It looks like enough signatures have been gathered to place a voter initiative on the November ballot that would legalize marijuana in California. [Los Angeles Times] Supporters credit Los Angeles County with putting the signature drive over the top. Election... (Continue reading)
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed eliminating Medi-Cal funding for adult day health programs and senior advocates across California are concerned. [Contra Costa Times] The proposed cuts, which would save $104 million annually, are part of Sacramento’s attempts to address the... (Continue reading)
More and more Californians are going hungry, a situation that is likely to worsen in a state rocked by recession and high unemployment. [California Watch] A six-month study by California Watch and USC found record numbers of people overwhelming food... (Continue reading)
California taxpayers spent $2 million on plane travel for their elected representatives during a recent 2 1/2 year-period, but the Legislature in Sacramento won’t disclose the destinations or produce proof that the trips were really official state business. The reason... (Continue reading)
California’s inmate population dropped in 2009 for the third straight year, according to a new study by the Pew Center on the States. [Los Angeles Times] There was an overall drop of 4,257 inmates last year–relatively small according to experts.... (Continue reading)
New state Assembly Speaker John Perez has been very generous with staff raises since assuming office March 1. [San Francisco Chronicle] The Los Angeles Democrat boosted pay for eight of his staff members the day he was sworn in. Most... (Continue reading)
Nearly one in four Californians under age 65 had no health insurance in 2009, according to a new report by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. [Los Angeles Times] California’s uninsured population jumped to 8.2 million last year, up... (Continue reading)
A new analysis by the Fair Political Practices Committee indicates that special interests have dropped approximately $1 billion on electioneering in California this last decade. [Contra Costa Times] Labor unions, Indian tribes, and pharmaceutical companies have contributed the most money... (Continue reading)
Here’s something that might keep Sheriff Pat Hedges awake at night: A new state report indicates that Californians smoke 16 million ounces of pot a year–that’s just less than one half-ounce a person for every resident in the state. [Sacramento... (Continue reading)
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has already spent $15.5 million of its own money supporting Proposition 16 on the June ballot–and the utility may just spend another $10-$20 million before the election. [Capitol Weekly] Prop 16, which PG&E is pushing,... (Continue reading)