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LAO deficit projection: $25.4 billion -- Gov.-elect Jerry Brown will face a massive $25.4 billion budget shortfall next year - twice as large as legislative leaders were anticipating - according to a new projection from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office. Kevin Yamamura Capitol Alert Shane Goldmacher LA Times PolitiCal Juliet Williams AP -- 11/10/10 New voter-approved measures blow $1-billion hole in state budget -- Measures passed by California voters last week will cost the state up to $1 billion per year. That is according to an economic forecast conducted by the nonpartisan state legislative analyst's office. Anthony York LA Times PolitiCal -- 11/10/10 Cal State trustees approve two-step tuition increase -- The California State University Board of Trustees has approved a 15% hike in undergraduate tuition, arguing that the action was an essential step to provide access to the Cal State system by more students. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times TERENCE CHEA AP Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/10 Latinos now majority in state schools -- Latinos now make up the majority of students in California public schools, according to new figures released by the state Department of Education. FERMIN LEAL in the Orange County Register -- 11/10/10 Fox: Jerry Brown and a Return to Tax Commissions -- Governor-elect Jerry Brown’s goal of reforming and restructuring California will surely follow the well-worn path of tax reform. Brown’s two immediate predecessors, Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, both called together state commissions to study restructuring the state tax system. Fox & Hounds weblog -- 11/10/10 Ethics agency investigating trips by California high-speed rail officials -- The state’s ethics enforcement agency disclosed Wednesday it is investigating several present and former leaders of California’s $43-billion bullet train project to determine if they violated regulations on receipt of gifts. Rich Connell in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 Deficit panel offers 'painful' program for U.S. -- 'America cannot be great if we go broke,' says the 50-page draft proposal from the chairmen of President Obama's bipartisan deficit commission. Among the five basic recommendations: 'tough discretionary spending caps,' tax reform, and changes to Social Security. Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 New challenge to Nancy Pelosi from liberal Dems -- Two House Democrats outside the conservative wing are urging colleagues today to postpone leadership elections until December to give rank and file more time to consider whether they want to keep the same leaders, i.e. Nancy Pelosi, who presided over a last week's bloodbath. Carolyn Lochhead Chronicle Politics -- 11/10/10 Legal pot measure likely for 2012 ballot -- State voters last week rejected legalizing pot for recreational use, but polls show that Californians are increasingly inclined to favor legal marijuana and a key backer has vowed to return a measure to the ballot in 2012. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 11/10/10 State Sen. Leland Yee moves toward run for San Francisco mayor -- A week after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was elected lieutenant governor, state Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) filed papers Wednesday to form an exploratory committee as a first step to running for mayor next year. Patrick McGreevy LA Times PolitiCal Torey Van Oot Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10 California's exports continue strong growth -- While other indices of California's economy continue to be weak, the state's exports are continuing to recover, Beacon Economics reported Wednesday. Dan Walters Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10 Obstruction of Justice -- A kidnapping victim watched his case linger needlessly in court for years. In San Francisco, he has company. Peter Jamison SFWeekly -- 11/10/10 Running Dry? California Water Supply at Risk -- Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the country. It's located on the Colorado River, which provides water for about 27 million people in seven states, including millions of Californians. Gretchen Weber KQED Climate Watch -- 11/10/10 Hertzberg joins Los Angeles-based investment firm -- Pacific Capital Group, founded by investor and philanthropist Gary Winnick, provides capital to companies and projects in the clean technology, telecommunications, health care, real estate and financial services sectors. Torey Van Oot Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10
Brown wants to ax secretary of education position -- As part of his campaign pledge to "make government more efficient and effective," Gov.-elect Jerry Brown has promised to do away with the secretary of education position, a fixture in governors' cabinets since the early 1990s. Louis Freedberg California Watch -- 11/10/10 Interest groups routed $5M from secret donors to Senate race -- The Supreme Court's landmark Citizens United ruling earlier this year helped major corporations and other interest groups spend more than $5 million on California's Senate race without disclosing their contributors, according to independent spending reports analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics. Chase Davis California Watch -- 11/10/10 Jerry Brown vacationing in Arizona, taking applications -- Gov.-elect Jerry Brown, who an aide said is vacationing in Arizona, has posted on his campaign website a link to apply for any of hundreds of appointments within his administration. David Siders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10 Herdt: What polls told us about Latino voters -- Politicians are always dismissive of pre-election polls that don’t go their way, but Meg Whitman took that sour-grapes approach to a new level during the closing week of her campaign for governor. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 11/10/10 CalBuzz: Beware Murphy, Rasmussen and Other B.S. Artists -- In the days following the elections in California and across the country, so many commentators, “political experts” and partisans have engaged in so much overstated, hyperventilated and tortured analysis, we at Calbuzz have hardly known what to say. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 11/10/10 Veteran legislator Alister McAlister dies -- Alister McAlister, who served in the state Assembly for 16 years, died at his home near Wilton in Sacramento County Monday. He was 80. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10 Harmer opens new campaign fund for potential CD 11 recount -- David Harmer, the Republican candidate in the 11th Congressional District, has reached out to donors to raise money for a potential recount in the close contest. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10 Poizner sues to further Iran divestiture -- California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says he’s suing to challenge last month’s finding by the state’s administrative regulation watchdog that his efforts to stop insurers from investing in Iran amount to an “underground regulation.” Josh Richman Political Blotter Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times Robert Salladay California Watch -- 11/10/10 David Harmer raising money for Congressional recount ...just in case -- No, this doesn't mean they expect a recount, Harmer spokesperson Melissa Subbotin told us, but "we want to be prepared should things go that way." Joe Garofoli Chronicle Politics Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10 McNerney's lead grows in CD11 race -- The Pleasanton Democrat's lead over GOP challenger David Harmer grew to 2,269, according to the latest vote tally obtained by McNerney's campaign staff Tuesday evening. His lead had stood at 632 votes Monday. Roman Gokhman in the Contra Costa Times -- 11/10/10 Politicians weigh runs for Oropeza's state Senate seat -- Assemblyman Ted Lieu is the first to enter the race to fill the vacancy caused by the legislator's death. Other potential candidates include L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn and Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 Election night projections of winners and losers still an inexact art -- Steve Cooley flashed a two-finger V sign at his election night party, thanking supporters for making him California's new attorney general. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/10 Oakland mayoral hopefuls dug deep into own pockets -- Oakland City Councilwoman Jean Quan - who has decried the role of big money in local politics - dropped $155,000 of her family's funds into her mayoral run in an effort to stay competitive in the cash campaign with former state Sen. Don Perata. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/10/10 FPPC: No problem with Perata’s campaign loan -- There’s no evidence that Don Perata violated the state’s campaign finance laws when he loaned money from his company to his Oakland mayoral campaign, the state’s political watchdog agency says. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 11/10/10 Weintraub: My advice to Jerry Brown: Fix the DMV -- That’s my advice to Gov.-elect Jerry Brown. Why start with the Department of Motor Vehicles, when there is so much wrong in state government, so many problems, up to and including another massive budget deficit? Dan Weintraub HealthyCal.org -- 11/10/10 Registrar fired after slow vote count -- Riverside County's top executive fired Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore on Tuesday amid fierce criticism over how she handled last week's election. DUANE W. GANG in the Riverside Press -- 11/10/10
Democratic, GOP lawmakers vow to spare millions from AMT -- Leaders from both parties in Congress vowed Tuesday to spare more than 21 million taxpayers from significant tax increases when they file their returns next spring by adjusting the alternative minimum tax before the end of the year. Stephen Ohlemacher AP -- 11/10/10
California plan to sell buildings not a financial panacea, report says -- The plan to generate short-term cash will cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than previously estimated and is equivalent to borrowing at 10% interest, the review says. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 Dan Walters: Frugality has long been a Jerry Brown trait -- The day after he was elected for another stint as governor of California, Jerry Brown declared, "If you want frugality, I'm your man." Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/10
California foreclosure aid fund swells, but banks hesitate -- The state's Keep Your Home plan has grown to $2 billion from $700 million. However, mortgage servicers haven't officially agreed to participate in the principal reduction part of the program. Alejandro Lazo and E. Scott Reckard in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 CalPERS reports improved earnings -- The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the country's biggest government pension fund, closed out its 2009-10 fiscal year, reporting a net return on investments of 13.3% Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/10 Google to Give Staff 10% Raise -- Moving to plug the defection of staff to competitors, Google Inc. is giving a 10% raise to all of its 23,000 employees, according to people familiar with the matter. AMIR EFRATI and SCOTT MORRISON in the Wall Street Journal -- 11/10/10 Fewer South Bay homes underwater -- The portion of South Bay homes worth less than what their owners paid for them is the lowest it's been since early 2009, a real estate information service reported Tuesday. Pete Carey in the Contra Costa Times -- 11/10/10 SEIU Local 1000 contract ratified -- More than three-quarters of SEIU Local 1000 employees who voted have ratified a labor agreement worked out with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, union officials said this afternoon. (Tuesday) Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/10 Jobless 99ers may be left out in the cold -- Hopes for a new tier of unemployment aid for those who have exhausted their 99 weeks of benefits appear to be fading quickly as Congress prepares to return to work Monday, Nov. 15, after its election recess. Mary Ann Milbourn in the Orange County Register -- 11/10/10 San Francisco is 1 of 2 finalists to host America's Cup -- The contest to host the next America's Cup is down to two cities, and the clock is ticking on a decision. John Coté in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/10/10
Teacher’s Death Exposes Tensions in Los Angeles -- Colleagues of Rigoberto Ruelas were alarmed when he failed to show up for work one day in September. IAN LOVETT in the New York Times -- 11/10/10 Fensterwald: Paths to school finance reform -- The state’s system of funding K-12 schools is inadequate, inequitable and opaque. John Fensterwald educatedguess -- 11/10/10 California leads nation in charter school growth -- California led the nation in charter school growth this year, according to a report released today by The Center for Education Reform, a pro-charter group. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10 Fensterwald: New revocation regs for low-scoring charters -- After months of public comments and revisions, the State Board of Education on Tuesday passed new regulations for closing down low-achieving charter schools that one charter leader praised and another charter leader condemned. John Fensterwald educatedguess -- 11/10/10 CSU students to protest expected tuition increase -- California State University students say they will be out in force today to protest an expected 15.5 percent tuition increase at a CSU trustees meeting in Long Beach. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/10/10 Schools sue to block Schwarzenegger's mental health cut -- Several education advocates, including the state's largest school district of Los Angeles Unified, filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to overturn Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto of student mental-health funding. Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert -- 11/10/10
State Park closures possible next year -- The state park service is facing another year of diminished resources after voters rejected a vehicle registration fee proposal to fund upkeep and operation. Neil Nisperos in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 11/10/10 Air regulators clamp down on lead emissions from battery recycling plants -- Local officials order facilities in Vernon and City of Industry to meet the EPA's new, stricter standard by 2012. Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 Chromium plume spreads in water of California town made famous by 'Brockovich' film -- A tiny desert town whose plight was made famous by the movie "Erin Brockovich" has seen a dramatic increase in the size of a toxic plume of chromium as it has spread to multiple groundwater wells. Noaki Schwartz AP -- 11/10/10
Some Companies Shift Health Costs to Better-Paid -- With health care costs climbing even higher during this enrollment season, more employers are adopting a tiered system to pass on the bulk of those costs to their employees by assigning bigger contributions to workers in top salary brackets and offering some relief to workers who make less money. REED ABELSON in the New York Times -- 11/10/10 Happy Meal ban closer to reality in San Francisco -- It won't go into effect until next year, but San Francisco's ban on handing out toys with children's meals that have more than 600 calories or too much fat, salt and sugar gained final passage Tuesday. Sharon Bernstein in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 Butt out: Santa Clara County supervisors ban smoking in condos, apartments, parks and other parts of unincorporated county -- Santa Clara County officials Tuesday gave final approval to new laws that will outlaw smoking in parks, outdoor eating areas of restaurants and even inside apartments or condominiums. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury -- 11/10/10 As population ages, state faces health worker shortage -- California is facing a dire shortage of workers to care for its growing elderly population, state lawmakers said yesterday in a hearing to address the issue. Joanna Lin California Watch -- 11/10/10 Overcrowding at L.A. County-USC Medical Center has eased, officials say -- The hospital has created a 'rapid early medical evaluation' area in the emergency room to ensure patients see doctors within an hour of arrival. 'Dangerously overcrowded' conditions have dropped from 16 hours a day, on average, to five hours a day. Molly Hennessy-Fiske in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10
Some San Jose pot clubs shut down in protest of aggressive police raids -- Medical marijuana activists pleaded Tuesday for San Jose leaders to stop drug raids they say have sent a jolt of fear through cannabis providers and patients alike. John Woolfolk and Sean Webby in the San Jose Mercury -- 11/10/10 Some San Jose pot clubs shut down in protest of aggressive police raids -- Medical marijuana activists pleaded Tuesday for San Jose leaders to stop drug raids they say have sent a jolt of fear through cannabis providers and patients alike. John Woolfolk and Sean Webby in the San Jose Mercury -- 11/10/10 Sacramento City Council sets restrictions for pot dispensaries -- The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday set the terms of survival for the city's 39 registered marijuana dispensaries, imposing operating fees and location restrictions, and banning on-site pot smoking. Peter Hecht and Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/10
Lopez: World War II vet serves up a big helping of kindness -- Allan Gardner takes his dog to the VA hospital every week to cheer patients. Last weekend, he did even more. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 Book review: 'Decision Points' by George W. Bush -- The former president delivers an unexpectedly engrossing rehash of what he considers to be the pivotal moments of his eight years in office. Tim Rutten in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10 PG&E suspends executive who used fake name to infiltrate SmartMeter foes -- PG&E on Tuesday placed William Devereaux, the senior director of the utility's SmartMeter program, on paid suspension and launched an internal investigation into his efforts to infiltrate an online group of customers opposed to SmartMeters because of health concerns. Dana Hull in the Contra Costa Times -- 11/10/10 Forced From the Farm that Fed Them -- They arrived from war-torn Cambodia in the early 1980s, and like thousands of refugees who have settled in San Diego in the decades since, they cobbled together meager livings any way they could. Adrian Florido Voiceofsandiego.org -- 11/10/10 Supervisors weigh ending Vernon's control over its housing -- The latest effort to change the tiny city's makeup would involve changing the state's Constitution. Hector Becerra and Sam Allen in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/10
Issa readies ambitious oversight committee agenda -- Inland Rep. Darrell Issa will have to wait until January to formally take charge of the House Oversight Committee, but the new Republican majority's chief investigator is already busy laying the groundwork for an ambitious agenda. BEN GOAD in the Riverside Press -- 11/10/10 |
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