Thursday, March 31, 2011 – 09:30 a.m.
The price of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude resumed its climb this morning with a vengence.
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Archive for March, 2011
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Contract talks between Riverside County and the union representing sheriff’s deputies took a public turn this week.
The Riverside Sheriff’s Association released a statement Tuesday saying the county rejected multiple offers that would have saved as much as $28 million over the next three years.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Cassie MacDuff
Now that former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus has pleaded guilty and promised to tell all he knows, will the rest of the defendants in the public-corruption cases tumble like a house of cards?
Will his five unindicted co-conspirators be charged?
Postmus’ guilty plea
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/30/2011 08:53:17 PM PDT
The repercussions of a guilty plea to corruption charges by former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus are expected to be discussed Tuesday when county attorneys brief the Board of Supervisors in a closed-door session.
By PE Politics
March 30, 2011 1:56 PM
California would award its 55 electoral votes to the presidential candidate who won the national popular vote under bipartisan legislation co-authored by Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert.
Filed under: Campaigns, Elections, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, U.S. Government
Budget impasse will add to already imposing shortfalls
James Rufus Koren and Neil Nisperos, Staff Writers
Created: 03/30/2011 05:39:14 PM PDT
California State University campuses and local community colleges, already in line for budget cuts, are bracing for what leaders are calling unprecedented additional cuts, following a breakdown in negotiations over the state budget.
Filed under: Budget, California State University, Economy, Education, Finance, In the News, State of California
Molly Davis, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/30/2011 02:19:33 PM PDT
YUCAIPA – Sitting in front of a wall with “In God We Trust” on it, the City Council could not come to a consensus about an agenda item on having an invocation, or nondenominational prayer, before each meeting.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Several major Republican priorities were within reach as four GOP lawmakers negotiated on Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget plan. When talks broke down, they lost a rare window of opportunity.
California Gov. Jerry Brown speaks to reporters March 24 after signing bills to cut billions from California’s budget. Talks with Republicans to seek votes for his budget plan crumbled Tuesday night. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / March 24, 2011)
By Evan Halper and Michael J. Mishak, Los Angeles Times
March 31, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento — After years of sitting on the bench, watching much of the state’s business being conducted with little regard for their input, California Republicans in recent months had an opportunity to share the reins of government.
Now, that appears to be gone.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Mar. 31, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
The collapse of budget negotiations leaves a temporary vacuum as state leaders decide where to head next.
This much is known: the state needs to solve a remaining $15.4 billion deficit, and lawmakers have exhausted many options in the realm of spending cuts and fund transfers.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Thursday, Mar. 31, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Sure as deadlocks follow budget talks, here’s a rumor that surfaces whenever California government suffers fiscal convulsions: The state is going to offer “golden handshakes.”
By Matt Weiser
mweiser@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2011 – 3:14 pm
Last Modified: Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2011 – 5:55 pm
California’s drought is over. But don’t get carried away.
That was the basic message in a proclamation issued today by Gov. Jerry Brown, which rescinds a statewide drought emergency declaration adopted in February 2009 by his predecessor.
A city administrator warns that the ‘true nature of the city’s cash deficit was buried for many years’ by various accounting maneuvers.
By Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times
March 31, 2011
Montebello is so short on cash it may have trouble making payroll or paying its bills in the near future if officials don’t take “immediate corrective action,” a city administrator warned this week.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
That explosion you heard in downtown Sacramento on Tuesday was the big blowup of Gov. Jerry Brown’s plans to ask voters in June to extend billions of dollars in taxes to balance the deficit-riddled state budget.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Pensions, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
10:33 PM PDT on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside Board of Supervisors meet about county budgets
Published: 3/29/2011 07:18 PM
Riverside County’s four public-safety departments painted a bleak picture Tuesday of their finances, saying they face significant budget shortfalls for next fiscal year.
Emmerson
By PE Politics
March 29, 2011 3:50 PM
State Sen. Bill Emmerson said Tuesday that budget negotiations with Gov. Jerry Brown are over and won’t restart.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
By DUANE GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Hunched over large maps — with markers in hand — Riverside County’s redistricting committee began trying Tuesday to figure out how to divide more than 2 million residents into five equal districts.
Postmus
10:40 PM PDT on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: San Bernardino County Corruption Probe
Prosecutors say a plea deal by former San Bernardino County Assessor and Supervisor Bill Postmus could invalidate a $102 million lawsuit settlement, but they will leave it up to the county Board of Supervisors to decide whether to go after the money.
Quincey
Council has closed session
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/29/2011 04:55:14 PM PDT
UPLAND – Council members discussed City Manager Robb Quincey’s employment during a closed session meeting on Monday, but didn’t provide much information to the public on his status with the city.
Ex-official’s deal has implications for investigations, county lawsuits
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/29/2011 09:23:45 PM PDT
A guilty plea to corruption charges by former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus may have major impacts on an ongoing criminal investigation and a landmark $102 million legal settlement between the county and a land developer.
March 29, 2011 3:15 PM
Brooke Edwards
VICTORVILLE • Mike Rothschild has decided to run for a seventh term on the City Council after all, spurred to change his mind by a mounting recall effort against him and two other council members.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
By KEVIN PEARSON
The Press-Enterprise
Hemet likely will face more cuts as it battles through tough economic times, and residents will have to accept the potential for change, Mayor Jerry Franchville said during an annual address.
By Shane Goldmacher and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
March 30, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento — Gov. Jerry Brown has abandoned his effort to negotiate a bipartisan budget, charging that Republicans were unwilling to support his plan unless he yielded to “an ever-changing list of collateral demands.”
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
March 29, 2011
The California Labor Federation is considering a ballot initiative on taxes after budget talks between Gov. Jerry Brown and Republican lawmakers broke down this afternoon.
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Published: 3/28/2011 07:57 PM
PDF: DA statement on plea deal in San Bernardino County corruption case
Special Section: San Bernardino County Corruption Probe
Former San Bernardino County Assessor and Supervisor Bill Postmus pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to corruption charges after more than two years of fighting the allegations in court.
Filed under: County of San Bernardino, Courts, In the News, Legal, Politics, Republicans, State Superior Court
Postmus
Former county assessor to trade testimony for reduction in charges
Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, Staff Writers
Posted: 03/28/2011 05:27:31 PM PDT
Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus pleaded guilty on Monday in San Bernardino Superior Court to criminal charges stemming from scandals involving the Assessor’s Office and a legal settlement with a Rancho Cucamonga developer.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, March 28, 2011
Cassie MacDuff
Whether to continue a monthly subsidy to San Bernardino County retirees is going to be a divisive issue.
That became clear at a Board of Retirement committee meeting last week.
Filed under: Budget, County of San Bernardino, Economy, Finance, In the News, Investments, Pension Funds, Pensions
Sniff
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, March 28, 2011
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Budget cuts have put Riverside County’s inmate medical care out of compliance with state law, exposing the county to potential lawsuits or court oversight, Sheriff Stan Sniff said.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/28/2011 07:12:43 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – A judge on Monday lowered bail by more than $1 million for a former county welfare worker accused of stealing from needy families, despite a prosecutor’s concern she may be a flight risk.
Cabriales, Rothschild and Kennedy
March 28, 2011 5:31 PM
Brooke Edwards
VICTORVILLE • Three council members are now being targeted for a recall, with developer Dan Tate planning a rally next week to discuss strategies and potential candidates to replace Mayor Pro Tem Rudy Cabriales, Councilman Mike Rothschild and Councilman Jim Kennedy.
Solar system to power 85,000 Los Angeles homes
March 28, 2011 4:11 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
ADELANTO • The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is building an 11.6-megawatt solar plant here that utility officials say will power more than 85,000 Los Angeles homes over 25 years.
Marks at least fourth position Frank Robinson has tried for in less than three years
March 28, 2011 2:53 PM
Brooke Edwards
APPLE VALLEY • Town Manager Frank Robinson is a finalist for a city manager position in Iowa, marking at least his fourth attempt to take another job since coming to Apple Valley less than three years ago.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
March 28, 2011
When Senate Republicans released their list of policy requests late Friday, including notes of where Democrats had agreed, it seemed like the kind of move that typically spells disaster. But conversations continued Monday, albeit without the two Senate Republican leaders who made the list public.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
Debra J. Saunders
San Francisco Chronicle
March 28, 2011 – 04:00 AM
In Sacramento, the knee-jerk response to any crisis is to blame the Republicans. But if Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders can’t cut a deal to win the two GOP votes in the Assembly and two in the Senate needed to qualify Brown’s tax-increase extension for the June ballot, Democrats must take their share of responsibility for fudging a deal.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Finance, In the News, Pensions, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
Money & Company
Tracking the market and economic trends that shape your finances.
March 28, 2011 | 6:29 pm
Hopes were high at the start of this year for a hefty first-quarter growth spurt in the U.S. economy.
But some of Wall Street’s biggest banks now are ratcheting back their growth estimates amid disappointing data in recent weeks.
By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/28/2011 07:18:54 PM PDT
Updated: 03/29/2011 07:33:14 AM PDT
If you think $4 gas has put a dent in your wallet, prepare for a pothole in your purse this summer, fuel analysts say.
As the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular rose Monday for the sixth consecutive day, some say it could hit $5 before the worst is over.
The declaration put in place three years ago will be lifted Wednesday after the state conducts its final snow survey. After winter downpours, the state’s reservoirs are at high levels.
By Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times
March 29, 2011
Gov. Jerry Brown is about to make official what a winter of downpours and rising reservoir levels have already made obvious: California’s drought is over.
Postmus
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/28/2011 05:27:31 PM PDT
Former Assessor and former Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus struck a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty today to criminal charges stemming from the $102 million Colonies lawsuit settlement and alleged malfeasance in the Assessor’s Office.
Monday, March 28, 2011 – 11:05 a.m.
With a shortfall of nearly $100 million, San Bernardino County needs to cut deals with all of its unions in an effort to address the start of its July 1, 2011 fiscal year.
Right now the situation doesn’t look good.
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Press-Enterprise
Friday capped an eye-raising few months in the seating assignments of Assembly members Tim Donnelly and Gil Cedillo.
11:07 PM PDT on Sunday, March 27, 2011
By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise
The state’s decision to delay one-fifth of the funding due to schools is forcing Inland districts to take out loans to pay their bills.
The loans will cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest, school officials say.
Week ahead
Vacant seat also on tonight’s agenda
Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino, Staff Writer
Created: 03/27/2011 09:34:32 PM PDT
The Upland City Council will discuss the city manager’s performance in closed session during a meeting tonight at City Hall.
Monday, March 28, 2011
By Ed Mendel
Should the makeup of the governing boards of the two big state pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, be changed?
The issue edged into the spotlight last week, pushed from the shadows by rising government pension costs and a CalPERS corruption scandal.
Filed under: CalPERS, CalSTRS, Finance, In the News, Investments, Pension Funds, State of California
After a contentious battle, Republicans settle on a strategy to blunt the effect of new open-primary law. They’ll survey all GOP voters by mail and the top vote-getter will be the party’s official candidate.
By Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times
March 28, 2011
When the California Republican Party adopted a plan to survey the state’s 5.3 million GOP voters to decide who should be their party’s standard-bearer in future elections, the move provided a compromise ending to a contentious battle over how to blunt the voter-approved “top two” primary system.
There are signs of bipartisan efforts to tackle deficits, but how will they fare in the partisan heat of the 2012 election cycle?
By Lisa Mascaro, Washington Bureau
March 28, 2011
Reporting from Washington—
Not since Ross Perot unleashed his wonky charts has the nation’s heavy debt load received so much attention.
Sunday, March 27, 2011 – 12:40 p.m.
It just keeps on raining dirty laundry in San Bernardino County political circles these days.
The latest revelation of a superior court judge being unduly influenced doesn’t seem to be surprising to anyone who’s familiar with the inner workings of San Bernardino County governmental, legal and political circles.
Police union denied back pay from forced furloughs in ’09
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/26/2011 08:08:11 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The city has won a court skirmish against the police union over back pay during city-imposed furloughs.
A fight with the firefighters union continues.
Quincey
Amendments will give boost to pension of city manager
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/26/2011 07:06:53 AM PDT
UPLAND – The city manager has received several amendments to his contract that will boost his pension considerably and that removed all limitations on his use of accrued leave.
Robb Quincey was placed on paid leave of absence on Jan. 4 and has since been collecting his compensation and benefits while away from the job.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 03/26/2011 07:06:52 AM PDT
CHINO – The City Council last week viewed cost-saving options in reducing pension contributions for all new employees or having employees pay all their pension share.
Filed under: Budget, Chino, Cities, Economy, Finance, In the News, Local Government, Pensions, Unions
By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Mar. 27, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Sunday, Mar. 27, 2011 – 10:24 am
Gov. Jerry Brown is no stranger to spending caps. He served as governor when voters last approved a strict limit on expenditure growth, in 1979.
That law, known as the “Gann Limit” for anti-tax activist Paul Gann, has since been watered down by voters.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
San Francisco Chronicle
March 26, 2011 – 04:00 AM
Democrat Jerry Brown, in his 2010 gubernatorial campaign for a third term, argued that California’s fiscal meltdown demanded an experienced player in the bare-knuckles game of Sacramento politics – someone who knew the teams and playbooks and could put together a winning budget deal.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate, Unions
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Sunday, Mar. 27, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Sunday, Mar. 27, 2011 – 9:29 am
Gov. Jerry Brown’s political courtship of Republican senators to vote for his budget plan was an on-again, off-again affair last week.
Earlier in the week it appeared that negotiations on whether billions of dollars in taxes would be submitted to voters had reached an impasse, and Brown let it be known he might seek a tax vote next fall via initiative petition.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Pensions, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate, Unions
By Dan Morain, Senior editor
dmorain@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Sunday, Mar. 27, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 1E
Last Modified: Sunday, Mar. 27, 2011 – 10:09 am
There are many reasons why Gov. Jerry Brown has failed to win Republican support for his plan to close the $26.6 billion budget deficit. But the issue of public employee pensions is fundamental.
Filed under: Budget, Economy, Finance, In the News, Pensions, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
A new deduction for self-employed workers, multiple home buyer credits and an expired break for the jobless are among the vexing issues this tax season.
By Kathy M. Kristof Personal Finance
March 27, 2011
Welcome to tax season — the most dreaded time of year.
It’s not just that preparing a tax return is time-consuming and costly — although it’s clearly both. The Internal Revenue Service estimates that it takes roughly 23 hours and costs about $300, on average, to compile and file a Form 1040.
Saturday, March 26, 2011 – 04:06 p.m.
InlandPolitics.com has learned the judicial officer, who abruptly dismissed a lawsuit filed against San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos, has been reassigned effective Monday, March 28, 2011.
Saturday, March 26, 2011 – 12:25 p.m.
InlandPolitics.com has learned that former Police Chief Martin Thouvenell will run in the special election to fill the city council seat vacated by Ray Musser.
Musser was appointed mayor last month.
March 25, 2011
The San Bernardino County legal community finds itself embroiled in contretemps, with a report spreading that district attorney Mike Ramos, or agents of his office acting on his behalf, threatened a Superior Court judge.
Calvert
By PE Politics
March 24, 2011 11:17 AM
Inland Rep. Ken Calvert was among three members of the House Appropriations Committee chosen this week to serve as liaisons to the panel that oversees federal intelligence matters.
10:37 PM PDT on Friday, March 25, 2011
By TIFFANY RAY
The Press-Enterprise
Interactive: Charting the Jobless Rate
California employers added a whopping 96,500 new jobs to the economy in February but the Inland region, dragged down by continued losses in the construction sector, claimed only a small share of them.
By James Rufus Koren Staff Writer
Posted: 03/25/2011 10:59:52 PM PDT
The past week saw lawmakers come to a standstill over the state budget, with little or no progress being made since March 16 and 17, when legislators approved several bills calling for cuts in state spending.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Finance, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
Quincey
By Sandra Emerson Staff Writer
Created: 03/25/2011 03:18:17 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council has several items to discuss during their meeting on Monday, including the city manager’s performance.
A performance evaluation of City Manager Robb Quincey is on the agenda for closed session.
Decision comes as recall effort moves ahead
March 25, 2011 5:20 PM
Brooke Edwards
VICTORVILLE • Councilman Mike Rothschild has decided he won’t be running for reelection next fall, announcing the decision to his Facebook friends Friday morning.
By PE Politics
March 24, 2011 3:19 PM
A legislative committee has rejected an Inland lawmaker’s bill that would give governors 90 days to fill vacancies on boards of supervisors. After that, county supervisors could decide how to fill a vacancy.
Filed under: Counties, In the News, Local Government, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California
Republicans give Brown a seven-page list of policy changes they say are needed before they agree to vote on his budget. They include ending seniority system for teacher layoffs and moving the 2012 presidential primary to March. A Brown aide calls it a ‘hodgepodge.’
By Shane Goldmacher and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
March 26, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento—
Gov. Jerry Brown accused GOP lawmakers of paralyzing budget negotiations by introducing dozens of new demands Friday.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
The Associated Press
Created: 03/24/2011 06:09:59 PM PDT
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown said Thursday that he has told his labor union allies they should be open to concessions that Republican lawmakers are seeking on public employee pensions in exchange for GOP votes on the budget.
Filed under: Budget, Economy, Finance, In the News, Pensions, Politics, Republicans, State of California, Unions
Stone
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, March 24, 2011
By GAIL WESSON and DUANE GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone urged business and civic leaders to support the county supervisors’ efforts at pension reform at an economic development forum in San Jacinto on Thursday.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
March 24, 2011 | 6:06 pm
As Gov. Jerry Brown mulls his options on how to bring an election on taxes to the voters, Republicans are readying election measures of their own. GOP operatives filed two initiatives with the attorney general’s office Thursday — one to curb public employee pensions and another aimed at capping future state spending — in the event Brown walks away from talks with Republican lawmakers and opts for a November special election.
Filed under: Budget, Economy, Finance, In the News, Pensions, Politics, Republicans, State of California
The billions of dollars in cuts to government services signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown address a portion of the estimated $26-billion deficit facing California. Brown is still negotiating with Republicans on a proposal to put tax extensions before voters.
By Shane Goldmacher, Los Angeles Times
March 25, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento—
Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law billions of dollars in budget cuts Thursday that will mean fewer government services, particularly for the old, the poor and the sick.
California’s debt to the U.S. for covering its unemployment checks the last two years could reach $13.4 billion by the end of the year. If the loans aren’t repaid by November, a payroll tax will kick in. It starts at $325 million next year and could rise to $6 billion.
By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
March 24, 2011, 5:33 p.m.
Reporting from Sacramento—
California employers could face an annual payroll tax increase of as much as $6 billion if California’s unemployment insurance program fails to repay a federal government loan that has kept benefits flowing.
March 25, 2011
Jerry Brown shifted into full Zen mode this week, offering increasingly cryptic commentary amid a political atmosphere that grows ever more cloudy and gray.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
In California and other Western states, 67.5% of households saw their net worth fall, compared with 62.5% in the U.S. overall. The median decline in the West was 27%, well above the 18.1% national median.
By Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times
March 24, 2011, 6:45 p.m.
The federal government has for the first time detailed the sharp drop in wealth that the Great Recession caused American households — and it shows that families in California and other Western states took the biggest and broadest hits by far.
Thursday, March 24, 2010 – 10:45 a.m.
San Bernardino County’s investment pool continues to maintain high ratings and stability in its investment choices.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 – 10:30 p.m.
San Bernardino County’s public employee labor unions appear to be loaded with political cash this year.
A factor surely to play into concession talks with county management.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 – 11:51 a.m.
With all the justifiable concerns being raised over the state of public pension funds, it seems appropriate to look at San Bernardino County’s pension fund to see just how good or bad the situation is.
What was discovered is not good.
Jodie Filkins Webber
By PE Politics
March 23, 2011 3:18 PM
One of the five Republicans on the Citizens Redistricting Commission on Wednesday rejected suggestions by some GOP leaders that the panel is hopelessly skewed toward Democrats.
Dutton
By PE Politics
March 23, 2011 1:36 PM
A Senate committee signed off Wednesday on an Inland Southern California lawmaker’s bill to exempt manufacturing and research equipment from the state sales tax. A similar measure never made it out of committee last year.
Penman
City to borrow $410K this year
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/23/2011 06:11:55 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The most recent fight over how to finance a budget shortfall in the City Attorney’s Office came to an end this week when officials approved a measure to borrow money from a city fund.
City, fearing state cash grab, sets redevelopment spending
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Created: 03/23/2011 08:59:24 PM PDT
FONTANA – The city’s Redevelopment Agency funneled $19 million into 17 projects at a public meeting Tuesday night.
The action to put money to work comes at a time when there is uncertainty about the future of redevelopment agencies in California.
Filed under: Budget, Cities, Economy, Finance, Fontana, In the News, Local Government, Politics, Redevelopment, State of California
March 23, 2011 5:35 PM
Brooke Edwards
VICTORVILLE • The city is expected to come up between $2 million and $3 million short in making its debt payment for Southern California Logistics Airport, relying on reserves in its redevelopment agency to cover the gap.
But that funding source is also precarious, as Gov. Jerry Brown pursues a state budget that calls for eliminating redevelopment agencies altogether.
Filed under: Budget, Cities, Economy, Finance, In the News, Investments, Local Government, Redevelopment, Victorville
2 incumbents join new Councilman Rosales
Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 03/23/2011 09:55:55 PM PDT
LA VERNE – Old and new faces were celebrated at this week’s City Council meeting.
New Councilman Charlie Rosales was sworn into office as were incumbent Councilman Robert Rodriguez and incumbent Mayor Don Kendrick.
A new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California shows 46% of likely voters backing the governor’s proposed five-year extension on some taxes, a drop from 53% two months ago. The treasurer’s office says delaying a vote on extensions to November could force the state to
By Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
March 24, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento—
Public support for Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to solve the budget crisis with a June election is eroding as other officials warn that delaying such a move until late fall, as the governor is considering, could trigger a cash crisis and a fresh round of state-issued IOUs.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Pensions, Politics, Polls, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Mar. 24, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Thursday, Mar. 24, 2011 – 8:52 am
Budget talks remained at an apparent impasse Wednesday, with time running out and Gov. Jerry Brown complaining that he has yet to receive a list of demands from the Republican lawmakers with whom he is speaking.
Filed under: Budget, Democrats, Economy, Finance, In the News, Politics, Republicans, State Assembly, State of California, State Senate
By Greg Lucas | 03/24/11 12:00 AM PST
It’s been called California’s other budget deficit. And it certainly hasn’t had near the attention of the state’s $25.4 billion budget gap between revenue and spending commitments.
But it’s almost as dire.
California’s employer-paid Unemployment Insurance Fund is insolvent.
Feinstein
By Michael Doyle
mdoyle@mcclatchydc.com
Published: Thursday, Mar. 24, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Thursday, Mar. 24, 2011 – 8:01 am
WASHINGTON – Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein remains more popular among California voters than her colleague Barbara Boxer, a new Field Poll shows.
But Feinstein can’t rest easy as she prepares for another re-election bid next year. For the first time since her initial 1992 election, less than half of the Californians surveyed consider themselves leaning toward Feinstein.
Filed under: Democrats, Dianne Feinstein, In the News, Politics, Polls, State of California, U.S. Senate
L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in
March 23, 2011 | 1:06 pm
Gay marriage won’t be allowed to resume until state and federal appeals courts decide the fate of Proposition 8, the voter initiative that limited marriage to heterosexual couples, three federal judges ruled Wednesday.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Thursday, Mar. 24, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Feelings are facts – and sometimes they’re the most important facts when you’re talking about resolving conflicts.
How else to explain the nearly three months – and unnecessary furlough days for 60,000 affected state workers – for six unions to reach new labor deals with Gov. Jerry Brown?