Political Stories –Â Top stories Dan Walters: Legislators propose bonds, need skeptic Brownâs OK —Â Sponsors of water and housing bonds believe that shortages in both of those vital commodities provide political impetus for enactment, and were they to reach the ballot, they likely would pass. However, they have to get past Brown and his disinclination to […]
Political Stories – Top stories California voters continue to shun political identification — California had more than 19.43 million registered voters as of early last month, with voters shunning party affiliation at a growing rate, according to new state registration numbers. Sacramento Bee article Jerry Brown sounds skeptical note on single-payer health care for California â Gov. Jerry Brown, in […]
Political Stories Top stories  Dan Walters: Brown has been unwilling to update political reform law — Since returning to the governorship after a 28-year hiatus, however, Brown has been somewhat disdainful of shining more light on politiciansâ financial dealings, often vetoing reform bills. One victim of Brownâs much-changed attitude has been an effort to tighten […]
Political Stories –Â Top stories Tax rebates for Californians? Itâs a distant possibility amid budget dispute —Â California taxpayers could be in line for their first budget rebate checks in three decades under a vestige of the stateâs nationally watched âtaxpayer revoltâ in the late 1970s. But a lot stands in the way of that happening â […]
Political Stories Top stories  Dan Walters: Jerry Brown would undermine a spending limit he sponsored — Brownâs proposed 2017-18 budget would put spending just a few billion dollars under the Gann Limit, Taylorâs office has calculated. Furthermore, Taylor believes that state revenues are likely to be several billion more than Brown has projected, which could […]
Political Stories –Â Top stories Will California farms find enough workers amid Trumpâs immigration crackdown? —Â As the spring picking season approaches, farmworkers are convinced the fields will be raided by federal agents intent on rounding up undocumented immigrants and shipping them back to Mexico or Central America. With many fearing the authorities will also set up […]
Political Stories – Top stories Trumpâs proposed budget cuts would hit Valley hard in housing, health, broadcasting areas — President Donald Trumpâs federal budget proposes big funding cuts that Valley officials say could have devastating effects on federally funded services at the local level, including public housing, health and broadcasting systems. But local officials say the presidentâs proposal is just the first step in […]
Political Stories – Top stories From arts to prisons, Trumpâs budget means cuts in California â For every California winner, thereâs a loser in the 50-plus budget blueprint, making parts of the broad proposal unpalatable for Golden State lawmakers, including some Republicans. Its long-term congressional political prospects are uncertain, at best. McClatchy Newspapers article; Sacramento Bee editorial Dan Walters: California […]
Political Stories –Â Top stories U.S. budget cuts would be widely felt across California —Â President Donald Trump’s budget would deliver a painful financial blow to California, with the potential to push a state that has struggled for years to keep its books balanced back into the kind of red ink that consumed it after the housing […]
Political Stories – Top stories Fuller steps down as state Senate Republican leader — State Republican legislators finally found someone to take Jean Fuller’s job. Following a two-month search for a state senator willing to lead the Republican caucus of a legislative body dominated by Democrats, Fuller’s colleagues elected Patricia “Pat” Bates of Laguna Niguel on Tuesday. Bakersfield […]
