Political Stories Top stories  Bakersfield Mayor Hall won’t seek fifth term — Mayor Harvey L. Hall, the longest-serving mayor in Bakersfield city history, announced Tuesday he will not seek a fifth term later this year. Bakersfield Californian article  Relaxed rules now govern political yard signs in Fresno — It’s quite possible that former Fresno City Council Member Jerry […]
Political Stories Top stories That blockbuster California ballot will be a $452-million battle — The bottom line: an initiative season in the Golden State that could see total spending of at least $452 million — and perhaps even hitting half a billion dollars — by the time the final votes are cast. LA Times article Proposal would shift bullet […]
Political Stories Top stories California Legislature poised to pass replacement tax on health care plans — After months of uncertainty, the Legislature appears poised to approve a tax on health care plans that would generate $1.27 billion annually and could substantially boost funding for developmentally disabled Californians for the first time in more than a decade. San Jose […]
Political Stories Top stories Scalia’s death likely to change outcome of key cases – With the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, a narrowly divided Supreme Court now enters even trickier terrain. Tie votes and tougher calculations will become the order of the day. McClatchy Newspapers article Dan Morain: Death penalty continues in death spiral — Say both […]
Political Stories Top stories Forecasters increasingly see victory for Valley congressional incumbents — On Thursday, “Sabato’s Crystal Ball” – a national look at federal races published by University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato – moved Jim Costa’s race from “likely” Democratic to “safe” Democratic, and both David Valadao and Jeff Denham’s races from “leans” Republican […]
Political Stories Top stories Dianne Feinstein tries yet again with California water bill — Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday relaunched a big California water bill, in what might be cast as the triumph of hope over experience. Unveiling her third proposal in the past two years for ways to divide California’s water supply among many […]
Political Stories Top stories Dan Walters: California has 5 would-be governors – The 2016 political campaign season has scarcely begun, so of course it’s time to begin noodling about 2018 – and particularly the governorship that Jerry Brown will finally relinquish. Five Democrats – all middle-aged men, interestingly – are emitting varying levels of vibration about […]
Political Stories Top stories Lawmakers unveil California health tax plan proposal — The California Legislature on Monday unveiled a bill imposing a new tax on health insurance plans that would prevent a massive $1.1 billion hole in the state budget. AP article November: Ballot props lining up — From school bonds to the environment to condoms to drugs […]
Political Stories Top stories California issued 605,000 new driver’s licenses for immigrants in the U.S. illegally last year — An estimated 605,000 licenses were issued under the law last year, accounting for nearly half of all new licenses, according to the California DMV. Nearly 400,000 of the licenses were issued during the first six months. LA Times […]
Political Stories Top stories Dan Walters: Brown’s projects face tests – The two immense public works projects that would be Jerry Brown legacies will soon face pivotal moments. The years-long debates over a north-south bullet train and twin water tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have focused on whether they are needed, as Brown contends, to […]
