30Mar

March 30, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Dan Walters: California’s nonvoters lean more to the left — Voters have repeatedly displayed their liberal tendencies, particularly on social issues, in ballot measures. Notwithstanding all of that, the state would be even more liberal – much more – were its voters to reflect its adult population, a new study by the Public Policy Institute […]

28Mar

March 28, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Dan Walters: California lawmakers redefine adulthood  — The Legislature is grappling with redefining adulthood this year, as well as the larger question of how far government should go to protect adults from their own foibles. Walters column in Sacramento Bee News of minimum wage hike deal in California is met with relief – […]

28Mar

March 27, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Deal reached to boost California’s minimum wage to $15, avoiding ballot box battle — California lawmakers and labor unions have struck a tentative deal to raise the statewide minimum wage to $10.50 an hour next year and then gradually to $15, averting a costly political campaign this fall and possibly putting California […]

28Mar

March 26, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Proponents put brakes on California proposal to divert high-speed rail money — Proponents of a proposed initiative to divert high-speed rail funding to water projects said Friday that they are pulling their petitions from the street and instead will pursue a place on the 2018 ballot. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article  Browns out: […]

28Mar

March 25, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Feinstein, Republicans ask Obama for more water pumping from Sacramento Delta — Adding to the debate over Northern California’s winter stormwaters, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and congressional Republicans asked President Obama on Thursday to increase the volume of water pumped through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the drought-stricken San Joaquin Valley. Sacramento Bee […]

24Mar

March 24, 2015

Political Stories Top stories AD 31: Hopefuls debate high-speed rail, water, roads – The contenders in a special election for the 31st Assembly District squared off Wednesday afternoon in a debate to clarify their positions on high-speed rail, water, education, the California economy, health care and other hot-button issues. Fresno Bee article  Donald Trump has big lead […]

23Mar

March 23, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Minimum wage initiative set for California’s fall ballot — A ballot measure that would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021 is headed for the November ballot, elections officials said Tuesday. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article AD 21: Merced state Assembly district among state’s most partisan — In the 21st Assembly […]

22Mar

Climate Change Legislation: Has the Political Climate Changed?

Guests Ron Lapsley, President of California Business Roundtable, Juan Altamirano, Associate Director of Public Policy for Audubon California, John Myers, KQED Senior Editor for California Politics and Government, and Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee discuss climate change with Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler. Radio commentary provided by Dr. Roger Bales, Professor of Engineering […]