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California Senate Democrats rip the Obamacare replacement plan, while GOP lawmakers say 'quit whining' -- It's become almost a reflex in the California Legislature: When Republicans in Washington act, Democrats in Sacramento make some show of opposition. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

Millions more would be uninsured under GOP healthcare plan, independent analysis shows -- Twenty-four million fewer Americans would have health coverage over the next decade under the House Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, according to an analysis released today by the Congressional Budget Office. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle Alan Fram and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press -- 3/13/17

A side-by-side comparison of Obamacare and the GOP’s replacement plan -- A guide to what’s covered under the Affordable Care Act and the proposed Republican healthcare plan. Noam N. Levey and Kyle Kim in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

Buckle up: Here come the 2018 election fights -- The 2016 elections have yet to fade in our rear-view mirror, but already the most important topic in Sacramento — and nationally — is the coming 2018 election cycle. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 3/13/17

Google Earth images alarm critics of San Onofre nuclear waste plan -- New photographs from Google Earth are making the rounds among activists fighting the plan to store millions of pounds of radioactive waste from the failed San Onofre nuclear plant on the San Diego County coastline. The pictures illustrate with more clarity than ever how close to the shoreline the casks will be once they are filled. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/13/17

Calbuzz: Steyer on Being Gov: No Rush to “Make a Decision” -- Today Calbuzz presents the third of our two-on-one interviews with for-sure and possible candidates for California governor in two years. The idea is to give each of them space and running room to express their views in their own words, in details and at length. No worries, we’ll get to the cheap shots and snark down the road. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 3/13/17

Carol Christ is named UC Berkeley’s new chancellor -- Carol Christ, UC Berkeley’s top academic officer and “champion of women’s issues and diversity,” on Monday was named the 11th chancellor and first female leader of the prestigious 149-year-old research university. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/13/17

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom to propose universal health care in race to succeed Jerry Brown -- Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is drafting a health care plan for California that he plans to unveil as a core component of his gubernatorial run, based in part on the universal health care program he signed into law when he was mayor of San Francisco. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/13/17

Marshall Tuck running again for California schools chief: ‘We’ve settled for mediocrity’ -- Marshall Tuck, who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent schools chief Tom Torlakson in a contentious 2014 race that became a proxy fight over a lawsuit on teacher job protections, will run again for state superintendent of public instruction. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/13/17

Is there too much water behind Oroville Dam? Critics say Army Corps standards unsafe -- Long before a fractured spillway plunged Oroville Dam into the gravest crisis in its 48-year history, officials at a handful of downstream government agencies devised a plan they believed would make the dam safer: Store less water there. Dale Kasler, Ryan Sabalow and Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/13/17

California Democratic, Republican Voter Registrations Decline Sharply Post-Election -- Californians who have registered to vote since the November election are increasingly turning away from both the Democratic and Republican parties. There's been “a 10-point drop for both Democratic and Republican registrations,” says Paul Mitchell, who tracks voter activity for consulting firm Political Data, Inc. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 3/13/17

California joins lawsuit challenging Trump's latest travel ban -- California on Monday joined Washington and other states as a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's latest travel ban as an unconstitutional overreach, state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Marisa Lagos KQED -- 3/13/17

Darrell Issa is 'not prepared' to support GOP healthcare plan yet -- Issa said there aren't specific aspects of the bill he disagrees with, but that he believes the current Republican plan could be better. He has proposed his own healthcare replacement bill, which would allow all Americans to purchase the insurance plans offered to federal workers. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ Aidan Quigley Politico -- 3/13/17

As Justice Kathryn Werdegar prepares to retire, Brown will soon have a Democratic majority on state's top court -- Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar joined the California Supreme Court at a time when the electorate favored harsh punishment for offenders, domestic partnerships for gays were novel and conservatives dominated the state’s highest court. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

Why some people are fleeing Southern California -- Lower home prices and taxes, less congestion, family ties or a more conservative environment are luring Southern Californians to leave the state, some transplants say. But housing costs clearly are the chief factor. Jeff Collins in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/13/17

Fresno County refinanced pension bonds to cut payments. It could cost them dearly -- Fifteen years ago, Fresno County supervisors refinanced a pension bond to snag a lower interest rate and cut its short-term payments, even though the deal extended the county’s obligation another 10 years and added to its ultimate cost. Marc Benjamin in the Fresno Bee -- 3/13/17

State spares no expense to nail Caltrans worker for long breaks -- Over the years, the California state auditor has conducted hundreds of investigations of state employees who weren’t playing by the rules — but a new report on a Caltrans analyst who took too long on her smoking breaks is one for the books. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/13/17

Taylor: Oakland making it tough to open a pot business -- Don’t come to Oakland if you want to start a cannabis business. You’re not welcome here, because the Oakland City Council doesn’t want to fully tap into a multibillion-dollar industry. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/13/17

Yahoo names CEO Marissa Mayer’s replacement for Altaba and his base salary doubles hers -- Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer will be replaced when the firm is sold to Verizon and what remains becomes an investment company called Altaba. Board member Thomas McInerney, 52, a former executive with internet firm InterActiveCorp and Ticketmaster, will take her place, Yahoo said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/13/17

Santa Ana Cop Fired After Pot Shop Raid to Rejoin Force Due to Court Ruling -- A Santa Ana police officer who was fired after being criminally charged in connection with a widely-publicized pot shop raid is in the process of rejoining the force, after a judge ordered him reinstated with full back pay. Nick Gerda VoiceofOC.org -- 3/13/17

Trump's plan to rapidly expand Border Patrol comes with big risks -- President Trump’s promise to crack down on illegal immigration includes not only a wall but more people behind the wall — an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents and 10,000 immigration officers. Greg Moran in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

House investigators on a Trump-Russia 'collision course' -- The top Republican on the intelligence committee was on Trump's transition team. The lead Democrat is a fierce Trump critic. Austin Wright Politico -- 3/13/17

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

California Democrats unveil expansive aid plan with goal of making public colleges 'debt-free' -- Seizing on growing concerns over college affordability, California lawmakers are poised to propose what would be the most generous college aid plan in the nation, covering not just tuition but also living expenses that have led to spiraling student debt. Melanie Mason and Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

In the battle over California climate policies, green projects are now in the hot seat -- By paying for offsets, companies can generate environmental benefits anywhere in the country — they are not required to invest in green projects in California — as an alternative to cleaning up their own operations. Now that lawmakers are debating how to continue the state’s fight against climate change, the system is being targeted by some environmentalists who would rather force industry to directly reduce its emissions. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

Seeing red: Membership triples for the Democratic Socialists of America -- The surge of activism sweeping the U.S. since Donald Trump’s election has energized the nation’s largest socialist organization, which has tripled in size over the last year to claim more than 19,000 dues-paying members. That’s a record for the DSA, which was founded in 1982. Matt Pearce in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

Anti-hate rally ramps up after slur-filled San Jose altercation -- With recent hate-fueled shootings of minorities in Kansas and Washington — and an alarming confrontation closer to home in downtown San Jose — about 75 community members gathered downtown Sunday to urge action in what they called an increasingly hostile post-election atmosphere. Eric Kurhi in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/13/17

Sacramento battle over telling patients about doctors’ probation -- Dr. Wanda Heffernon, a former UCSF anesthesiologist, made headlines in 2001 when she pleaded guilty to stealing credit cards from her fellow physicians and forging prescriptions to feed her drug addiction. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/13/17

Skelton: Will California spend more on water projects? 'It all depends on how thirsty the governor is,' De León says -- If there ever was a politically ripe time to spend lavishly on water projects, this is it. But Sacramento Democrats are settling for a drop in the bucket. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

Walters: Jerry Brown wants to kill a test of coordinated services -- The “Coordinated Care Initiative” is one of those uber-wonky, densely complex, acronym-laden pieces of governmental policy that may affect millions but only a handful of folks even profess to understand. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/13/17

Body cams are becoming routine for police; but who gets to see footage is still up in the air -- Officials with departments that require officers to wear body cameras say the results have been positive: The devices help officers retrain before larger behavioral problems arise, have led to reduced complaints from the public, boosted the trust in the community, and given district attorney’s offices another tool to use in court. Chris Haire and Sean Emery in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/13/17

Fox: Brackets—California Style -- The brackets are set (for the time being) for the big contest. The seeding is in place. The committee adjusted the seeding based on chance to win and likelihood to compete—with a couple of whimsical, but interesting, selections thrown it. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/13/17

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds    

California’s property tax burden 10th worst in nation -- Warning: Property taxes are due April 10. Before you search for the bill and the checkbook – and perhaps express a few choice nasty words aloud about the financial pinch – let me make you extra grumpy. Jonathan Lansner in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/13/17

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions 

Future Apple, Google campuses go for workplace glamour -- Next month, Apple will inaugurate its circular “spaceship” campus, an eye-catching Cupertino landmark that will house some 12,000 employees of the world’s most valuable company under a single roof. Wendy Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/13/17

Sacramento International Airport hopes for service to Asia, Europe -- Once considered unrealistic due to limited market demand, nonstop flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, London and Frankfurt could become reality, thanks to technological advances in aircraft and fierce competition in the aviation industry. Richard Chang in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/13/17

Education 

CSD scientists worry Trump could suppress climate change data -- UC San Diego may accelerate plans to preserve its climate data due to growing concerns among faculty members that the Trump administration could interfere with their work. Gary Robbins and Joshua Emerson Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

Girls now outnumber boys in high school STEM, but still lag in college and career -- High school engineering classrooms look a lot different than they did a few decades ago, and it’s not just because of computers. Those classes now have girls. Lots of girls. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 3/13/17

Environment 

Two countries, one sewage problem: Tijuana and San Diego grapple with renegade flows -- Baja California’s governor is preparing to declare a state of emergency in the coming days, hoping to draw financial aid for Tijuana’s strained and underfunded sewage system following a massive spill that sent millions of gallons of untreated wastewater from Tijuana across the border and into San Diego last month. Sandra Dibble and Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/13/17

Health 

Early version of Trump health care plan perplexes Inland area medical providers -- The early version of the Trump administration’s plan to cure “Obamacare” is a prescription many — but not all — area health providers are having a hard time swallowing. Jim Steinberg in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ -- 3/13/17

Bay Area Obamacare critics: Are they happy now? -- They’re all Republicans who voted for Donald Trump. And they all have one other thing in common: They despise the Affordable Care Act — “Obamacare.” They call it everything from “the Unaffordable Care Act” to un-American. But are they happy now that GOP leaders in the House of Representatives have finally announced their plan to replace the law? Tracy Seipel in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 3/13/17

Also . . . 

Lowriders get Barrio Logan community excited about science -- Fleet Science Center partnered with Via International, a community development organization in Barrio Logan, to organize The Science and Engineering of Lowriders. It is part of an outreach program that is bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics programming to the Barrio Logan and Logan Heights communities. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/13/17

Video shows environmental activists defacing popular Trump golf course -- The group — which labels itself an “anonymous environmental activist collective” — snuck into Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and carved a message into the green with six-foot-tall letters that said: “NO MORE TIGERS. NO MORE WOODS.” Peter Holley in the Washington Post$ -- 3/13/17

Nearly 200 firefighters battl e downtown L.A. building fire -- Firefighters were battling a massive blaze at a wholesale building in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday evening as flames burned through the attic and sent plumes of smoke into the sky. Victoria Kim in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/13/17

San Bernardino’s crime interruption plan, Ceasefire, moves forward -- Shootings in a pair of economically distressed California cities were skyrocketing, leaving the impression of an epidemic, but analysis by California Partnerships for a Safe Community revealed relatively few people are behind many of those shootings. Working with police and the community, the consultants found the people at risk of those shootings and developed relationships to encourage actions other than violence. Then homicides dropped — 30 percent in Oakland, 55 percent in Stockton. Ryan Hagen in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 3/13/17

New California license plate features redwoods, needs 7,500 orders by May -- California’s spectacular state parks system — which ranges from statuesque redwoods to vast deserts and sweeping beaches — has hit some rough patches over the past five years with threatened parks closures, budget problems and even a famous drive-through giant sequoia tree falling down this winter in heavy storms. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/13/17

POTUS 45  

Trump Administration Is Said to Be Working to Loosen Counterterrorism Rules -- The Trump administration is exploring how to dismantle or bypass Obama-era constraints intended to prevent civilian deaths from drone attacks, commando raids and other counterterrorism missions outside conventional war zones like Afghanistan and Iraq, according to officials familiar with internal deliberations. Charlie Savage and Eric Schmitt in the New York Times$ -- 3/13/17

Trump Lets Key Offices Gather Dust Amid ‘Slowest Transition in Decades’ -- At the State Department, the normally pulsating hub of executive offices is hushed and virtually empty. At the Pentagon, military missions in some of the world’s most troubled places are being run by a defense secretary who has none of his top team in place. Julie Hirschfeld and Sharon LaFraniere in the New York Times$ -- 3/13/17

The Foreign Workers of Mar-a-Lago -- The President has a dim view of extending visas to employees in the technology industry. But, when it comes to his club, it’s a different story. Sheelah Kolhatkar in The New Yorker -- 3/13/17

President Trump, the king of flip-flops -- There is no rule that politicians must remain consistent in their policies. Circumstances change, both economically and politically, and a skillful politician certainly can adjust his or her positions accordingly. But politicians need to explain to voters why they changed their minds. At The Fact Checker, we award an Upside-Down Pinocchio when a politician shifts position on a policy without acknowledging that they did so. Glenn Kessler in the Washington Post$ -- 3/13/17

Beltway 

Trump said no Americans would lose coverage under Obamacare repeal. Paul Ryan won’t make that promise -- House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said Sunday that he doesn’t know how many Americans would lose coverage under his proposal to revise the Affordable Care Act, which is under fire from fellow Republicans, AARP and virtually every sector of the U.S. health-care industry. “I can’t answer that question,” Ryan said in an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Kelsey Snell in the Washington Post$ -- 3/13/17

ACLU is leading a million-dollar resistance effort against Trump’s policies -- The ACLU is spending millions of dollars on a plunge into grass-roots politics — a “People Power” campaign. It’s the newest and largest development from a sprawling “resistance” movement that regularly moves faster than the Democratic Party’s leaders can think and isn’t waiting on politicians for cues. David Weigel in the Washington Post$ -- 3/13/17

 

-- Sunday Updates 

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger not running for Senate to focus on redistricting reform -- Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ruled out Sunday running for a U.S. Senate seat, saying his mission is to “bring sanity to Washington through redistricting reform like we passed here in California.” Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Carla Marinucci Politico -- 3/12/17

House committee wants evidence for Trump's wiretap claim -- The House intelligence committee is asking the Trump administration for evidence that the phones at Trump Tower were tapped during the campaign as its namesake has charged, a request reinforced Sunday by an influential Republican senator who says the president must either come up with the evidence or retract his claim. Deb Riechmann Associated Press -- 3/12/17

McCain to Trump: Retract wiretapping claim or prove it -- Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) called Sunday for President Trump to either prove his claim that President Barack Obama tapped the phones in Trump Tower during last year’s election campaign or drop the accusation. Kelsey Snell in the Washington Post$ -- 3/12/17

Talbot: Trump versus the deep state: a war with no heroes -- Which side are you on — President Trump’s oligarchy or the deep state? If you answered, “None of the above,” score one for democracy. David Talbot in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/12/17

Following immigrant Omid Kordestani on his journey to the top at Google, Twitter -- Follow someone you know. That’s how Twitter Executive Chairman Omid Kordestani, like many immigrants, found his way from Iran to Silicon Valley as a teenager. Queenie Wong in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/12/17

Fearing deportation, Bay Area immigrants rush to make U.S.-born kids dual Mexican citizens -- Fearing deportation under the Trump administration, Mexican immigrants across the state are rushing to register their American-born children as dual citizens — an emergency plan in case they’re deported and compelled to uproot their families to Mexico. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/12/17

Citrus Heights police: Too quick to shoot? -- Police officers in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights fatally shoot people at a higher rate than any force in California, a Bee investigation has found. Officers with the Citrus Heights Police Department have shot eight people dead since 2010. Six of those shootings happened from 2013 through 2016. That number matches the Police Department in Oakland, a city with five times as many residents and a much higher violent crime rate. Anita Chabria, Cynatia Hubert and Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/12/17