Political Stories –Â Top stories John Myers: Thereâs not a single California congressional district with Republicans in the majority â When it comes to Californiaâs 53 congressional districts, first impressions are deceiving. Republicans have held tightly to their seats in the House of Representatives, but the latest data beg the question of whether the partyâs grip […]
Month: April 2017
April 15, 2017
Political Stories – Top stories Which California Republicans represent pro-Clinton districts? — Bates and 16 other legislative Republicans represent districts where Democrat Hillary Clinton outpolled Republican Donald Trump for president, according to Californiaâs recently released supplement to the statement of vote for last fallâs election. Besides Bates, Republican state senators in pro-Clinton districts include Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita; […]
April 14, 2017
Political Stories Top stories Rift opens between the Brown administration and legislators over new marijuana laws in California â A proposal by the Brown administration to revise marijuana laws in California is drawing backlash from lawmakers and police chiefs who say it would repeal rules approved by the Legislature two years ago and benefit the pot industry […]
April 13, 2017
Political Stories – Top stories A âsanctuary stateâ bill is raising heated debate among California lawmakers. Hereâs how it would work — The proposal, known as the âsanctuary stateâ bill, was sparked by the Trump administrationâs broadened deportation orders. It would expand so-called sanctuary city policies, prohibiting state and local law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, […]
April 12, 2017
Political Stories Top stories Lawmakersâ side âarrangementsâ didnât start with California gas-tax bill — Last weekâs approval of major road-funding legislation wasnât the first time that other âarrangements,â in the words of Gov. Jerry Brown, helped seal the deal. Side pacts between governors, legislative leaders and select lawmakers, sometimes unspoken, played key roles in annual budget […]
April 11, 2017
Political Stories Top stories State lawmakers have spent a lot of time on professional sports stadiums â and they have little to show for it — With the Raiders deciding to leave Oakland for a $1.9-billion football stadium in Las Vegas, the carousel of moves and threats to move by Californiaâs professional sports teams appears […]
April 10, 2017
Political Stories Top stories George Skelton: Why are California legislators getting decent approval ratings? Theyâre getting things done — The California Legislature has achieved something I never expected to see again in my lifetime. Its public job approval rating has soared above 50%. Thatâs astronomical compared with the lawmakersâ wretched ratings of a few years ago. […]
California’s Future
Guests:Â PPIC Experts: Eric McGee, Shannon McConville, Caroline Danielson, Alvar Escriva-Bou, Sarah Bohn, Paul Warren, Magnus Lofstrom and Brandon Martin.
April 7, 2017
Political Stories Top stories  Gas-tax increase to pay for road repairs clears Legislature — The state Legislature on Thursday passed a sweeping $52 billion transportation plan that will raise California gas taxes after leaders struck deals with wavering lawmakers to fund road projects in their districts. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article; San Francisco […]
April 6, 2017
Political Stories Top stories  Your gas costs â and pothole repair â depend on Jerry Brownâs political skills — As a young governor, Jerry Brown pilloried Proposition 13 as a âfraudâ and a ârip off,â and aligned himself against what became the landmark 1978 measure by Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann to cut property […]