2009

By Andrew McIntosh
Sacramento Bee Capitol Worker Blog
March 24, 2009

It's no April Fool's joke.

A Senate Web site is listing a joint Senate hearing for April 1 into how the Employment Development Department is using technology.

The hearing is to be led by the chairmen of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee and the Select Committee on Disaster and Emergency Response.

By Jim Sanders
Sacramento Bee
March 23, 2009

Richard Cadena, jobless for months, has a four-letter word for any California lawmaker unsure whether to pass or defeat legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits: pass.

"Anything is a blessing at this point in time," said Cadena, 47, a former auto painter.

Robert Williams, a 36-year-old custodian, said he has hunted for work since December and has submitted a thick stack of job applications.

"Probably 30," he said, anticipating the next question. "Nothing."

By Denis Cuff
Contra Costa Times
March 22, 2009

Concord motorist Weeda Mojadedi agrees the nation's bumpy, pocked roads and freeways need fixing, but she said she doubts that imposing a new tax based on miles driven rather than gas consumed is the way to pay for it.

"A mileage tax sounds too complicated. There are a lot of ifs," the office receptionist said during a recent stop at a service station. "If the problem is they don't have enough money for roads, why don't they raise the gas tax? Then again, I worry about government taking more money from us."

Viticulture briefs
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
March 22, 2009

Just weeks after being dropped during state budget negotiations, the threat of a new state tax on wine has returned.

California legislators have introduced separate bills in recent weeks calling for 10-cent and 5-cent per drink taxes on alcohol.

Assembly Bill 1019 calls for a 10-cent per drink tax. It was introduced Feb. 27 by Assemblyman Jim Beall Jr., D-San Jose, who made it clear he's no wine lover.

NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
PBS
March 9, 2009

GWEN IFILL: Next, growing troubles for public transportation compounded by the economic downturn.

New figures out today show Americans relied on public transit in greater numbers last year. The American Public Transportation Association reports that, as gas prices dropped, more than 10 billion trips were taken by bus and rail, the highest level in more than 50 years.

By Pete Golis
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
March 1, 2009

"If we continue to go down this path, we will devolve . . . into a collection of tribes." - Dan Walters, state political columnist.

SACRAMENTO

By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Contra Costa Times Political Blotter
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

After sitting through a daylong presentation put on by coalition of business leaders and government reform groups in Sacramento, it seems increasingly likely that voters will see on the ballot in 2010 two measures that would lead to the California Constitutional Convention since 1879.

Staff Report
Contra Costa Times
02/24/2009

Advocating for education

Open primary debate reignites
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Contra Costa Times
February 22, 2009

IN THE PRE-DAWN hours of the budget fracas last week, a lone — and now lonely — state senator revived the open primary fight in California.

Sen. Abel Maldonado, a moderate Central Coast Republican, broke with his party and demanded the Legislature let voters decide the open primary question in return for his critical vote on the budget.

By Kevin Yamamura
Sacramento Bee Capitol Alert
February 19, 2009

Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, said he's ready to vote for the budget after scoring major concessions from legislative leaders as part of a plan to bridge a $40 billion deficit. The only remaining question is whether two-thirds of both houses will provide enough votes to give Maldonado what he wants.