California Policy & Politics This Morning
Covered California software glitch affects 37,000 health care applicants -- Computer problems that darkened Covered California’s website last week will force as many as 14,500 customers with partially completed applications to either resubmit the changes or begin a new request, officials at the health exchange said Friday. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Residency questions dog many California legislators -- Hours before officials announced Tuesday that state Sen. Rod Wright would take a leave of absence while he fights a jury’s verdict that he lied about where he lives, a 79-year-old retired contractor from Red Bluff stood outside the Capitol in a baseball cap and yellow T-shirt, making the case that Wright isn’t the only lawmaker who lives outside the district he represents. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/1/14
Analyst says Jerry Brown's prison plan is short-term fix -- Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to reduce prison overcrowding may satisfy a looming federal deadline but it does not represent a durable long-term solution, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/1/14
BART derailment: Investigators focus on train, clear driver -- BART investigators are focusing their probe of the Feb. 21 train derailment in Concord on the four cars that jumped the tracks after they cleared the part-time train operator from any wrongdoing, a manager told the board late Thursday. Matthias Gafni in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/1/14
Engineers Allege Hiring Collusion in Silicon Valley -- Its mastermind, court papers say, was the executive who was the most successful, most innovative and most concerned about competition of all — Steve Jobs. David Streitfeld in the New York Times$ -- 3/1/14
Assemblyman Marc Levine proposes stiffer fines for striking cyclists, others -- California drivers who hit and injure cyclists or other “vulnerable road users” could be slapped with fines of up to $1,000 under legislation proposed this week by a North Coast lawmaker. Derek Moore in the Santa Rosa Press -- 3/1/14
Brown, discussing reelection bid, says he has unfinished business -- After confirming his intention to seek an unprecedented fourth term, Gov. Jerry Brown said he was running because he believed he had been successful in shepherding the state during his tenure but had unfinished business. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Jerry Brown expanding plan for high-speed rail -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday defended his plan to use carbon-reduction funds for years ahead to prop up California's high-speed rail project, saying uncertainty about the project's long-term financing is "one of the greatest questions of the critics" and that fees paid by carbon producers are an appropriate source of funds. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/1/14
Gov. Jerry Brown to sign trade pact with Israeli prime minister -- Gov. Jerry Brown will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week in Silicon Valley to sign a trade, research and economic development pact between Israel and California. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$-- 3/1/14
In Oakland, Gov. Jerry Brown outlines reelection platform -- Brown, accompanied by his wife, Anne, spoke to reporters after handing his papers to Alameda County officials, and outlined his message for reelection: ensuring the state’s budget stays balanced and monitoring the effects of sweeping changes he has made in the way schools are funded and criminals are incarcerated. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Gov. Jerry Brown won't say if this is his last campaign -- Asked by reporters outside the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Office if this was his last hurrah, Brown, 75, said: "I certainly enjoyed being mayor of Oakland." Josh Richman in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/1/14
Jerry Brown says he'd run for another term as Oakland mayor -- Jerry Brown, who is running for a fourth term as California's governor, said Friday he'd also like to be Mayor Brown - again. Will Kane in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
Tim Draper puts $750K behind effort to split California six ways -- The Silicon Valley investor proposing to carve California into six states has parked a chunk of his money behind the nascent effort. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 3/1/14
Kashkari, challenging Brown, seeks silver lining in TARP program -- The Republican candidate for governor is touting his experience with the $700-billion federal bank bailout program despite the widespread criticism it received. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Rupert Murdoch among latest donors to Neel Kashkari -- Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is among the latest donors to Republican Neel Kashkari's gubernatorial campaign, according to financial disclosures reported Friday. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/1/14
State Sen. Mark Wyland drops out of unusually nasty tax board race -- An unusually bitter contest between two Republicans for a seat on the state's tax board came to an end Friday, with state Sen. Mark Wyland (R-Escondido) announcing he is dropping out of the race. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register$ -- 3/1/14
Greenhut: Coastal bill would erode due process -- Legislators will weigh in this year if they revisit a bill by San Diego Democrat Toni Atkins that would give the commission vastly expanded powers – namely, the right to impose fines without first taking property owners to court. Steven Greenhut UT San Diego$ -- 3/1/14
Orange County toll road CEO put on leave after spending questioned -- The chief executive officer for Orange County’s toll road agency has been put on leave after less than one year on the job, a spokeswoman for the agency confirmed Friday. Paloma Esquivel in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Black Bart? Jesse James? Who hid $10 million worth of gold? -- Maybe it was stagecoach bandit Black Bart. Or Jesse James and his secret gang of post-Civil War Confederates. Or the clerk who ripped off the U.S. Mint in San Francisco in 1901. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
Taxes/Fees
Higher tolls OKd for Golden Gate Bridge -- Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge will become more expensive next month, with the toll rising to $7 April 7 on its way to $8 by 2018. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
Economy, Employers and Jobs
State lets Tesoro refinery reopen accident unit -- State regulators allowed Tesoro Corp. on Friday to restart a unit at its refinery near Martinez that was shut down after two workers were burned with sulfuric acid. Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
Court reinstates family's suit against PG&E over death -- The family of a tree trimmer who was electrocuted by a high-voltage line in Marin County can sue Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and its contractor for allegedly not maintaining enough clearance between the line and surrounding trees, even though they complied with state regulators' minimum standards, an appeals court ruled Friday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
Inland Empire economy may gain from Obama proposal -- The Obama administration’s $302 billion national transportation funding proposal, if implemented, would be an economic boost for Southern California, industry and economic experts say. Neil Nisperos in the San Bernardino Sun -- 3/1/14
U.S. economic growth revised sharply downward -- The Commerce Department lowers its fourth-quarter GDP estimate to 2.4% from its initial estimate of 3.2% in January, adding to concerns of growth in the weather-battered first quarter. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Education
Fight over school's American flag T-shirt ban likely to continue -- An attorney is vowing to appeal a federal court ruling that a Northern California high school that asked students to remove American flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo acted reasonably to avoid igniting ethnic tensions. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Environment
Lawsuit settled over Bay Area plan for land-use, transit --Two Bay Area regional planning agencies announced late Friday that they had settled a lawsuit from the home-building industry challenging a regional transportation and land-use plan adopted in 2013. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
L.A. City Council takes step toward fracking ban -- L.A. council agrees to draft rules against 'well stimulation,' but oil and gas companies say their methods have already been proven safe. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Health
Flu deaths in California rise to 302, but appear to be slowing -- The total confirmed deaths from the flu in California rose to 302 this week, as this year's flu season continues to wane. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
2 relatives of UC Berkeley student contract measles, officials say -- Two relatives of a UC Berkeley student with measles have also contracted the disease, Bay Area health officials said Friday. Matt Stevens in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
Immigration
Some Republicans reject Dem immigration tactic -- House Democrats haven’t launched a discharge petition on immigration just yet, but reform-friendly Republicans are already rejecting the idea. Seung Min Kim Politico -- 3/1/14
Also . . .
Nevius: Rules of engagement for S.F. techies, homies -- The culture war between San Francisco techies and homies shows no signs of mellowing. If anything, they seem to be barking at each other even more. C.W. Nevius in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
Obama Brother's Keeper program inspired by Oakland project -- President Obama, backed by $200 million in philanthropic pledges, launched a new program Wednesday aimed at helping young men of color succeed in school and the job market - and some of its inspiration came from a program already in place in Oakland. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
San Francisco Palace Hotel sit-in helped start revolution 50 years ago -- The civil rights revolution - complete with picket lines, sit-ins and mass arrests - came to San Francisco exactly 50 years ago. Carl Nolte in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/1/14
How To Read A 223-Page Novel In Just 77 Minutes -- Spritz is a company that makes a speed-reading technology which allows you to get through a mass of text, reading every word, in a fraction of the time it would take if you were turning the pages of a book or swiping through a Kindle. Jim Edward Business Insider -- 3/1/14
Beltway
Advice to Hillary Clinton: 'be real,' and 'don't be defensive' -- Through many years in the public eye, Hillary Clinton’s image has evolved from that of a sharp-edged campaigner, who in 1992 offended legions of women with her comments seeming to dismiss baking cookies, to the experienced stateswoman of today. Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/1/14
Secret memos reveal efforts to shape Hillary Rodham Clinton’s political image -- In July 1999, Hillary Rodham Clinton trekked to Upstate New York to join retiring Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan at his farm and officially launch her campaign to replace him. On the eve of the big kickoff, adviser Mandy Grunwald wrote the first lady a memo offering her “a few style pointers.” Philip Rucker in the Washington Post$ -- 3/1/14
California House GOP members push Senate to pass drought bill -- House Republicans from California’s farm country are pressuring the Senate to pass Dianne Feinstein’s drought bill. But one House Democrat says there’s a reason the Senate bill appears to be stalled. Kitty Felde KPCC -- 3/1/14
Dianne Feinstein topped Congressional salary donors during government shutdown -- It became a popular refrain from Capitol Hill lawmakers during last fall's government shutdown: If federal workers aren't getting a paycheck, then neither will I. Lawmakers promised to donate their salaries to charity. Or send it back to the federal government to pay down the national debt. But did they? Kitty Felde KPCC -- 3/1/14
GOP’s Obamacare Rewrite Remains Uncertain -- House Republican leaders are proceeding cautiously on a rewrite of Democrats’ health care law amid skepticism that any plan can pass muster in a conference with widely differing ideas about how to move forward. Daniel Newhauser Roll Call -- 3/1/14
Pelosi Ignites Caucus by Choosing Sides in Ranking Member Battle -- House Democrats could soon be at war. The internal drama over who will take the top Democratic slot on the Energy and Commerce Committee next year has spilled into public view, with some lawmakers unhappy with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for taking sides so early — or at all. Emma Dumain Roll Call -- 3/1/14