Political Stories Top stories Why are there two plastic bag ban propositions on the California ballot? — The most straightforward is Proposition 67, a referendum asking voters to either vote yes to preserve the law or no to reject the statute, which bans disposable plastic bags and lets grocers charge customers 10 cents for paper bags or more durable reusable plastic bags. […]
Political Stories Top stories Gov. Jerry Brown contemplates second chances in backing prison-reform measure — In 1976, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law ending an era in which California prison inmates received open-ended sentences, earning their release by convincing corrections officials that they had reformed their lives. The action shifted the state to definite sentences […]
Political Stories – Top stories More than $340 million raised by California proposition campaigns — Campaigns for and against the 17 propositions on California’s November ballot are closing in on $400 million in total contributions. Through Sunday, the committees had reported receiving about $345 million from donors, according to state filings. Sacramento Bee article CD 21: Huerta’s challenge climbing […]
Guests: Paul Hurley, former editorial page editor of the Visalia Times Delta; Lisa Bryant, a political science professor at California State University Fresno; James Burger, government reporter for the Bakersfield Californian; and John Ellis, political reporter for the Fresno Bee / John Meyers, reporter of the LA Times and Dan Walters, Reporter of the Sacramento […]
Political Stories Top stories Dan Walters: Two county redistricting reform bills move in opposite directions — Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1108 on Sept. 28, allowing counties and cities without charters to appoint independent commissions to adjust the boundaries of governing board districts after every federal census. Walters column in Sacramento Bee If Prop 55 passes, the state budget […]
Political Stories Top stories John Myers: Political Roadmap: Don’t expect big changes if Democrats win a Sacramento supermajority on Nov. 8 –Let’s play out the “what if” game: What could Democrats do with a supermajority of seats in the Legislature? In truth, it’s probably more bragging rights than brawn. Myers in LA Times Dan Walters: Election will test California voters’ attitudes on new bonded debt — we Californians have placed […]
Political Stories Top stories Environmental nuisance or grocery-store necessity? California voters to decide fate of plastic bags – Two years ago, Gov. Jerry Brown foreshadowed the beginning of the end for plastic bags in California. “We’re the first to ban these bags, and we won’t be the last,” Brown wrote as he signed Senate Bill 270, outlawing […]
Political Stories – Top stories Ballot admission price: $48 million — It’s like a poker game: If you want to play, you have to ante up. And this year, the ante for Nov. 8 was nearly $48 million. That’s how much the rival interests for 15 initiatives paid to get on the ballot. Capitol Weekly article Barely half of illegal […]
Political Stories Top stories More Californians than ever registered to vote Nov. 8 — California had more than 18.25 million people registered to vote as of early last month, the most in state history, election officials announced Wednesday. The total is certain to rise by the Oct. 24 registration deadline for next month’s election, amid a presidential race and […]
Political Stories Top stories Democrats deploying Donald Trump as weapon against Rep. Jeff Denham and House GOP — Democrats are turning to Donald Trump as they try to topple Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, from his San Joaquin Valley congressional perch. In a newly unveiled 30-second ad, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee characterize Denham as “Trump’s man […]
