy consultant and lobbyist with a Delta manor – Rusty Areias, the son of a Los Banos dairy farmer, went to San Francisco to learn how to dress. Hubler column in Sacramento Bee
Valley Editorial Roundup
Fresno Bee – Sarah Palin goes rogue for Donald Trump.
Merced Sun-Star – Yes, Jerry Brown is a master of ceremony and politics. But not, we fear, of fixing California’s water issues.
Modesto Bee – Yes, Jerry Brown is a master of ceremony and politics. But not, we fear, of fixing California’s water issues
Sacramento Bee – Jerry Brown lays out big water plan in minimalist speech; The new mayor and city council should hire Sacramento’s next city manager.
Maddy Events
Sunday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report: “Eliminating Fraud, Waste & Abuse in State Government: Who You Gonna Call?” – Guests: California Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, California State Auditor Elaine Howle, California Little Hoover Commission Exec. Dir. Carole D’Elia and Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580 (KMJ) – Maddy Report-Valley Views Edition: “Discerning Fact from Fiction in State & Local Policy Debates” – Guests: Bill McEwen (Fresno Bee Editorial Page Editor), Mike Dunbar (Merced Sun-Star and Modesto Bee Opinion Page Editor), Paul Hurley (fmr. Visalia Times Delta Editorial Page Editor) and Cal State Fresno Political Science Prof. Jeff Cummins. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Jan. 24, at 7 a.m. on Fresno Univision 21 (KFTV)– El Informe Maddy Report: “Workforce in California” – Guests: Public Policy Institute of California analyst Marisol Cuellar. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Deputy Director Ana Melendez.
The Maddy Report airs throughout California on The Cal Channel. Check http://www.calchannel.com to find the Cal Channel and schedule in your area. You also can view previous Maddy Report programs in their entirety at http://www.maddyinstitute.org/policy-analysis/the-maddy-report-tv.
Community Events
- State Sen. Andy Vidak (R-Hanford), Congressman David Valadao (R-Hanford) and The Wonderful Company will host a Career & Resource Expo at Tachi Palace on Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information: Claudia Salinas at 559.585.7161or Claudia.Salinas@sen.ca.gov.
Interactive
Next 10: UPDATED California budget challenge – For the first time in a decade, California’s budget is largely in balance. However, the state has outstanding debts of $28 million, not counting long-term pension and retiree health care costs. Budget choices affect us all. Take the Challenge and decide how much should be spent on programs and where the money should come from. Next 10 California Budget Challenge
Next 10: Federal budget challenge — The Federal Budget Challenge is based on The Concord Coalition’s Principles and Priorities budget exercise, which has been used in numerous town hall meetings across the country by members of Congress from both parties, as well as in hundreds of high school and college classrooms. Next 10 Federal Budget challenge at www.federalbudgetchallenge.org.
Next 10: California Water Challenge – As our state faces some of the most severe drought conditions in its history, Next 10 wants to issue a new challenge to Californians: can you create a plan to make sure there’s enough water for everyone? Next 10 California Water Challenge
LEGISLATORS’ VOTING RECORDS: How often has a California legislator broken party ranks, abstained or switched sides? The Sacramento Bee has a database of the voting records of every member of the state Senate and Assembly. Enter a lawmaker’s last and first names to see how he or she voted, or enter a bill number to see how every legislator voted on it. Check it out at this link. http://www.sacbee.com/votingrecord/
More Information
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Maddy Institute Updates List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials – The Maddy Institute has updated its list of San Joaquin Valley elected officials. The list is available here.
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The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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