Political Stories
Top stories
Gov. Jerry Brown’s state budget is set to include a revised healthcare tax – In an effort to break a political and policy logjam, Gov. Jerry Brown will unveil a state budget that revamps a controversial tax on health plans to avoid jeopardizing federal healthcare dollars. LA Times article
George Skelton: Let the governor fill vacant legislative seats instead of costly special elections – Why not just allow the governor to fill the vacancy temporarily until the next regular election? A governor can do that when there’s an open seat on a county Board of Supervisors. Same deal with a statewide elective office. Skelton column in LA Times
California immigrants claim 605,000 driver’s licenses in first year — Immigrants in the country illegally received 605,000 California drivers licenses in the first year of a program making the cards available. Sacramento Bee article
State budget
State budget surplus leads to spending tensions — As he prepares to release a new state budget proposal Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown is looking at a more-than-generous surplus. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates revenues could be$3.6 billion above projections. The influx of cash means many will be eager to replenish programs that were slashed during the recession. KQED report
Valley politics
AD 34: Vince Fong, longtime McCarthy aide, will seek Assembly seat — Vince Fong, district director for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, announced Wednesday he will run for the 34th Assembly District seat, ending months of speculation. The Princeton-educated Bakersfield native has long been rumored as a possible successor to Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, who is termed out and cannot seek re-election. Bakersfield Californian article
Statewide politics/Ballot Measures
Kamala Harris, Loretta Sanchez lead, but many Republicans still undecided – Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez continue to lead the contest to succeed U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, but the all-Democratic dynamic could change once more Republican voters begin engaging in the race, according to the new Field Poll. Sacramento Bee article
More than 70 measures gathering signatures for ballot measures this year — A plethora of initiatives is making its way through the process that will land a still unknown number of measures on the statewide ballot later this year. Whether the proposal calls for legalizing recreational marijuana, banning single-use plastic bags, or dozens of other actions, voters may find themselves challenged by the number of measures and topics’ complexity when they read their ballots. KPPC report
Dolores Huerta and Hans Johnson: Don’t backtrack on plastic bag ban – Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, and Johnson, president of Progressive Victory, write, “Californians should not be duped. Voting ‘yes’ to keep our hard-won statewide ban is one simple way to help our environment. We can also reject deception and manipulation of our democracy by out-of-state polluters who will do anything to hold back our cleaner, greener economy.” Huerta/Johnson op-ed in Sacramento Bee
San Bernardino Shootings
Enrique Marquez Jr. pleads not guilty to federal terror charges — The man accused of providing two rifles used in the Dec. 2 mass shooting in San Bernardino pleaded not guilty to charges against him in federal court Wednesday. LA Times article
Other areas
A lobbying rule to catch up with the times – Now the state’s political watchdog agency is poised to vote on a rule that would catch up with the times. It would require groups that lobby state government to publicly report who they’re paying – and how much – for publicity blitzes, consultants and other efforts to influence decisions that go beyond the narrow definition of lobbying. CALmatters article
State of Jefferson supporters plan bill seeking independence from California – Now tallying 21 counties among their ranks, supporters of the movement to carve an independent “State of Jefferson” out of Northern California plan to introduce a bill this session seeking sovereignty. Sacramento Bee article
Daily fantasy sports regulation bill passes California committee – California lawmakers moved Wednesday to regulate the booming daily fantasy sports industry despite uncertainty around whether the contests are a form of gambling and if the Legislature has authority over the issue. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article
BART strike bill is dead, but another coming — Assembly Democrats on Wednesday killed an East Bay lawmaker’s bill that would’ve essentially banned strikes by BART workers, like the ones that threw Bay Area commutes into chaos in 2013 – but another lawmaker is preparing to take another stab at it. Political Blotter
More guns sold in California last month than any other month on record – California gun dealers sold about 134,000 guns last month amid renewed discussion about gun control in the wake of the San Bernardino mass shooting. Sacramento Bee article
Vidak proposes Senate bill to rename Veterans Home for late advocate Charlie Waters – State Sen. Andy Vidak introduced legislation Wednesday to rename the Veterans Home of California in Fresno, the “Dr. Charlie Waters Memorial Veterans’ Home.” Fresno Bee article; The Business Journal article
Obama gun plan: Some fear presidential overreach; others applaud effort – Reaction has been far-reaching to President Barack Obama’s plans to restrict gun access by executive orders in response to a score of recent mass shootings. Stockton Record article
After mass shootings, some on Wall Street see gold in gun makers – While the country reels from a series of mass shootings, each one reigniting the debate over the regulation of firearms, the hottest investments in the stock market seem to be shares of gun manufacturers. New York Times article
Women share abortion stories with Supreme Court justices — Claudia Polsky, a Harvard graduate who directs an environmental clinic at the University of California’s Berkeley Law School, had an abortion. So did Amy Oppenheimer, a former California administrative law judge. Decades ago, while studying at Stanford, Dr. Carol McCleary, too, had an abortion. And now, in an unusually personal move, these women and others want the Supreme Court to know about their experiences as the justices prepare for a key abortion-access case that arises out of Texas but can touch every state. McClatchy Newspapers article
Brik McDill: Trump’s main failing: Presidents must act presidential – The question is not just what kind of person is The Donald that he can mock and ridicule a reporter for his joint and neuromuscular impairment, but what kind of person continues in their support of him after his ugly mockery and ridicule. McDill column in Bakersfield Californian
Victor Davis Hanson: Rendezvous with reality — Over the last seven years, the world has become acclimatized to the lead-from-behind role of the United States. Under Obama, friends and enemies bet that America was conflicted about the wisdom and morality of the entire American-led postwar global enterprise and reacted accordingly. Hanson column in Fresno Bee
California Government Today:
News Stories
Top Stories
San Joaquin County economic outlook brightens — Once again it seems San Joaquin County’s economic fortunes in 2016 may take a different turn than those of the United States as a whole. But for once San Joaquin’s prospects may well shine brighter than the rest of the nation, economists projected at Wednesday’s annual business conference organized by the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Stockton Record article
Recreational marijuana could net $1 billion in new taxes, state officials say – California’s legislative analyst and finance director estimate that legalizing marijuana for recreational use could net as much as $1 billion in new tax revenue for the state and local governments. AP article
Jobs and the Economy
Shaver Lake merchants rejoice over new snow – The white flakes falling from the sky Wednesday were treated like manna from heaven by Shaver Lake merchants who have struggled through several winters of barren mountains and few visitors. Fresno Bee article
After years of drought, Alta Sierra Ski Resort set to open – California’s four-year drought has been tough on Alta Sierra Ski Resort, Kern County’s only downhill ski area. But El Niño is coming to save the day. The ski resort and terrain park, located in the Greenhorn Mountains above Isabella Lake, expects to open Jan. 15, according to the company’s website. Bakersfield Californian article
Armando Gonzalez: Oil production is a boom for Kern County – The member of Kern Citizens for Energy writes, “Far from being the bane of our existence, the 100-plus years of responsible production is a source of pride for most residents. Latinos in particular have realized extraordinary opportunities in jobs, well-funded schools and a promising future for our children.” Gonzalez op-ed in Sacramento Bee
Bakersfield home market ends 2015 with modestly higher prices – Bakersfield’s single-family home market ended 2015 in positive territory as compared with a year before, according to a preliminary report by a prominent local observer. Appraiser Gary Crabtree said the median sales price of an existing home in the city last year was $219,000, an increase of 4.3 percent over 2014. Bakersfield Californian article
California exports plunge nearly 14 percent in November from 2014 – Wavering economies among key California trading partners in the last half of 2015 landed with a thud in the Golden State in November. The value of California’s merchandise exports in November was $12.86 billion, down 13.6 percent from $14.89 billion in November 2014 and the worst November showing since 2009, according to Beacon Economics. Sacramento Bee article
Is California doing enough to finds owners of ‘unclaimed’ funds before pocketing the money? – The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to consider whether California should do more to find the rightful owners of $8 billion in “unclaimed” bank, investment and retirement funds before seizing the accounts and pocketing the money. LA Times article
CoreLogic: Home prices rise in November – A new Home Price Index Report from global real estate information firm CoreLogic shows Central Valley home prices increased year-over-year in November 2015. The Business Journal article
Carnegie pitches visitor center – Could the Hanford Carnegie Museum be just thing to bolster tourism and serve visitors in the city? The council held a study session Tuesday to hear the Hanford Carnegie Museum’s proposal for a Hanford visitor center. Hanford Sentinel article
Will new plans to end LA homelessness be fully funded? – Now, with 44,000 homeless people and encampments spreading across the region, the city and county are set to release another round of plans Thursday to address the crisis. Homeless advocates and neighborhood groups expect few, if any, wholly new strategies in the two separate proposals. Rather, they are focused on whether leaders will fully fund the plans and sustain what they see as an expensive and complex, decade-long effort. LA Times article
Plans to assist LA County homeless during El Nino called ‘unconscionable and grossly inadequate’ — Los Angeles County and its municipalities’ current plans to accommodate the homeless throughout the El Niño season are “unconscionable and grossly inadequate,” according to a report released Wednesday by the county’s Civil Grand Jury. LA Times article
Kingsburg, Clovis among best Northern California places for young families — The study, released in December, was conducted by Nerdwallet, a San Francisco-based consumer advocacy website that examined public school ratings, median home values, monthly homeownership costs and median household income and income growth of 202 places in northern California. Kingsburg is No. 5 on the list. Clovis is No. 9. Fresno Bee article
Raiders won’t reveal their case for leaving Oakland – Should the Raiders have to tell the world why they want to leave Oakland? The NFL’s six-page relocation policy seems to say yes — in fact, it requires them to publish their reasons in local newspapers. Confronted with the policy, the St. Louis Rams released their relocation application Tuesday, and it contains plenty of discouraging words about St. Louis as a football market. But so far, the Raiders have refused to follow suit, and the league is backing them up, saying its policy doesn’t say what it seems to say. Oakland Tribune article
Report: Yahoo plans new round of layoffs – Sunnyvale-based Yahoo is planning another round of layoffs, which could total 10 percent or more of its workforce, according to a report Wednesday evening in Business Insider. San Jose Mercury News article
Macy’s to cut 4,500 jobs, after holiday sales slump – Macy’s said on Wednesday that it would eliminate about 4,500 jobs, or about 3 percent of its work force, in a major restructuring drive. It said slumping holiday season sales had hurt its bottom line. New York Times article; AP article
Cosmic Corral closes its doors — Tom McGuire opened Cosmic Corral in Hanford in early 2012 as the first-ever New Age style store downtown, a kind of clearinghouse of items catering to all kinds of alternative spiritualities, self-help approaches and positive thinking strategies. Nearly four years later, he’s ready to call it quits. Hanford Sentinel article
San Francisco Yellow Cab may file for bankruptcy — Yellow Cab Co-op, San Francisco’s largest taxi fleet with more than 500 cabs, is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it said this week. San Francisco Chronicle article
Agriculture/Water/Drought
El Nino helps, won’t end historic California drought – Recent storms have drenched California and some areas are setting rainfall records. Even help from El Niño won’t end the drought. But the heavy precipitation is a good start. Capital Public Radio report
Storms raise Fresno rain totals to pre-drought levels, give central Sierra a snowpack – A wet week has raised Fresno rain totals up to pre-drought levels and dropped some welcome snow on Sierra communities. According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, the recent downpour has brought January’s rainfall total for Fresno up to 1.74 inches – the highest total for the first week of a year since 2006. Last year, Fresno had received no rain by this date and had only 0.21 of an inch in the entire month of January. The January 2014 total was 0.57 of an inch. Fresno Bee article
As El Nino storms pound state, Merced takes precautions – Amid El Niño rainstorms throughout the week, the National Weather Service on Wednesday issued wind and flood advisories for Merced, and local fire stations had sandbags ready for residents worried about flooding. Merced Sun-Star article
Drought-ravaged Folsom Lake rises 28.5 feet in just one month — With the recent rains, Folsom’s water level has risen 28.5 feet and the reservoir is now holding 246,497 acre feet of water. San Francisco Chronicle article
Another El Nino tantrum soaks the Southland – Another El Niño-fueled storm soaked Southern California on Wednesday and brought with it flooding, mudflows and even a small tornado that struck Orange County in the early afternoon. LA Times article
Water-quality problem may be drought-related – Stockton’s success at saving water over the past year may be partly to blame for a violation of one federal drinking-water standard, officials say. Stockton Record article
Visalia officials say they will not try to acquire water service – Visalia city officials Wednesday said they would not attempt to acquire California Water Service Company (Cal Water). The decision comes three weeks after the city notified the company that it would consider purchasing the company to oversee city water services. Fresno Bee article; Visalia Times-Delta article
Bees threatened by common pesticide, EPA finds — An insecticide widely used on grains, vegetables, fruit and other crops nationwide threatens honeybees, federal environmental regulators said in a decision that could lend impetus to efforts to ban the chemical. LA Times article; AP article
Vote looms on recharge project east of Turlock — The board of the Eastside Water District will meet Friday, a day later than planned, to consider a $6 million groundwater recharge project east of Turlock. The board held a Dec. 17 public hearing on the project, designed to relieve about a tenth of the overdraft on about 61,000 acres in eastern Stanislaus and Merced counties. It postponed the matter to Thursday, then rescheduled it for a day later. Modesto Bee article
Public Policy Institute of California blog: The coming groundwater revolution – Pumping extra groundwater has gotten many California farmers through this drought, and if managed well, it can help the state weather future dry periods. Groundwater is our most important drought reserve, but overuse is a serious problem in some regions. We talked to Thomas Harter—a groundwater expert at UC Davis and a member of the PPIC Water Policy Center’s research network—about managing groundwater for the long term. PPIC blog
‘Misunderstanding’ ends with water ordinance warning for Tulare Western – Tulare Joint Union High School District Superintendent Sarah Koligian said a misunderstanding led to Tulare Western receiving a warning from city officials for watering the baseball fields during a no outdoor watering period. Visalia Times-Delta article
This month already wettest January in Sacramento since 2012 — Rain that falls Wednesday is expected to be lighter than Tuesday’s drenching weather system, but the precipitation will add to what is already the wettest January in recent years. Sacramento Bee article
Criminal Justice/Prisons
Future is surprisingly uncertain on San Quentin’s death row – Hundreds of men here live in limbo, condemned to death for heinous crimes, their punishments delayed for reasons political and legal. Sacramento Bee article
Hate crime now ruled out in Fresno slaying of Sikh store clerk — A $10,000 reward is being offered in the slaying of a 68-year-old Sikh man brutally murdered in a central Fresno convenience store on New Year’s Day. Fresno Bee article
Man dead after officer-involved shooting in Ceres — Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead at a small apartment complex in Ceres on Tuesday night. Modesto Bee article
San Joaquin County probation services to get more funds – In an effort to reduce the number of repeat offenders and help them transition back into the community after release from jail, the San Joaquin County Probation Department is looking to expand its programming services. Stockton Record article
Fresno preacher contends he is a victim of police harassment — One of Police Chief Jerry Dyer’s harshest critics said Wednesday that he is a victim of harassment by the Fresno Police Department because of the color of his skin. But Dyer said the Rev. Floyd Harris Jr.’s actions got him in trouble. Fresno Bee article
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee outlines reforms in wake of Mario Woods killing — San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee responded Wednesday to the outcry over the police killing of Mario Woods with an outline of proposed and pending reforms and a directive to Police Chief Greg Suhr and the city’s Police Commission to submit any additional policy and budget proposals by next month. San Francisco Chronicle article
Alameda County jail health care provider lays off 49 nurses — A health care provider that serves Alameda County jails has slashed nearly 40 percent of its nurses for the new year, which officials said was part of an agreement to hire nurses with more certification in the aftermath of a costly federal lawsuit. San Francisco Chronicle article
Education
Court of appeal finally to hear case charging underfunding of schools – This month, a state court of appeal will hear arguments in two long-delayed lawsuits, filed during the economic recession six years ago, charging that the state violated children’s constitutional rights by underfunding education. EdSource article
Some districts exempt students in special ed from vaccination law – California now has one of the strictest vaccination laws in the country, but ambiguity in its wording has left school districts deciding on their own whether to grant special education students a de facto exemption. EdSource article
Report gives children’s services in California more low grades than high ones – California earned poor marks for several services it provides for the well-being of children, including those dealing with trauma, abuse and other mental and behavioral challenges, according to a report issued Wednesday by the advocacy organization Children Now. EdSource article
Garry Bredefeld: Lay responsibility for children’s behavior at parents’ feet – The clinical psychologist and former Fresno City Council member writes, “In an effort to reduce the number of students who are expelled because of their dangerous conduct, this behavior is being tolerated in schools and dealt with through these politically correct restorative justice programs. And what is missing most glaringly from the discussion about what to do with aggressive, threatening and violent children are the parents. When did we go from parents being responsible for how their children behaved in school to passing that responsibility to the teacher and overall school system?” Bredefeld op-ed in Fresno Bee
The sooner you turn in federal student aid application, the better – With the dawning of the new year, millions of students in California and the nation are turning their attention from winter break to filling out a form that will determine their eligibility for college financial aid. At least they should be. LA Times article
The Grade: The ins and outs of education in Kern County – Responding to a shortage of substitute teachers wooed away by higher pay rates at surrounding schools, Kern High School District trustees voted unanimously Monday to dole out a 35 percent pay increase to subs. Bakersfield Californian article
Students in a STEM world — In an ever-evolving, technologically driven society, educators are trying hard to keep up. The implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, better known as STEM, education is fast becoming a key for educators geared toward preparing students for careers in the 21st century. Visalia Times-Delta article
Students learn nuts and bolts of robots — OK, so most teens don’t have a robot, as much as they might like their own BB-8. (Who wouldn’t?) But students on robotics teams in Bakersfield and beyond are building robots designed to complete certain tasks, and on Saturday 64 teams will participate in the Streets of Bakersfield Robotics Extravaganza, a regional VEX Robotics competition. Bakersfield Californian article
Wallowing in waste? Middle schoolers turn trash to treasure in Future City plans – Cities of the future will still have waste, but middle schoolers have better answers than burying it in landfills. Their fresh takes on tackling refuse will be on display at the Future City practice competition Saturday. Modesto Bee article
First Look: Bakersfield College offers path to students new year’s resolutions — Bakersfield College students hoping to keep site of their new year’s resolutions now have a new tool at their disposal. BC Sports Information Director Francis Mayer said the school is a great asset for students trying to meet annual goals, during a radio interview on Wednesday’s “First Look with Scott Cox.” The program is part of TBC Media’s daily show. Bakersfield Californian article
Energy/Environment
Brown declares state of emergency at Porter Ranch amid massive gas leak — Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Wednesday in Porter Ranch, where thousands of residents have been evacuated due to a massive gas leak. LA Times article; Sacramento Bee article
Study compares carbon footprints of Bay Area communities – Stanford and Atherton are just 3 miles down the road from each other on the Peninsula, but one of them has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the Bay Area while the other grabs the title for having the region’s highest carbon footprint. San Francisco Chronicle article
Earthquake authority offers new insurance options, rebates — The California Earthquake Authority is offering new insurance policy options this year, including deductibles ranging from 5 to 25 percent, higher coverage limits for personal property and additional living expenses, and a bigger discount for homeowners who submit verified proof of retrofitting. San Francisco Chronicle article
Merced’s beavers – nuisance or benefit? — Beavers are known to drag a stump and store it in their dens for when they get hungry. They typically live in a mound above the water on their dam, which has an entrance under the water. Langner said ranchers often see the animals as a nuisance because they obstruct the water flows, but beavers serve a number of beneficial purposes. For instance, they are critical for maintaining wild meadows, she said, because they clear out trees that would otherwise choke out the wild plants. Merced Sun-Star article
Health/Human Services
ACLU presses legal fight with Dignity Health over contraceptive surgery – A San Francisco Superior Court judge this week rejected the ACLU’s motion for an emergency order against Dignity Health, in a case that highlights the continuing conflict over a woman’s right to reproductive health care within a Catholic hospital setting. Sacramento Bee article
Pediatric center and full-time pediatric cardiologist come to Bakersfield — The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Heart Clinic has come to Bakersfield, and it’s brought full-time pediatric cardiologist Dr. Subash Reddy along for the ride. Reddy, who has more than 25 years of experience in the field, says he is excited to continue his intense and highly specialized work in Bakersfield. Bakersfield Californian article
Other areas
Visalia City Council approves $11.3 million emergency communication center – A Woodlake company was awarded an $11.3 million contract to build the Visalia Emergency Communication Center. In a 5-0 vote, the Visalia City Council on Monday approved a contract with Oral E. Micham Inc., a general building contractor specializing in schools, commercial and industrial construction projects. Fresno Bee article
Livingston sets rules on pot growth for medical use – Medical cannabis users who have been regulated under state rules for about a decade will be restrained to two plants in Livingston after a decision from the City Council this week. Merced Sun-Star article
Joe Mathews: California is nuttier than ever, and it’s not just almond bloom – I offer my assessment of our essential nuttiness as a starting point for a year in which we will debate and cast votes on our taxes, drug laws, schools, roads, rails and water. As we figure things out, let us not lean too heavily on reason, or appeal too often to common sense. After all, this state – with its peculiar history of rapid change – has never been a particularly reasonable or sensible place. Mathews in Sacramento Bee
Bakersfield City Council picks new planning commission, gives youth group its blessing – Property manager and real estate broker Oscar Rudnick, scion of Kern’s well-known cattle ranching Rudnick family, was confirmed as a planning commissioner by the Bakersfield City Council on Wednesday. Bakersfield Californian article
Help of Bakersfield patrons comes in loud and clear on Valley Public Radio – When Valley Public Radio opens its new, permanent broadcast facility in Clovis this spring, it will be a dream come true for long-time supporters Bernard and Bee Barmann of Bakersfield. Bakersfield Californian article
Donna Brown: ‘From cradle to the grave’ – The vice chair of Strong Libraries = Strong Communities writes, “At the start of a new year, many of us set goals to achieve in the year ahead. Eat healthy, exercise, commit to a worthy cause. It is a good time for us as a community to do the same thing. I suggest we commit to making our public library stronger.” Brown op-ed in Stockton Record
Modesto flight school looks overseas for students – The Modesto Airport has a new flight school with ambitious plans to train pilots from overseas. Hummingbird Aviation had been on a month-to-month lease since August until the City Council approved last month five-year leases for Hangar 4S and Building No. 1. Chief pilot and co-owner Martin M. Campbell said the school has had just nine students since opening, but added that he and co-owners Steven E. Wilber and Lonnie L. Baptista expect that to change soon. Modesto Bee article
Super Bowl vs. youth soccer league: Judge declines to block field’s use as NFL media center — In a blow to the youth sports community, a judge on Tuesday denied the Santa Clara Youth Soccer League’s request to temporarily kick the NFL out of a soccer park next to Levi’s Stadium — the latest salvo in what’s become an all-out legal war pitting soccer parents against the city and the NFL just one month before the Super Bowl lands in the Bay Area. San Jose Mercury News article
Downtown Modesto mural remembers homeless man — A new downtown mural honors the memory of one of its former residents — Rick Hernstedt, a homeless man who died in September at the age of 54 after being hit by a car. Modesto Bee article
Valley Editorial Roundup
Fresno Bee – A passionate president crusades against gun violence.
Modesto Bee – Those who have derided the president for overreach, who say he tramples our Constitution, who accuse him of being either a power-mad dictator or a crying wimp – they brought Tuesday’s executive action upon themselves.
Sacramento Bee – Voters are getting some scary reminders this week that it’s a dangerous world out there and that the next president must have the knowledge, experience and disposition to navigate America safely through it; Donald Trump’s “birther” lunacy, the sequel.
Stockton Record – Behold the meteoric political rise of one Moses Zapien.
Maddy Events
Sunday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. on Fresno ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Highway Funding: Still Stuck in Political Gridlock” – Guests: Caltrans CFO Norma Ortega; Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable; Chris McKenzie, executive director of the California League of Cities; Matt Cate, executive director of the California Assn. of Counties; and Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. on KMJ (580AM and 105.9FM Radio/podcast) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Farm to Market: Maintaining the Valley’s Highways” – Guests: Tony Boren, executive director of Fresno COG; Ted Smalley, director of the Tulare COG; and Cal Trans District 6 Director Sharri Bender Ehlert. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Jan. 10, at 7 a.m. on Univision 21 (KFTV) and UniMas 61 (KTFF) – El Informe Maddy: “State Watchdogs” — Guests: Edgar Cabral of the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Margarita Fernandez of the State Auditor’s Office. Host: Maddy Institute 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.
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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