25Apr

April 25, 2016

Political Stories Top stories George Skelton: Lawmakers pump the brakes after Jerry Brown goes full throttle on pet projects — Gov. Jerry Brown’s two very pricey legacy projects took hits in the Legislature last week. They were light jabs, and he didn’t even flinch. But the fact that some fellow Democrats had the temerity to challenge […]

24Apr

April 24, 2015

Political Stories Top stories  Dan Walters: California preschool spending a big conflict – In the broadest sense, this year’s version of the annual budget wrangle pits Gov. Jerry Brown, who wants to keep a lid on spending and build budget reserves, against his fellow Democrats in the Legislature, who want to spend more. The sharpest skirmish is […]

23Apr

April 23, 2016

Political Stories Top stories California scores lowest on Moody’s fiscal ‘stress test’ – California, whose state budget is highly dependent on volatile income taxes, is the least able big state to withstand a recession, according to a “stress test” conducted by Moody’s Investor Service. Sacramento Bee article  Brand, Perea lead Fresno mayor money chase — It looks almost certain […]

21Apr

April 21, 2016

Political Stories Top stories California voters back income tax extension, school bonds, poll says – California voters are inclined to extend extra taxes on the state’s high-income residents to support public education and pass a new school construction bond issue, a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California has found. Sacramento Bee article; San Jose Mercury News article; EdSource article […]

20Apr

April 20, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Delta tunnels bill mandating voter approval advance — A California Assembly committee on Tuesday moved to force a public vote on a controversial water conveyance project. The $15.5 billion plan to construct two massive water conveyance tunnels in the heart of California’s water circulatory system has driven the latest round of a […]

19Apr

April 19, 2016

Political Stories Top stories  Lawmakers seek to tighten bullet train oversight, suggesting growing concern about project – A key state legislative committee on Monday unanimously approved a Republican-led bill to strengthen oversight of the California bullet train, a sign of growing bipartisan concern about the project. LA Times article Congressional candidates Huerta, Rogers show good money in reports […]

18Apr

April 18, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Dan Walters: California Legislature ignores problems, occupied with trivia — Poverty, water supply, educational shortcomings, traffic congestion and housing shortages are just a few of those knotty issues that seem to limp along year after year without resolution. Much of the Legislature’s time and energy, however, is consumed by what most of […]

17Apr

April 17, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Central California agriculture sees failed crop of presidential hopefuls — Many in the Valley’s agriculture community are watching with a growing level of concern, as they feel increasingly backed into a corner by policy stances among the leading contenders that are anti-trade and anti-immigration.Other important issues such as water don’t even appear to be […]

16Apr

April 16, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Supreme Court to hear challenge to Obama’s immigration action — President Barack Obama’s effort to revamp immigration policy through executive action after Congress failed to is getting its own scrutiny Monday before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, U.S. v. Texas, over deferring deportations of undocumented immigrants, is at the center of […]

15Apr

April 15, 2016

Political Stories Top stories Northern California lawmakers question huge Westlands Water District deal — Northern California lawmakers are turning up the heat on the Westlands Water District, with coordinated calls for congressional hearings and tougher Obama administration scrutiny. McClatchy Newspapers article Kingsburg Democrat Joaquin Arambula sworn in to state Assembly — Kingsburg Democrat Joaquin Arambula hadn’t officially won his […]