Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.
More independent money is continuing to flow into the race to represent the 8th Congressional District this week.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 – 09:30 a.m.
It sure looks as if San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Member and San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors candidate James Ramos’ campaign is pulling out all the stops in the final days running up to the June 5 primary.
Ramos is seeking to unseat Supervisor Neil Derry in the three-way contest.
BY BEN GOAD
WASHINGTON BUREAU
bgoad@pe.com
Published: 22 May 2012 06:56 PM
A high-stakes showdown with national implications is brewing in the San Bernardino Valley, where six candidates are vying to represent California’s newly drawn 31st Congressional District.
No House race in the country on the regular 2012 election schedule has attracted more outside spending than the 31st, which stretches from Redlands to Rancho Cucamonga and includes San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton and parts of Fontana and Rialto. Special interests have pumped more than $900,000 into the race.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/22/2012 04:00:23 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – High unemployment and a staggering number of people underwater on their mortgages continues to vex San Bernardino County, with no relief expected until late 2015, according to a budget report approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
The county added 15,600 jobs in the first three months of 2012, but its unemployment rate, as of March, was still hovering at 12.7 percent, higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.4 percent and California’s unemployment rate of 11.5 percent.
BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com
Published: 22 May 2012 05:09 PM
Riverside officials say they expect to recover only a portion of the $49.44 million that the former redevelopment agency spent to buy 80 pieces of land that are now up for sale.
Point of View
Supervisor Neil Derry
Posted: 05/22/2012 02:44:33 PM PDT
The people of San Bernardino County are tired of being unemployed or underemployed. They are tired of feeling like they just can’t get ahead. And they are tired of feeling like nothing is ever going to change.
There is a limit to what a county government can do to improve an economy that is subject to state, national and global pressures. But that doesn’t absolve us from working hard to make a positive impact in areas where we can make a difference.
Kristina Hernandez, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/22/2012 08:55:18 PM PDT
MENTONE – The economy and possible tax increases under Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration were two hot topics Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro addressed Tuesday night at the Mill Creek Cattle Co.
The talk was part of the party’s bus stop tour to address voters in other counties throughout the state and answer their questions and concerns about government on a state and local level.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/22/2012 12:15:41 PM PDT
UPLAND – Planning commissioner and real estate broker Bill Velto has announced his intention to run for City Council in November.
Velto, vice president and managing broker for Tarbell Realtors, is seeking to fill a council seat that will be left vacant when Councilman Ken Willis retires at the end of his term.
By PE Politics
May 22, 2012 12:15 PM
Calling for an “honest conversation” about spending cuts, Assemblyman Brian Nestande and others Tuesday proposed a constitutional amendment to prohibit lawmakers from deferring scheduled payments to schools from one fiscal year to another.
The state has built up more than $10 billion in school-funding deferrals as lawmakers try to avoid permanent general-fund cuts.
Wyatt Buchanan
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Sacramento — California’s public schools could see as much as a month of classroom time slashed from the calendar if voters reject a plan to raise taxes in November.
Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed giving school districts the option of cutting up to 15 days from the school year if voters reject his proposed income and sales tax initiative. The significantly shortened year would help offset a multibillion-dollar automatic midyear cut that would be implemented upon rejection of the taxes.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, May. 23, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
As the state budget’s deficit widens, Gov. Jerry Brown is being thrust into a three-front political battle.
He must not only persuade voters to pass his sales and income tax package, but, implicitly, persuade them to reject a rival tax measure just for schools.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 – 08:30 a.m.
Another Super-PAC committee has weighed in on the hotly-contested 8th Congressional District.
BY MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
STAFF WRITER
mklampe@pe.com
Published: 21 May 2012 10:14 PM
A record number of California schools, including 31 in the Inland Empire, may not be able to pay their bills in the next couple of years, the California Department of Education announced Monday, May 20.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/21/2012 07:12:18 PM PDT
There’s no shortage of choices for San Bernardino County voters this election season when it comes to the First District supervisor’s race.
Seven candidates are vying for the seat vacated by Brad Mitzelfelt, who is making a bid for Congress after only one term in public office.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 21 May 2012 08:42 PM
For the first time in more than a decade, High Desert voters will choose from a field of candidates without an incumbent in the 1st District San Bernardino County supervisor race.
Seven candidates are vying to replace Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who is running for the 8th Congressional District seat, in the June 5 election.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/21/2012 07:33:38 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Each of three proposals to slightly change the boundaries of the seven wards that make up the city contained problems for some City Council members, leading them to delay a vote on those boundaries until staff members come up with a fourth proposal.
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, May. 22, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
One week after Gov. Jerry Brown proposed slicing state workers’ pay by 5 percent, the Democratic governor and legislators find themselves targeted for a “share the pain” salary cut.
Members of California’s Citizens Compensation Commission said Monday that a pay-cut proposal for statewide officeholders will be on the table when the panel meets May 31.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 21, 2012
Four months after a California assemblyman was cited and released for carrying a gun into an airport, the Assembly passed legislation today that would require offenders to be taken into custody in such situations.
Democratic Assemblywoman Norma Torres said her Assembly Bill 2182 did not stem from the January incident involving Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, which occurred at an Ontario airport on the first day of this year’s legislative session.
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Published: 20 May 2012 07:52 PM
You know that old political joke, “Vote early, vote often”?
Yeah, Riverside City Councilman Mike Gardner’s heard it. And he’s been hearing it more lately, after his first mailer in his mayoral campaign assured people their vote counts … on June 4. (The election is June 5.)
BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 20 May 2012 05:38 PM
In San Bernardino County’s safely Democratic 47th Assembly District, Joe Baca Jr. wants to return to the job he held for a single term several years ago.
And in the county’s safely Republican 33rd Assembly District, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly is trying to avoid becoming a one-term lawmaker himself.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 20 May 2012 07:31 PM
The San Bernardino City Council must choose between three redistricting plans that will determine council ward lines in future elections.
The plans will go to the council Monday, May 21, for a 4 p.m. public hearing. If one of the options is selected, an ordinance will return to the council for adoption June 4.
Election 2012
Neil.Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Created: 05/20/2012 07:05:00 AM PDT
Donna Lowe will have her work cut out for her if she wants to represent the newly redrawn 41st Assembly District.
The Claremont resident and Tea Party supporter will be going up against three well-connected and better-funded Democrats – Pasadena Councilman Chris Holden, South Pasadena Mayor Michael Cacciotti and businesswoman Victoria Rusnak.
Wyatt Buchanan
Monday, May 21, 2012
Sacramento– Gov. Jerry Brown’s latest budget proposal attempts to close a formidable $15.7 billion deficit, but the real debate at the Capitol in the next few weeks probably will be over how to cut just a fraction of the big amount.
That’s because about $2 billion in the governor’s budget represents permanent reductions in spending on state welfare, child care and other programs that Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly have pledged to protect.
Sunday, May 20, 2012 – 03:30 p.m.
An interesting turn of events is unfolding in the taxpayer lawsuit filed by Upland lawyer Corey Briggs on behalf of two groups known as The Inland Oversight Committee and Citizens for Responsible Equitable Government.
BY JIM MILLER AND BEN GOAD
STAFF WRITERS
jmiller@pe.com | bgoad@pe.com
Published: 19 May 2012 06:16 PM
Fueled by new political boundaries and court rulings, campaign committees representing special interests have revved up spending this election cycle, and much of that largesse is focused on Inland Southern California candidates.
Independent expenditures committees, known nationally as super-PACs, have been a fixture of legislative and statewide elections in California since 2001. The Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision brought the same type of unlimited spending to federal contests, from president to Congress.
Election 2012
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/19/2012 06:01:36 PM PDT
Things don’t appear to be slowing down one bit in the contentious race for San Bernardino County’s 3rd District supervisorial seat in the June 5 primary election.
Outspoken incumbent Neil Derry has sharply criticized one of his two opponents, former San Manuel tribal Chairman James Ramos, saying Ramos doesn’t have the political background to serve a constituency of roughly 407,000 people.
BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com
Published: 18 May 2012 05:39 PM
Besides choosing one of seven candidates for mayor, Riverside voters on June 5 will say yea or nay to seven proposed amendments to the city charter.
The proposals include creating a sustainability commission, changing to whom the city auditor reports, shortening the time between council elections and runoffs, and a number of minor adjustments.
BY RICHARD K. De ATLEY
STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com
Published: 19 May 2012 05:28 PM
A letter from an attorney to the State Bar of California alleges that Riverside County Public Defender Gary Windom, 62, suffers from memory loss that is affecting his ability to run his office, which represents indigent defendants.
Election 2012
Neil Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Created: 05/19/2012 07:08:49 AM PDT
Democrats Cheryl Brown and Joe Baca, Jr. could easily be considered the favorites to make it though June’s primary for Assembly District 47 and face each other in November.
The have name recognition in local communities.
By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, May. 20, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Sunday, May. 20, 2012 – 8:30 am
Legislative Democrats aren’t organizing a bake sale just yet, but they say they will desperately search for cash in the coming weeks to avoid the most severe cuts proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Saying the state’s budget deficit has risen from $9.2 billion to $15.7 billion, the Democratic governor has proposed more cuts to programs that serve the state’s poorest residents.
Saturday, May 19, 2012 – 11:00 a.m.
USPS delivery of campaign mail improves
Something must have happened at the USPS earlier this week.
BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com
Published: 15 May 2012 06:30 PM
Riverside’s seven mayoral candidates are entering the home stretch, meeting Tuesday for a final forum hosted by a downtown business group.
After the opening stump speeches they’ve been giving for at least six weeks, candidates answered questions about how they’d support the arts, balance eco-friendly goals with economic development, and retool the downtown development plan.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Created: 05/18/2012 10:23:47 AM PDT
A reported drop in the Inland Empire’s unemployment rate to 11.7 percent would seem to signal an improving job market, but a closer look at the numbers shows the jobless rate dropped not because of a surge in hiring, but because the region’s work force shrunk.
San Bernardino and Riverside counties somehow lost some 24,000 people from their combined work force from March to April, according to government numbers released Friday.
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Created: 05/18/2012 12:01:03 PM PDT
Rep. Joe Baca has introduced a bill to expedite the transfer of L.A./Ontario International Airport to local control.
The Transfer Control of Ontario Airport Now Act gives Los Angeles World Airports, which manages ONT, 60 days to turn over operations and ownership.
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times
May 19, 2012
SACRAMENTO — California’s budget deficit may be more than $1 billion larger than even Gov. Jerry Brown’s latest estimate, the Legislature’s financial advisor said Friday.
Brown announced last weekend that the deficit had swelled from $9.2 billion to almost $16 billion. But the nonpartisan legislative analyst’s office said there may be less money available than the governor assumed, possibly increasing the budget gap to at least $17 billion.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, May. 19, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
The pile-on was in full effect within hours of Gov. Jerry Brown’s announcement this week that California’s budget deficit had grown to $15.7 billion, with The Week giving its national audience a summary of the Golden State’s financial affairs.
Friday, May 18, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
The sauce pan is simmering in the race for San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor.
The three-way race consisting of Supervisor Neil Derry, Former Twenty-Nine Palms City Councilman Jim Bagley and Former San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman James Ramos is heating up heading into the home stretch to the June 5th primary.
Friday, May 18, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.
San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry has received the endorsement of the Barstow Police Officers Association in his reelection bid.
BY BEN GOAD
WASHINGTON BUREAU
bgoad@pe.com
Published: 17 May 2012 01:23 PM
Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is planning a fundraising stop in Riverside next month, according to Republicans close to the campaign.
BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com
Published: 17 May 2012 08:27 PM
It’s easy to see who Riverside County’s public employee unions want for First District county supervisor.
They’re knocking on doors, offering endorsements and spending thousands of dollars to help Mike Soubirous oust incumbent Bob Buster in the June 5 primary. Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, is the third candidate, setting the stage for a possible two-man runoff in November.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/17/2012 07:23:12 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council has been updated on the condition of the city’s budget and will meet next week to decide where to make cuts.
City Manager Stephen Dunn presented the council with an update on the city’s fiscal condition during a special meeting on Wednesday, asking it to set its priorities so staff could find a way to absorb $3.4 million in obligated expenses.
Supervisor: Attracting out-of-state business vital to the county’s growth
May 17, 2012 9:37 AM
RENE DE LA CRUZ, Special to the Daily Press
While it was billed as a State of County presentation, San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said his address Wednesday should have been titled “county of the state” because of Sacramento’s insistence on passing its responsibilities down to the county level.
By Howard Mintz
hmintz@mercurynews.com
Posted: 05/18/2012 05:41:38 AM PDT
Updated: 05/18/2012 05:42:00 AM PDT
California’s judges will now have to post all their financial disclosure information in cyberspace.
In a unanimous decision, the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission on Thursday approved a rule that requires California’s more than 1,700 judges to post their disclosure forms on the Internet, despite objections from judicial leaders that it could jeopardize their privacy and security.
By Alejandro Lazo
May 17, 2012, 2:22 p.m.
From the Southland to the Bay Area, California’s housing market showed strength last month as median prices rose and sales outperformed the same month last year.
The Golden State’s median home price popped 6% in April to $264,000, according to real estate information firm DataQuick of San Diego. The median is the point at which half the homes in the state sold for more and half for less.
Friday, May 18, 2012 – 07:30 a.m.
Shares for the long awaited initial public offering of the social networking site Facebook were priced at $38 per share to investors able to subscribe to the intial shares.
The shares have yet to trade on the Nasdaq market this morning.
Michael Scarpello
Posted: 05/16/2012 02:48:21 PM PDT
An effort to address the significant problem of provisional balloting resulted in the unintended consequence of many voters receiving their mail ballots several days before receiving their sample ballots.
Although very few voters cast their mail ballots before seeing the sample ballot, I understand why some candidates who placed candidate statements in the sample ballot are unhappy. I apologize for that, and I will correct this situation in time for the November election. However, please rest assured that this situation has not in any way compromised the election. All laws have been followed to the letter as the deadline to mail sample ballots is 10 days prior to the election, and these documents will have been delivered well before that time.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/16/2012 06:35:01 PM PDT
San Bernardino County voters need to know where their designated polling locations are come primary election time on June 5 and also be aware their ballots will look a little different, county Registrar Michael Scarpello said Wednesday.
A state law approved in June 2010, the Top Two Open Primary Act, requires that all candidates for a voter-nominated office be listed on the same ballot.
By Liset Marquez
Created: 05/16/2012 03:23:20 PM PDT
DIAMOND BAR – A lively discussion about LA/Ontario International Airport, which was supposed to focus on the medium-hub facility’s importance to the region’s economy, quickly turned into a debate on the merits of local control.
For more than an hour Wednesday, a five-member panel discussed a bevy of issues and circumstances facing ONT at the Four Corners Coalition 2012 Economic Summit at the Diamond Bar Center.
Head of ICR Staffing loans his campaign committee $150,000
May 16, 2012 9:09 AM
Beau Yarbrough, Staff Writer
So far, the best financial friend for the campaigns of San Bernardino County 1st District supervisor candidates have been the candidates themselves.
The largest single campaign contribution for four of the seven candidates have been loans from the candidates themselves to their own campaign committees. It’s likely a reflection of lean financial times for political contributions: Only one of the seven men seeking to replace Brad Mitzelfelt as the 1st District’s representative on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors — businessman Robert Lovingood — has a campaign fund in the six figures.
BY JEFF HORSEMAN AND NELSY RODRIGUEZ
STAFF WRITERS
jhorseman@pe.com | nrodriguez@pe.com
Published: 16 May 2012 06:41 PM
Liberty Quarry opponents said Wednesday, May 16, that their dismay over county supervisors’ Tuesday decision to accept a report on the environmental affects of the quarry had turned to anger at the supervisor who cast the swing vote.
By Ed Mendel
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The CalPERS board yesterday raised the annual state payment for state worker pensions $213 million to a total of $3.7 billion, rejecting Gov. Brown’s request for a bigger increase to avoid a “loan” costing “$145.9 million over the next 20 years.”
Unions asked the board to spread out higher pension costs mainly caused by a lower investment earnings forecast. Paying part of the new rate over two decades, instead of the full amount now, makes an extra $149 million available for worker pay and other programs next fiscal year.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 16, 2012
A political committee that Service Employees International Union California created to support moderate Republican candidates for the Legislature reported its first expenditure of the 2012 election Wednesday, dropping more than $15,000 on mail pieces opposing Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly’s bid for re-election.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 – 10:30 a.m.
The National Association of Realtors is approaching the $750,000 mark in its independent expenditure campaign supporting Congressman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) according to current filings with the Federal Election Commission.
BY BEN GOAD
WASHINGTON BUREAU
bgoad@pe.com
Published: 15 May 2012 06:03 PM
Neither U.S. Rep. Joe Baca nor state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod has had trouble getting elected in San Bernardino County, where the Democratic stalwarts have held public office for a combined 50 years.
Now Baca, D-Rialto, and Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, are set to do battle in territory both have represented before: California’s newly drawn 35th Congressional District.
Some demand refunds for $11K paid for candidate statements
May 15, 2012 9:10 AM
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO • Candidates in the June 5 election are irate that vote-by-mail ballots arrived at the doors of High Desert residents before the guides that include candidate statements — the carefully crafted remarks that cost candidates nearly $11,000 to file.
San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Michael Scarpello said by phone Monday the delay seems to stem from a delivery problem at the post office. He hadn’t heard complaints about the voter’s guides not arriving outside of the High Desert.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 15, 2012
As Standard & Poors urged lawmakers Tuesday to pursue “credible” budget solutions to bridge the state’s $16 billion deficit, the ratings agency did not approve of Senate leader Darrell Steinberg’s idea to forego a reserve this year.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, May. 16, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Wednesday, May. 16, 2012 – 6:26 am
One day after Gov. Jerry Brown proposed sweeping changes to state government work schedules, many employees were still deciphering what it means for them.
Brown wants to move most of California’s 214,000 workers to four-day workweeks and 9.5-hour shifts starting July 1. The change would reduce state workers’ hours and pay by 5 percent each month and cut state payroll by about $839 million, $401 million of it from the deficit-ridden general fund. Many departments would be closed on Fridays, some on Mondays.
By Dan Walters
Published: Wednesday, May. 16, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Poker players often use the phrase “betting on the come” to describe a willingness, if instincts and odds indicate, to wager big on the hope that they will draw winning cards.
That’s a perfectly valid tactic when one is playing with one’s own money and therefore bearing the risk.
By Judy Lin, Associated Press Writer
Posted: 05/15/2012 09:21:09 PM PDT
Updated: 05/15/2012 09:22:38 PM PDT
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown is pleading with Californians to raise their taxes as part of his solution for solving the state’s budget deficit, but it’s uncertain whether voters will be in an accepting mood come November.
Polls show voters want more money for schools but don’t want to tax themselves to pay for it. They continue to be pessimistic about the economy in a state with one of the highest jobless rates in the nation. And they distrust the Legislature, which oversees the budget.
By Steve Lopez
May 16, 2012
In March, when I wrote that the tax increase proposals by Gov. Jerry Brown and civil rights attorney Molly Munger were unimaginative if not doomed, I got an email from Munger.
She did not agree, at least with regard to her initiative.
By Marc Lifsher
May 15, 2012, 9:05 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — The state government’s contribution to employee pensions is expected to jump to $3.7 billion from $3.5 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
On Tuesday, a committee of the board of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System recommended the increase as well as a $29-million drop to $1.2 billion for non-teaching school and community college district workers.
Even with the increase, the state’s contribution is lower than the $3.9 billion paid in fiscal 2010-2011, CalPERS said.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Watching the sad spectacle of Governor Gandalf yet again expounding on California’s budget horrors Monday was like going to see one of those dreadful, anemic sequels to a long-ago tapped-out blockbuster franchise.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 – 04:50 p.m.
Here is some news reverberating across the transom this week.
Brown wants portion of Harris foreclosure settlement
You gotta love it.
California Governor Jerry Brown, in an effort to cobble together more money to blow, wants to steal hundreds of millions of dollars meant to help distressed homeowners. The dough, a part of a national foreclosure settlement obtained by Attorney General Kamala Harris, is meant for distressed homeowners.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 – 08:30 a.m.
Was it the plan all along or just plain incompetence?
Governor Jerry Brown’s screwing over of the California budget that is.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/14/2012 07:54:53 PM PDT
A new way of distributing ballots to San Bernardino County’s registered voters has some candidates for office concerned about the delays.
With only 22 days to go before the June 5 primary, some voters still have not received their sample ballots and voter guides, but some have received their absentee ballots, officials said.
Posted: 05/14/2012 06:14:43 PM PDT
SBD Airport Services’ attempt to convince a federal judge to restore the company’s access to San Bernardinno International Airport’s fueling facilities has been postponed to June 18.
By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, May. 15, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Tuesday, May. 15, 2012 – 6:17 am
Gov. Jerry Brown announced Monday that the state budget deficit had grown by a remarkable 70 percent since January, but fiscal experts said the economy had little to do with it.
They instead blamed a bad marriage of volatile capital gains and political intransigence that led state leaders last year to count on a huge upswing in revenues that never materialized. At the same time, corporate tax changes from 2009 appear to have cost California more than state officials ever realized.
May 14th, 2012, 8:18 am
Posted by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent
UPDATED: 2:45 p.m.
Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday implored voters to approve his tax proposal as he presented a revised budget plan to address a deficit that has ballooned to $16 billion.
L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in
May 14, 2012 | 1:29 pm
State judicial leaders warned Monday that the proposed cuts for the California courts may jeopardize public access to the justice system.
By Dan Walters
Published: Tuesday, May. 15, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Just a few months ago, Gov. Jerry Brown chastised “declinists” and “dystopian journalists” for their pessimism about California, particularly about emerging from a deep recession.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 14, 2012
The Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation petitioned the 3rd District Court of Appeals today to remove from the November ballot a proposal to abolish the death penalty in California, arguing it violates the state’s “single-subject rule” for initiatives.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/13/2012 01:52:32 PM PDT
A flap over a gun has provided fodder for Assemblyman Tim Donnelly’s opponents in a battle for the hearts and minds of voters in the 33rd Assembly District.
For his opponents in the June 5 primary election, Donnelly’s arrest for carrying a loaded gun into an airport was a vital lapse in judgment.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 05/13/2012 01:54:51 PM PDT
Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Chino, faces three opponents in the June 5 primary race for the 52nd Assembly District seat, including a former Republican who has now registered as a Democrat.
Torres, a former Pomona mayor, is being challenged by Chino resident and restaurant owner Ray Moors, a Democrat; Pomona Planning Commissioner Kenny Coble, a Republican; and Ontario-Montclair School District board member Paul Vincent Avila, a Democrat.
By Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times
May 14, 2012
In the first broad test of California’s new “top-two” election system, many candidates in heated races for Congress and the state Legislature have been campaigning earlier, spending more money and downplaying their party affiliation as they try to widen their appeal.
Gone are the party primaries, except in the presidential race. Now all state candidates appear on a single ballot. Only those who come in first or second on June 5 will move on to the November general election, in which no write-in or other added candidates will be allowed.
L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in
May 13, 2012 | 2:01 pm
Gov. Jerry Brown’s announcement that the state’s deficit has swelled to $16 billion (from a $9.2-billion estimate in January) means that a new array of budget cuts are likely.
But where to cut?
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