June 4, 2018

04Jun

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Valley:

 

Primary battle between Devin Nunes and Andrew Janz is really about Pres. Trump

Fresno Bee

With apologies to Devin Nunes, Andrew Janz and anyone else whose name appears on the Congressional District 22 ballot, Tuesday's primary isn't really about them. It's about Donald Trump.

 

McCarthy defends Trump tariffs

Politico

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Sunday defended the administration for leveraging tariffs on close allies as “standing up” for free trade.

 

It’s no presidential primary, but could Election Day bring out more Valley voters?

Fresno Bee

Fresno County and other parts of the central San Joaquin Valley have long recorded low voter turnout. Tuesday's statewide primary doesn’t have the allure of a presidential vote but it does include some hot-ticket items that could attract more voters than usual.

See also:

     Is a 'Trump effect' leading to more young people registering to vote? Visalia Times-Delta

 

60 California leaders discuss the future of our state

Fresno Bee

This election year, The Sacramento Bee and other McClatchy newspapers in California want to drive a discussion on the important issues facing our state. We’ve assembled a panel of 60 influential Californians who will offer their views throughout the year.

See also:

      McClatchy announces coverage of the 2018 Midterm Elections Modesto Bee

Stockton, SJ County finally getting attention of the candidates

Stockton Record

The June 5 primary election is just days away and candidates are competing hard to gain the favor of those who have yet to cast their ballot. Last week, we saw two of the leading candidates for governor make stops in Stockton.

 

Why penalize Ripon’s seniors? We can, and must, do better than Measure A

Modesto Bee

In Ripon, we are a community that shares our responsibilities and burdens equally among all residents. Measure A will change that.

 

State:

 

EDITORIAL: Speeches are given and the campaigns are nearly over. It’s time to vote

Fresno Bee

A city budget over $1 billion. State laws that manage water use, housing, and what it means to be in California as an undocumented person. Federal plans for the nation’s border security, military strength and health care. All that and a lot more is at stake in Tuesday’s primary election in California.

See also:

     Candidates for California governor make their final pitches to voters Los Angeles Times

     In a north-south matchup, Villaraigosa's and Newsom's mayoral records show how they might govern California Los Angeles Times

     Six California election races to watch on Tuesday night Sacramento Bee

     It's just a primary for some, but Tuesday's election also brings finality Bakersfield Californian

     Need a voting plan? Five steps to casting a ballot in California's election Sacramento Bee

     6 crazy things that could happen in Tuesday's primary Los Angeles Times

     California Politics Podcast: And now, the June primary Los Angeles Times

     Voting In Tuesday’s California Primary Election? Here’s What You Need To Know capradio.org

     California’s race for governor has become a referendum on resistance Washington Post

     Welcome To The Jungle: Experts Divided Over California’s Top-Two Primary System capradio.org

     What It’s Like to Govern Under California’s Top Two CAFWD

     Who will turn out – and how many – for California’s June 5 primary? OC Register

     EDITORIAL: Why California’s ‘jungle primary’ is so hated — and so needed San Diego Union-Tribune

     Welcome To The Jungle: Experts Divided Over California’s Top-Two Primary System capradio.org

     How to restore the California Dream CALmatters

     Democrats and Republicans Hate California's Primary The Atlantic

     California is making it easier to vote — even if you forgot to register Modesto Bee

     5 things to know about Tuesday’s Democratic primaries Brookings

     California Governor’s Race Forces Candidates to Face the Past New York Times

     Measure By Measure: A Roundup Of The Five Propositions On California’s June Ballot Jefferson Public Radio

 

As Gov. Jerry Brown ponders a California Supreme Court vacancy, one of his earlier appointees defies expectations

Los Angeles Times

The first justice to give birth while in office, the seventh female justice in the court’s history and its fourth African American, Kruger has been forging a singular path on the state’s most prestigious court. Four years after her swearing-in, she has become the most unpredictable of Gov. Jerry Brown’s three appointees on the seven-member court.

See also:

 

Five of the most misleading ads in the California governor's race

Sacramento Bee

The governor's race and contests for U.S. Senate and the House have flooded California airwaves and social media feeds with video ads and jammed mailboxes. The Sacramento Bee tested the veracity of several political ads this year leading up to Tuesday's statewide primary election.

See also:

     Facebook Tried to Rein In Fake Ads. It Fell Short in a California Race New York Times

     Fact-checking Gavin Newsom’s attack: John Chiang ‘lost track of $31 billion’  PolitiFact

     ‘The race for governor has turned into a scam’ Politico

 

High Rollers—A closer look at some of the sources underwriting California’s costly campaign season

CALmatters

With California’s primary just days away, here’s a sampling of a few of the players spending big to influence your vote—the self-funders, the billionaire advocates, the unions and the corporations.

See also:

     California Democrats won't have a lot of cash after Tuesday's congressional primaries Sacramento Bee

     Candidate, her father have spent millions to elect her California's lieutenant governor Sacramento Bee

     Gavin Newsom returns money from a controversial GOP donor Sacramento Bee

     In Three California House Races, Wealthy Democrats Have Spent $16 Million Of Their Own Money So Far The Intercept

 

Antonio Villaraigosa’s chance to be California governor hinges on Latino vote

San Francisco Chronicle

The California governor’s race has narrowed into a battle for second place, and Republican John Cox’s campaign is “cautiously optimistic” that he has secured that spot after recent polls show the San Diego County businessman stretching his lead over a field that includes former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

See also:

     Voting turnout is where Latinos really count Vida en el Valle

     Villaraigosa spends Sunday at L.A. churches, asking for prayers and reminding congregations he's no newcomer Los Angeles Times

     CA primary election: Will Donald Trump help a Democrat? Sacramento Bee

     Villaraigosa likely to be shut out of November general election, a new poll indicates Los Angeles Times

Schwarzenegger won't vote for leading GOP candidates for governor

Los Angeles Times

Arnold Schwarzenegger, who once famously warned Republicans that they were “dying at the box office,” has decided not to support either of the leading GOP candidates for California governor, a spokesman said on Friday.

See also:

     California Gubernatorial Primary Eyed for Its Impact on House Races Wall Street Journal

 

Democrats struggle to regain supermajority in Sacramento after sexual harassment scandals

Sacramento Bee

The 'Me Too' movement forced the resignations of three California lawmakers and effectively ended the Democratic supermajority in the Legislature. And the reigning party in at least one of the two houses might not get it back this session.

See also:

     Democrats look to make GOP irrelevant again in California Legislature San Francisco Chronicle

     A Republican Holdout In California Is Under Siege—and Key to U.S. House  Wall Street Journal

 

He challenged Feinstein, but Kevin de León is fighting a cast of unknowns

San Francisco Chronicle

If polls are to be believed, Sen. Dianne Feinstein is a virtual lock to finish on top in Tuesday’s 32-candidate primary. While state Sen. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, has held second place in almost every poll, his numbers have seesawed wildly.

See also:

     Feinstein Well Ahead, Second Place Up for Grabs in U.S. Senate Race KQED

     Three dark horse candidates to watch in California's U.S. Senate race Los Angeles Times

     Green group backs Feinstein’s challenger in California Senate race The Hill

     What challenge? Feinstein romps ahead in California primary with turns to the left. Washington Post

 

Who's Running for State Schools Chief and What's with All That Money?

KQED

California’s primary is just a few days away and education is proving to be a key issue in the governor's race — driving millions in funding and rising to the top of voters lists of concerns. But when it comes to the state's top education official — the Superintendent of Public Instruction — most voters have said they don't know how to cast their ballot.

 

EDITORIAL: The standout pick for California treasurer is 31 years old

Mercury News

31-year-old Democratic candidate for state treasurer, Vivek Viswanathan, understands California policy better than any other candidate we’ve interviewed this year. His mastery of complex issues surpasses most elected officials twice his age.

 

The good, the bad and the dead: These California bill ideas have bitten the dust

CALmatters

These Senate and Assembly bills failed to clear their chamber of origin by today—so barring some unusual resuscitation, they are among this year’s legislative goners.

 

Paris, Japan, Mexico City, Brazil – legislative staff travel at taxpayer expense

Sacramento Bee

The California Legislature has spent more than $192,000 in public funds for international travel by staff members over the past five years. See where legislators and staff traveled and how much taxpayers paid for staff expenses.

 

Federal:

 

California Must Be Doing Something Right in Trump’s America

Bloomberg

Just about every policy Donald Trump imposes to make his America great is opposed by the world's fifth-largest economy. That would be California, which is growing faster and outperforming the U.S. in job growth, manufacturing, personal income, corporate profits and the total return of its bonds.

 

The Californization of America

New York Times

Across the country, Democrats are winning primaries by promoting policies like universal health insurance and guaranteed income — ideas once laughed off as things that work only on the “Left Coast.”

 

Supreme Court Backs Baker in Same-Sex Case, but Avoids Broad Ruling

Wall Street Journal

The Supreme Court ducked a decision Monday on whether religious merchants can deny service to gay people, finding that a Christian baker didn’t get a fair hearing before a state civil-rights commission but issuing no broader precedent.

See also:

      Justices side with Colorado baker on same-sex wedding cake Fresno Bee

      Supreme Court Decisions of 2017-18 WSJ

      SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Baker who Refused to Make LGBT Wedding Cake National Review

 

The Antidote to Trump Is Decency

The Atlantic

The president and his movement are empowered by ugly talk—the most effective rejoinders are factually precise and emotionally restrained.

 

Other:

 

Skelton: How Robert F. Kennedy's assassination altered California politics

Los Angeles Times

Experts differ about whether Kennedy would have beat out Vice President Hubert Humphrey for the Democratic presidential nomination and gone on to capture the White House over Republican Richard Nixon. I’ve always thought he would.

 

California adds 8th state to travel ban list: Oklahoma

San Francisco Chronicle

California-funded travel to Oklahoma has been banned, starting June 22, because of a new Oklahoma law that allows adoption agencies to deny placement services to same-sex parents, state officials announced Friday.

See also:

      California bans state-funded travel to Oklahoma AP

 

Facebook Gave Device Makers Deep Access to Data on Users and Friends

New York Times

The company formed data-sharing partnerships with Apple, Samsung and dozens

of other device makers, raising new concerns about its privacy protections.

See also:

     Hands off my data! 15 default privacy settings you should change right now Washington Post

      Big Tech firms march to the beat of Pentagon, CIA despite dissension Sacramento Bee

 

Media Should Refrain from Naming Any Mass Public Shooter

National Review

The Parkland killer feels that he benefits from coverage of the attack even if it doesn’t mention his name. The more well-known the attack, the more people will ultimately learn who he is.

See also:

     Enforce the Second Amendment National Review

 

The World as It Wasn’t

National Review

I’m puzzling over a line in a New York Times story on The World As It Is, the forthcoming memoir from Barack Obama’s deputy national-security adviser Ben Rhodes.

 

Stop the Firings for Offensive Speech

National Review

It’s time for an amnesty for speech offenses.

 

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING  

 

Sunday, June 10, at 9 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report“Saving for a Rainy Day: Preparing for the Next Recession” – Guests: Ann Hollingshead from LAO, Dan Walters from CALmatters and John Myers from Los Angeles Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, June 10, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report​​ ​​ - Valley Views EditionTBD.

 

Sunday, June 10, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Concealed Weapons Permits”  Guest: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor's Office. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

 

Support the Maddy Daily HERE.

 

Thank you!

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Tulare souls are 'bleeding' after Jones' comments on ag, forum draws crowd

Visalia Times-Delta

Mayor Carlton Jones believes he accomplished a goal — starting a dialogue about the agriculture in the Valley.  That goal was achieved with the help of roughly 100 Tulare constituents, some were leaders in the industry.

 

Almonds growers show no signs of cracking

Bakersfield Californian

Early estimates held that this year's almond harvest would come in at as much as 2.4 billion pounds, up from last year's 2.26 billion. Mike Mason said it looks now like the harvest will land at the lower end, perhaps 2.3 billion.

 

Five dead, nearly 200 sick in E. coli outbreak from lettuce. And investigators are stumped.

Washington Post

Although investigators have determined that the E. coli came from contaminated romaine lettuce grown in Arizona's Yuma region near the border with Southern California, the Food​​ and Drug Administration has not been able to link the outbreak to one farm, processor or distributor

 

The latest blow to struggling family farms: Rising interest rates

Washington Post

As the Fed boosts rates, banks charge more for credit card debt, car loans and home mortgages. Farmers could soon face rates of more than 7 percent.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE​​ /​​ FIRE​​ /​​ PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Criminal Justice:

 

More hate crimes in California than police identified, state audit finds

Sacramento Bee

While law enforcement officials have identified hate crimes as a growing problem in California, it is worse than the numbers would suggest. California is undercounting hate crimes, according to a state auditreleased Thursday, because outdated policies have led law enforcement agencies to misidentify or fail to report incidents.

 

Public Safety:

 

Rangers enforcing standard boating laws during hot summer months

ABC30

Rangers are enforcing standard boating laws, looking for people driving unsafely or under the influence. There is also a new one which requires operators of motorized vessels to carry a "California Boater Card." The deadline to get one depends on your age and you'll have to pass an approved boater safety exam first.

 

Yosemite National Park helicopter assistant honored with prestigious national award

Sierra Star

A Yosemite National Park assistant helicopter foreman was honored for his "exemplary" aviation safety skills and dedication to his job, the national park service announced.

 

‘Take action’: Advocates push for gun violence awareness, solutions

Stockton Record

Gun violence is unacceptable, Niki Smith told the group gathered Saturday morning at Victory Park. “We need to take action.” The action Smith is talking about is surrounding the issue of gun violence, which is a topic Smith and Cleveland School Remembers-Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has focused on for many years.

 

As mental health subsides in older generation, what to do about their guns?

San Diego Union-Tribune

The knock at the bedroom door of the North County home was innocent enough — a daughter calling out to her father on the other side to see if he was OK. But to him, it was the unrecognizable voice an intruder. He armed himself and fired a shot through the door, striking his daughter in the leg.

 

Fire:

 

Firefighters battle 7-acre brush fire in Auberry

ABC30

A fire in the foothills of Fresno County destroyed a garage and threatened many other structures nearby-before crews managed to contain it. There were some challenges in the firefight. Also, some power lines were knocked down by the fire.

 

The largest wildfire in California's modern history is finally out, more than 6 months after it started

CNN

Officials with the Los Padres National Forest announced this week the largest wildfire in California's modern history is officially out, more than six months after it started. The Thomas fire started December 4, 2017, and eventually burned 281,893 acres.

 

Walters: Wildfires and lead paint reignite Capitol’s ‘tort wars’

CALmatters

For decades, what political insiders dubbed “tort wars” raged in the Capitol.

 

EDITORIAL: Musk is a genius, but his flamethrower is stupid

Modesto Bee

It’s great for California to have billionaire visionaries like Elon Musk creating next-generation technology and planet-saving cars. But even geniuses can have bad ideas. And selling flamethrowers in a time of record wildfires in California is a really, really, really bad idea.

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

CA Small Businesses Generate $67B: Google Economic Impact Report
Mountain View Patch

The Mountain View-based company says $67.4 billion was generated by California small business owners using Google search and ad tools.

 

Business economists worry about possible recession in 2020

Sacramento Bee

A group of top business economists believes the major tax cuts President Donald Trump pushed through Congress will give a significant boost to economic growth this year and next year. But they worry that by 2020, the country could be entering a new recession.

 

Trump just poured ice water on the economy in service of his trade war

Los Angeles Times

Macroeconomic Advisers, a research firm focused on the U.S. economy, reported Wednesday that the U.S. trade deficit in goods was “much narrower than expected,” implying “substantially more” U.S. exports in the second quarter. So it revised its projection for economic growth sharply upward, to a robust 3.6% increase in GDP.

See also:

     With tariffs on our closest allies, what kind of trade policy is this? Marketplace

 

40% of Americans can't cover a $400 emergency expense

CNN

Can you cover an unexpected $400 expense? Four in ten Americans can't, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Board. Those who don't have the cash on hand say they'd have to cover it by borrowing or selling something.

 

Jobs:

 

Jobs are booming, and Democrats are puzzled

AEI

Is it overstating things to say the US economy is, well, booming? After all, the May jobs report was pretty impressive, including a) 223,000 new jobs, b) an uptick in average hourly earnings growth to 2.7% from a year ago, c) a downtick in the jobless rate to 3.8% —  at 3.755% unrounded, the lowest since 1969 — and d) a two-tenths decline in the U6 underemployment to 7.6% — its lowest level since 2001.

See also:

      The Rising Jobs Tide Wall Street Journal

      A long disruption is ahead, with low-paying jobs Axios

 

California unions want to keep anti-labor activists from meeting new teachers and cops

Sacramento Bee

California's public employee unions are backing a pack of bills that might help them hold on to members if the Supreme Court this summer issues a ruling that’s expected to deliver a serious blow to the finances for labor organizations.

 

Unions Brace for Pivotal Court Decision Amid Politicking

Roll Call

In preparation for a Supreme Court decision that may deal a significant setback to public-sector unions, organized labor groups are launching new recruiting efforts as they mobilize for the midterm elections.

 

The Time to Begin Building Tomorrow’s Workforce Is Now

Governing

Today's state revenue surpluses are an opportunity to prepare for the next downturn by investing in education and talent.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

VUSD 'ready to talk' possible move to downtown Visalia

Visalia Times-Delta

The communication center, located in east downtown, is surrounded by land council members hope one day will house a "campus" of city administrators and businesses. One possible future tenant: Visalia Unified School District.

 

Refugees seeking education fight school district policy that keeps older students out

Modesto Bee

The board on Monday will consider a proposal to increase the time that some newcomers spend in high school to learn English and adjust to American life.

 

Deasy takes lead at SUSD, releases transition plan

Stockton Record

To mark John Deasy’s first day as superintendent of Stockton Unified School District, an entry plan was released Friday that detailed what he and his administration plan to do as he begins to further transition into the new role.

 

On D-Day, E-Day and what the heck is going on with the Yosemite High school board?

Sierra Star

This coming Wednesday, June 6, marks the 74th anniversary of the greatest invasion the world has ever or will ever see again.

 

California’s teachers’ unions dig in as Janus decision nears

OCRegister

Janus v. AFSCME, a case soon to be decided by the Supreme Court, would make union dues-paying for teachers and other public employees optional.

 

Where the two leading candidates for California superintendent stand on the issues

EdSource

Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond, the two leading candidates for state superintendent of public instruction, are of one mind on many fundamental educational challenges in California, like the need for more school funding, the importance of solving a teacher shortage, and a focus on closing disparities in achievement.

 

Opinion: There Are No Losers When We Invest in Early Child Care

Roll Call

Sixty percent of Americans say they expect the next generation will be “worse off” than their own.

 

Does the Average Teacher Spend ‘Nearly $500 a Year’ on School Supplies?

National Review

This spring’s teacher walkouts have spurred renewed attention to the question of teacher pay. At times, however, the media’s progressive sympathies, the allure of hard-luck tales, and concerted PR by teachers’ unions have yielded some questionable coverage.

 

Heat and Learning

National Bureau of Economic Research

We provide the first evidence that cumulative heat exposure inhibits cognitive skill development and that school air conditioning can mitigate this effect

 

Higher Ed:

 

The Governor’s Revised Budget Targets Tuition at UC and CSU

Public Policy Institute of California

The revised budget adds $100 million in one-time funding for deferred maintenance at each system as part of a larger infrastructure spending plan.

See also:

       UC Students Deliver Chipotle As They Lobby For Funding Sacramento Bee

 

You don’t need to be the head of Google to know what needs to be done about the UC
Sacramento Bee

California owes it to ourselves to make sure that its institutions of higher learning remain places of immense promise and unlimited potential for students who will shape our state, and our economy, well into the future.

 

They did it: California students who graduated from state colleges in four years

EdSource

Across the CSU system, the four-year graduation rate among students who entered as full-time freshman averaged 23 percent last year; 59 percent finished within six years. The Graduation Initiative, which began two years ago, seeks to bolster that to 40 percent for four years and 70 percent for six years by 2025.

See also:

      Yes, there really is a tax break for upper-income graduate students and Congress won’t let it expire AEI

     The college completion landscape AEI

 

California Community Colleges launch Self-Employment Pathways in the Gig Economy project

California Economic Summit

California Community Colleges' has launched the Self-Employment Pathways in the Gig Economy project, funded by their Strong Workforce Program. The purpose of the project is to prepare students to become freelancers and independent contractors in the growing gig economy.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

California must invest in cleaning up polluted communities

Sacramento Bee

Gasping for air in an asthma attack. Heart problems, cancer, stroke. These are the consequences of fossil fuels for millions of people in California’s most polluted communities, where 92 percent of residents are people of color.

 

The Big One could leave 250,000-400,000 quake refugees in California. Where will they go?

Los Angeles Times

When a catastrophic earthquake hits California, buildings will topple and potentially hundreds could be killed.

 

Last Straw For Plastic Straws? Cities, Restaurants Move To Toss These Sippers

NPR

Slurping up smoothies, sodas and slushies through disposable plastic straws could one day become a thing of the past.

 

One year since Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement

Brookings

First, what drove Trump’s decision? Second, what have been the impacts of the U.S. announcement of withdrawal, both here at home and around the world? Finally and most importantly, what are the steps forward for policies aimed at combating climate change, given the administration’s conflicting agenda and the Paris withdrawal?

 

Energy:

 

Electric vehicles don’t mean the end of oil

AEI

Is the age of oil coming to an end? That question comes to mind after the publication of a study forecasting that global sales of electric vehicles, or EVs, will surge in the next few years, leading to a decline in sales of gasoline cars within five years.

See also:

     Inside America’s oil boom Brookings 

 

Higher Gas Prices a Headache for GOP — Except in California

New York Magazine

Democrats are using gasoline prices as part of their attack on the 2017 GOP tax bill, which showered many benefits on the very oil companies that harvest high profits from high pump prices.

See also:

     Why Aren’t Liberals Celebrating Higher Gas Prices? National Review

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Senator Feinstein visits Valley Children's Hospital

ABC30

US Senator Dianne Feinstein made a stop in the Central Valley today. The Democrat was here to tour Valley Children's Hospital. "This hospital is so big and so busy, and you're earning just a fine reputation for yourself all over the United States," U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein said.

 

FDA Chief Expects Agency to Play Role in Overseeing Requests for Unproven Drugs

Wall Street Journal

Scott Gottlieb reacts to new ‘Right to Try’ law aimed at weakening FDA’s power in such cases

 

Most women with a common type of early-stage breast cancer can skip chemo, a new report finds

Washington Post

The majority of women with the most common type of early-stage breast cancer can safely skip chemotherapy after surgery, according to a highly anticipated new report.

 

For Some Hard-To-Find Tumors, Doctors See Promise In Artificial Intelligence

NPR

Artificial intelligence, which is bringing us everything from self-driving cars to personalized ads on the web, is also invading the world of medicine.

 

When Scientists Develop Products From Personal Medical Data, Who Should Profit?

NPR

If you go to the hospital for medical treatment and scientists there decide to use your medical information to create a commercial product, are you owed anything as part of the bargain?

 

Human Services:

 

A case for charitable health care

Capitol Weekly

If it becomes law, SB 1156 will harm some of California’s most at-risk residents — low-income, disproportionately minority dialysis and transplant patients who depend on charitable assistance to afford their health care.

 

Seniors scrimp but still spend more for meds

AP News

Medicare recipients filled fewer prescriptions for pricey brand-name drugs — but spent more on such meds anyway, says a government report due out Monday. It blames rising manufacturer prices for squeezing older people and taxpayers.

 

VA Faces Scrutiny as It Gears Up for Health Overhaul

Roll Call

The Department of Veterans Affairs will face heavy scrutiny as it implements a major overhaul to its health care programs that President Donald Trump is expected to sign into law this week.

 

The 2018 Medicare Trustees Report: Fiscal challenges and future reforms

AEI

In its upcoming annual report, the Medicare Board of Trustees will present its projection of Medicare spending under current law over the next 75 years. This annual report has long served as a reminder of Medicare’s financial challenges. If the mismatch between Medicare spending and revenue continues, the consequences for millions of beneficiaries will be dire.

 

Coverage gains among higher-income people suggest the ACA’s individual mandate had big effects on coverage

Brookings

Most formal analyses, including those produced by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), conclude that the individual mandate substantially increased insurance coverage and, correspondingly, that repealing the mandate will substantially reduce coverage.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Pushed by voters, GOP moderates rebel on immigration

PBS

Curbelo and Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., whose Modesto-area district thrives on agriculture powered by migrant workers, have launched a petition drive that would force House votes on four immigration bills, ranging from liberal to conservative versions. Twenty-three Republicans have signed on.

See also:

      Vulnerable Republicans See Immigration as Political Salvation New York Times

     House Republicans careen toward immigration showdown Politico

 

Illegal border crossings remained high in May despite Trump’s crackdown

Washington Post

The number of migrants attempting to cross illegally into the United States remained high last month, an early indication that “zero tolerance” measures separating parents from their children and President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops have not had an immediate deterrent effect.

See also:

     Podcast: Putting Trump’s Immigration Crackdown in Context Roll Call

     The Anti-Trump Media’s ‘Missing Kids’ Myth National Review 

 

The latest migrant tool of resistance on the border? A video app

Los Angeles Times

Filming police with cellphones or body cameras became so common after high-profile shootings of black men in Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore and Chicago that there’s a word for it: “copwatching.” But the practice never spread to the U.S.-Mexico border — until now.


Census Citizenship Fight Will Sway States' Political Clout, Federal Money

Pew Charitable Trusts

As preparation for the 2020 census intensifies, states and cities are fighting over how — or whether — to accurately count the roughly 11 million immigrants living in the United States without authorization, a battle that will have a huge impact on federal aid and states’ political power for years to come.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Decades after destruction, Yosemite welcomes home Native Americans

Sierra Star

On Friday, the native elders watched with pride as Yosemite's new superintendent, Michael Reynolds, signed an agreement giving them permission to use the site of Yosemite's last Native American village for the next 30 years. The agreement also green lights remaining construction of a roundhouse, what will become the spiritual heart of the village.

 

Invest in progress: A new era of community impact investments

Bakersfield Californian

What if you could invest in a local cause that also had solid returns? What if you could grow your wealth while also helping to promote positive change in your own community?

 

City's best take home Beautiful Bakersfield Awards

Bakersfield Californian

The 2018 Beautiful Bakersfield Awards were awarded Saturday night to local individuals, organizations and businesses that have strived to improve the community.

 

Housing:

 

People are fleeing Silicon Valley for Nevada, Texas and Idaho, report finds 

Mercury News

The Bay Area has long been a costly place to live, but a tight housing supply paired with an unprecedented economic boom pushed rents and real estate even further out of reach for all but the most affluent residents.

See also:

        Nearly half of Bay Area residents want out, poll shows. The reason why is no surprise Sacramento Bee

 

Renters vs. homeowners: Political divide as wide as California’s affordability gaps

Mercury News

Renters are more worried than homeowners about California’s housing woes. You do not have to be a pollster to figure this out. But the gap revealed in a new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California shows key differences.

 

Solar mandate could change how California homes are built

San Francisco Chronicle

It won’t happen overnight, but California’s new residential solar mandate could change the look of new homes and solar panels themselves — by making them cleaner and simpler.

See also:

      California’s rooftop solar mandate may not be all sunshine San Bernardino Sun

 

EDITORIAL: Rent control is no solution to our housing crisis

OCRegister

The crisis caused by the rising cost of housing in California has a solution: Build more housing. People can debate where or what type of housing should be built, but there can be no doubt that more housing is needed.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

'The knives will be out.' Gas tax vote threatens Democrat's job

Sacramento Bee

A Republican talk radio host launched a recall campaign against state Sen. Josh Newman. If the recall succeeds, Democrats will have a more difficult time regaining a two-thirds supermajority that allows them to pass tax increases and constitutional amendments without Republican help.

 

California Gov. Jerry Brown: 'A Lot of Cities Signed Up for Pensions They Can’t Afford'

reason.com

It's rare that a politician will say something that is praiseworthy and anger-inducing in the same breath. Nevertheless, Gov. Jerry Brown accomplished that unusual feat when he released his May revised budget, and told cities that the state government isn't in a position to help them with their soaring pension costs.

 

EDITORIAL: Don’t squander California’s surplus

San Francisco Chronicle

If Jerry Brown’s impending exit following a cumulative decade and a half as governor has legislators feeling sentimental, they’re not showing it by deferring to his relatively stingy valedictory budget. Citing a substantial surplus, the state’s housing crisis and a host of other needs, lawmakers are pushing to spend billions of dollars more.

 

Trump’s Tax Cuts Didn’t Benefit U.S. Workers, Made Rich Companies Richer, Analysis Finds

Newsweek

President Donald Trump’s corporate tax cuts might not have trickled down to American workers in the way that he suggested they would.

 

When Local Newspapers Close, City Financing Costs Rise

The Atlantic

Cities where newspapers closed up shop saw increases in government costs as a result of the lack of scrutiny over local deals, say researchers who tracked the decline of local news outlets between 1996 and 2015.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

California to spend $768M on electric vehicle infrastructure

Bakersfield Now

California utilities will invest nearly $768 million to expand a network of charging stations and build other infrastructure for electric vehicles as the state moves toward a goal of 5 million zero-emission cars on the roads by 2030.

See also:

     California utilities commission OKs $776.5 million to boost electric vehicle use San Diego Union-Tribune

     Energy revolution: California approves $768 million for electric vehicles San Francisco Chronicle

 

The more they know, the less Californians support the bullet train

OCRegister

Public support for the high-speed rail project, already weak for a project of its cost and scope, erodes when basic facts are provided, a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times survey has found.

 

WATER

 

360,000 Californians have unsafe drinking water. Are you one of them?

Sacramento Bee

An estimated 360,000 Californians are served by water systems with unsafe drinking water, according to a McClatchy analysis of data compiled by the State Water Resources Control Board.

 

These fish are at the heart of California's water debate. But extinction could be close

Sacramento Bee

State biologists have found hardly any Delta smelt in their sampling nets in the past two years. Consecutive surveys in late April and early May found no smelt at all. "I think extinction is imminent the way things are going," said Peter Moyle, a prominent UC Davis fisheries biologist.

 

California will have water consumption limits for the first time after ‘landmark’ legislation passed

Los Angeles Times

For the first time in the state’s history, California is setting permanent water-consumption goals to prepare for future droughts and climate change, with a local elected official involved in the historic move.

 

“Xtra”

 

Sugar Pine Railroad's steam locomotive

Sierra Star

Four miles from the south entrance of Yosemite National Park, historic steam locomotives run at the Sugar Pine Railroad.

 

Pop-Up event planned for downtown

Madera Tribune

Madera 125, a summer pop-up event, will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 15. The celebration is planned to commemorate Madera County’s 125th anniversary, being celebrated this year. The event is sponsored by Madera Young Professionals. One of the goals of that group is to bring people into the downtown corridor.

 

A huge crowd will gather Thursday nights in Modesto this summer. Here’s where and why

Modesto Bee

It’ll be a “SummerBration” every Thursday night at Modesto’s Graceada Park beginning this week. MoBand returns Thursday, June 7, heralding its 99th season by featuring that SummerBration theme for 2018. This year’s concerts will mark the beginning of a year-long celebration of the band’s centennial season.

 

Modesto Symphony Orchestra introduces Beethoven to Graffiti Summer

Modesto Bee

Classical music, meet classic cars The next Modesto Symphony Orchestra program introduces Beethoven to Graffiti Summer

 

Sierra Rep brings "Beast" of a musical to its stage in Historic Columbia State Park

Modesto Bee

Sierra Repertory Theatre brings a fairytale fit for a Disney princess to its stage.

 

City's best take home Beautiful Bakersfield Awards

Bakersfield Californian

The 2018 Beautiful Bakersfield Awards were awarded Saturday night to local individuals, organizations and businesses that have strived to improve the community.

 

Torch Run for Special Olympics to pass through Bakersfield

Bakersfield Californian

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is coming through Bakersfield Monday starting at 8:30 a.m., according to a Bakersfield Police Department news release.

 

 

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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.

 

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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