Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Political Whispers
Saturday, July 5, 2014
So, as with all Presidential second terms, President Obama is fading from relevance. It is inevitable and common for second term Presidents to become less popular and effective, Republican or Democrat.
Michael A. Memoli
July 4, 2014
Democrats headed into the Fourth of July recess facing stiff head winds in their quest to maintain a Senate majority this fall, contending with voters’ unease over the economy and a slew of Washington controversies.
Ryan Grim and Kasey Varner
Posted: 07/03/2014 – 5:28 pm EDT
Updated: 07/03/2014 – 5:59 pm EDT
WASHINGTON — People are mad as hell, and they’re not going to take it anymore, an extensive new survey of public attitudes toward the government finds.
Thursday, July 3, 2014 – 10:15 a.m.
Here’s some news flowing across the transom Thursday morning.
Official unemployment rate falls in June
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 288,000 jobs were added in June. The number dropped the official unemployment rate (U-3) to 6.1%
Michael Muskal
June 30, 2014
The poll, released Monday, had good news and bad news for the high court, a unique institution that serves as a check and balance in the United States. People have more confidence in the court than in any other arm of government, but that may not be saying that much when confidence in the presidency stands at 29% and in the Congress at 7%.
By Daniel Rothberg
drothberg@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Jun. 27, 2014 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Friday, Jun. 27, 2014 – 6:54 am
Fueled by partisan and geographic differences, satisfaction with the Legislature continued a downward swing that began after a state senator was arrested on corruption charges earlier this year, according to a Field Poll released Friday.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Jun. 26, 2014 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Thursday, Jun. 26, 2014 – 8:28 am
Tracey La Monica lost her job at a nonprofit organization four years ago as the state’s economy sputtered amid the global economic crisis. Although she soon landed employment, La Monica said she believes the slow recovery continues to weigh heavily on California.
By Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine
June 25, 2014
Democrat Jerry Brown has little to fear from his GOP challenger, Neel Kashkari, according to the latest Field Poll that finds the governor leading by 20 points – 52-32% — including 13% among Republicans.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2014 – 12:00 am
Despite political fallout from his prisoner exchange, the unfolding scandal in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and growing unrest in the Middle East, President Barack Obama has maintained encouraging job ratings in California, where he’s buoyed by a scarcity of Republicans, according to the new Field Poll.
The Fix
By Philip Bump
June 20, 2014
Gallup released a new poll on Thursday revealing that only seven percent of Americans have any real confidence in Congress. It’s an historic low, and probably one that 93 percent of Americans think is still higher than it should be.
By KENDALL BREITMAN | 6/20/14 6:07 AM EDT Updated: 6/20/14 8:42 AM EDT
Two in three Americans disapprove of President Barack Obama’s handling of immigration, according to a new Gallup poll.
At 65 percent, the disapproval rate is the highest that Gallup has reported since the group began polling on the subject and is up 10 points since August 2013.
Thirty-one percent of those polled approved of his handling of immigration, the lowest readings since 2010, when only 29 percent approved.
To read entire story, click here.
By JONATHAN TOPAZ | 6/18/14 6:18 AM EDT
President Barack Obama’s approval rating is tied for the lowest mark since the beginning of his presidency, a new poll says.
Post Politics
By Sean Sullivan
June 13, 2014
At least three polls released this week showed President Obama’s favorability rating hitting new lows.
In his first term, his favorable rating held steady even as his job approval rating slipped. But that’s no longer true.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Jun. 8, 2014 – 12:00 am
Approval ratings of the California Legislature, as measured in periodic polling, were in the teens a few years ago but have since improved.
Seema Mehta, Michael Finnegan
June 1, 2014
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown holds a commanding lead in his bid for an unprecedented fourth term, but the race among GOP candidates seeking to take him on in November has become a dead heat just days before Tuesday’s election, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll.
Chris Megerian
May 30, 2014
Paying down debt is the best use of the state’s reserve fund, voters say in a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll.
Posted on Wednesday, May 28 at 11:35am | By Carla Marinucci
With Democrat Jerry Brown still holding a commanding lead in the California governor’s race, the Republican contest for second place remains lively — with Tea Party favorite Tim Donnelly enjoying a 7-point advantage over former Treasury official Neel Kashkari, according to a new Golden State Poll by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Michael Finnegan
May 24, 2014
If there’s one thing Republican Neel Kashkari needed this week to stay in the running for governor of California, it was money.
And he got it. Big donors have started spending more than $650,000 promoting the Laguna Beach newcomer to California politics.
Michael Finnegan
May 21, 2014
The race between the two main Republicans vying to challenge Gov. Jerry Brown’s reelection has tightened, but Assemblyman Tim Donnelly still holds an edge over Neel Kashkari, a former assistant U.S. Treasury secretary, a new poll has found.
May 19, 2014
by Rebecca Riffkin
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Twenty percent of Americans name unemployment or jobs as the most important problem facing the country in May, up from 14% who mentioned these issues in April. Dysfunctional government (19%) and the economy in general (17%) also rank among the top problems.
Democrats Say Unemployment Is Top Problem, Republicans Say the Economy Read the rest of this entry »
May 14, 2014
One of Democrats’ biggest electoral embarrassments in 2012 could repeat itself this year, according to a pollster who recently surveyed a hotly contested Inland congressional district.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.
David Lauter
Monday, May 5, 2014
Six months out from the November midterm election, Republicans have a strong advantage which, if it holds up, would likely translate into significant gains in Congress, a new nationwide survey indicates.
April 29, 2014 10:30 PM
SHEA JOHNSON, STAFF WRITER
A supporter of 33rd Assembly District candidate Scott Markovich recently filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that a research group made disparaging remarks about three other candidates during a phone call last week and refused to disclose who was paying for its services.
By Dan Balz and Peyton M. Craighill
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Democrats face serious obstacles as they look to the November elections, with President Obama’s approval rating at a new low and a majority of voters saying they prefer a Congress in Republican hands to check the president’s agenda, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Posted on Thursday, April 24 at 5:27pm | By Carla Marinucci
Republican gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari was already facing an uphill climb to unseat Gov. Jerry Brown this year, and now a new poll shows just how steep that hill is — he’s trailing a registered sex offender.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Apr. 17, 2014 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Thursday, Apr. 17, 2014 – 7:44 am
Proposition 13 may be the third rail of California politics, but state voters appear to have some appetite for making changes to the tax-limiting measure, according to a new Field Poll.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Apr. 12, 2014 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Saturday, Apr. 12, 2014 – 12:35 am
In the state controller’s race, Republican Ashley Swearengin holds an early lead over a pair of better-known Democrats vying to advance to the general election in November, according to a new Field Poll.
By Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine
Friday, April 11, 2014
With Gov. Jerry Brown in a commanding position to be re-elected in November and with transparency and integrity in office thrust into the news by scandal in Sacramento, the most interesting statewide contest – one in which a Republican has at least a shot at winning a constitutional office — is the race for Secretary of State.
Melody Gutierrez
Updated 7:01 am, Thursday, April 10, 2014
Sacramento– Public opinion of the California Legislature has taken a sudden, negative turn since a San Francisco senator was charged with corruption and arms trafficking, according to a Field Poll released Thursday.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Apr. 9, 2014 – 12:24 am
Gov. Jerry Brown’s public approval rating has risen to a new high, as he pummels a crop of little-known Republicans in his bid for re-election, according to a new Field Poll.
April 08, 2014; 06:01 AM
President Barack Obama’s popularity among California voters remains high even as a majority of Americans disapprove of him, according to a Field Poll released Tuesday.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Alexander Bolton
03/30/14 02:00 PM EDT
A new political advocacy group has teamed up with former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) to argue that the economic inequality agenda of Senate Democrats is a loser with swing voters.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
March 26, 2014
Tim Donnelly leads the field of Republicans bidding to unseat Gov. Jerry Brown early in this year’s gubernatorial race, according to a new poll.
By Aaron Blake
March 26 at 3:38 pm
Negative views of President Obama have hit a new high, according to a poll.
Politics and Policy
Marks Could Be Hurdle for Democrats in November Amid Broad Dissatisfaction
By Patrick O’Connor
March 12, 2014 12:01 a.m. ET
President Barack Obama is struggling to overcome widespread pessimism about the economy and deep frustration with Washington, notching the lowest job-approval ratings of his presidency in a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
By TAL KOPAN | 3/5/14 6:16 PM EST
President Barack Obama’s approval rating hit a new low mark in a poll out Wednesday, dipping below 40 percent for the first time.
By Steven T. Dennis
Roll Call Staff
Feb. 1, 2014, 4:02 p.m.
Tens of millions of Americans watched President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, but the speech had no appreciable impact on his depressed poll numbers.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
January 29, 2014
As the federal health care overhaul continues to divide Californians, President Barack Obama’s approval here plunged to a record low, according to a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California.
By Philip Rucker and Scott Clement
January 30, 2014
Hillary Rodham Clinton holds a commanding 6 to 1 lead over other Democrats heading into the 2016 presidential campaign, while the Republican field is deeply divided with no clear front-runner, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
By Dan Balz and Peyton M. Craighill
January 26, 2014
President Obama will speak to the nation Tuesday night with approval ratings lower than for any of his previous State of the Union addresses and with Americans broadly pessimistic that he or lawmakers of either party will make good decisions for the future of the country, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
By TAL KOPAN | 1/22/14 12:36 PM EST
A slim majority of Americans say the Obama administration is not competent at running the government, according to a new poll.
By Richard Cohen, Opinion Writer
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
It is incumbent on me as a columnist to do one of those year-end things — the 10 best of this, the 10 worst of that or, as you will see, who had the worst year in politics. That distinction goes, with some reluctance on my part, to Hillary Rodham Clinton. As has sometimes happened in her life, events got away from her.
Alex Pappas
Political Reporter
10:40 AM 12/31/2013
After a year of seeing President Obama’s approval ratings plummet, the president’s pollster is offering a strikingly candid and pessimistic New Year’s resolution.
December 27, 2013; 05:56 PM
Democrats seeking to unseat Rep. Gary Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga, in the 31st Congressional District are feeling encouraged by a recent poll that shows him with weak approval ratings.
To read post by Jeff Horseman and Imran Ghori in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.
By Mark Gutglueck
Posted on December 27, 2013
(December 26) SACRAMENTO—The California Supreme Court on December 23 reestablished the essential elements of the Colonies Lawsuit Settlement Public Corruption Prosecution, granting the gist of prosecutors’ appeal more than a year and two months after the Fourth District Court of Appeal in Riverside dismissed the most crucial charges lodged against developer Jeff Burum, the central defendant in the case.
December 27, 2013, 07:49 am
By Peter Sullivan
A new CNN poll finds that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are essentially tied in a potential 2016 presidential matchup.
December 26th, 2013 – 09:00 AM ET
Posted by CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser
Washington (CNN) – Democrats have lost their advantage and Republicans now have a slight edge in the battle for control of Congress, according to a new national poll.
By Dan Balz and Scott Clement
December 17, 2013
President Obama is ending his fifth year in office matching the worst public approval ratings of his presidency, with record numbers of Americans saying they disapprove of his job performance and his once-hefty advantages over Republicans in Congress eroded in many areas, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Fourteen percent said coverage for spouses is being restricted or eliminated. | AP Photo
By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 12/15/13 2:07 PM EST
WASHINGTON — Americans who already have health insurance are blaming President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul for their rising premiums and deductibles, and overall 3 in 4 say the rollout of coverage for the uninsured has gone poorly.
Political news, election updates, for San Francisco CA and national politics
Posted on December 14, 2013 | By jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com (Joe Garofoli)
It’s no surprise that only 11 percent of California registered voters who represented in the new Field Poll think Congress is doing a good job. (Who are THOSE people, and will they share their happy juice?)
December 14, 2013; 06:01 AM
It’s not shocking that Californians aren’t happy with Congress. But a new poll shows that Republican incumbents might have more to worry about than their Democratic counterparts.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 – 12:00 am
Public support for labor unions has plunged in California, with more voters for the first time saying they do more harm than good, according to a new Field Poll.
Post Politics
By Aaron Blake
December 10 at 4:45 pm
Two new polls show President Obama hitting a new low for his presidency.
December 10, 2013; 06:01 AM
In a first for California, a majority of voters now favors legalization of marijuana, and most want pot regulated like alcohol, according to Field Poll results released Tuesday, Dec. 10.
To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
December 10, 2013, 09:32 am
By Mario Trujillo
President Obama’s disapproval rating has shot up to 53 percent, the highest rating the McClatchy-Marist poll has recorded for him in nearly 30 surveys.
Obama’s approval rating stood at 43 percent in the poll released Monday night.
UTC | NJ Congressional Connection Poll Coverage
By Peter Bell
December 6, 2013
A majority of Republican and Republican-leaning men, 53 percent, would be “very pleased” or “somewhat pleased” if legislation requiring universal background checks on all gun sales was passed by Congress and signed by the president, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll.
December 06, 2013; 06:01 AM
California voters have mixed views about the Democratic supermajority in Sacramento, but that doesn’t mean they’re willing to turn state government over to Republicans, a new Field Poll revealed Friday, Dec. 6.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 – 12:06 am
Gov. Jerry Brown’s public approval rating has surged to a new high, and he is the overwhelming early favorite to win re-election next year, according to a new Field Poll.
Garance Franke-Ruta
December 4 2013, 2:06 PM ET
There’s no heartbreak like the heartbreak of first love, and when it comes to politics, no disappointment more bitter than that of a young person who grows up to realize her one-time idol is all too human.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 – 7:55 am
Even in deep blue California, disapproval of Democratic President Barack Obama is rising and voters are souring on the country’s prospects, according to a new Field Poll.
By Roberta Rampton
Washington – Fri Nov 29, 2013 5:08pm EST
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s popularity has taken a beating over the botched October 1 launch of Obamacare, but in a television interview set to air on Friday, Obama said he believes Americans eventually will appreciate his signature healthcare reform.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013 – 12:00 am
Last Modified: Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013 – 7:34 am
SAN FRANCISCO — Beset by criticism of the federal health care overhaul and with his public approval rating at an all-time low, President Barack Obama arrived in California on Monday seeking to shift attention to immigration and the economy, issues around which he has traditionally managed to rally fellow Democrats.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 – 10:00 a.m.
Here’s some news of interest flowing across the transom Wednesday morning.
San Bernardino County pension fund recruiting for another CEO
San Bernardino County’s pension fund, the San Bernardino County Employee’s Retirement Association, appears to be recruiting another chief executive officer.
Post Politics
By Aaron Blake
November 5 at 4:05 pm
President Obama’s approval rating has dipped below 40 percent for the first time in two years, according to a new poll from Gallup.
By JOSE DELREAL
10/30/13 6:49 PM EDT Updated: 10/31/13 8:12 AM EDT
President Barack Obama’s job approval has dropped to an all-time low, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
The Fix
By Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement
October 21 at 1:00 pm
Most Americans say the rocky start for HealthCare.gov is a harbinger of bigger problems for the Affordable Care Act, according to results of a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Fifty-six percent of Americans say the Web site problems are part of a broader problem with the law’s implementation while just 40 percent see the Web site problems as an isolated incident. Reaction to federal insurance exchange Web site are deeply rooted in partisanship. More than eight in 10 Republicans say Web site troubles are a sign of broader implementation problems, while most Democrats call it an isolated incident. Independents resemble the public overall, with 55 percent seeing broader problems with implementation.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
October 8, 2013
Californians value the ballot initiative and want it to remain as a check on a political system they mistrust, but voters support major reforms in the process, according to a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California.
Monday, September 16, 2013 – 04:30 p.m.
As expected, Former State Senator Bob Dutton formally has announced his candidacy for San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder.
By LUCY MCCALMONT | 9/13/13 6:15 AM EDT
Republicans are now leading Democrats on handling several key issues, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll.
By Morgan Little
September 3, 2013, 1:13 p.m.
WASHINGTON – President Obama has to persuade not just Congress on military intervention in Syria. New polling shows the American public is highly skeptical of the administration’s plan for limited missile strikes in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government.
August 28, 2013
Jeff Stone’s state Senate campaign released a poll that bodes well for the Riverside County supervisor.
To read post by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise Political Empire Blog, click here.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Aug. 19, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Monday, Aug. 19, 2013 – 6:07 am
Half of California voters say they are paying more for health care than they were a year ago, and the same percentage of voters say their health care costs are hard to afford, according to a new Field Poll.
By Ken Dilanian
July 27, 2013, 6:05 p.m.
WASHINGTON — A reporter recently asked the National Security Agency’s chief a blunt question: Why can’t he come up with a better example of a terrorism plot foiled through the bulk collection of U.S. phone records?
July 25, 2013; 06:01 AM
SACRAMENTO –- California voters continue to look favorably upon Hillary Clinton as presidential material, a new survey shows.
To read story by Rachel Uda in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Laurel Rosenhall
lrosenhall@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2013 – 6:53 am
Public approval of Gov. Jerry Brown has dipped from a high point earlier this year, but he continues to enjoy support from a majority of California voters, according to a Field Poll being released today.
By Annalise Mantz
amantz@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 23, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 23, 2013 – 8:37 am
California voters’ approval of President Barack Obama has plummeted to just over 50 percent, according to the Field Poll released Monday.
Thursday, July 18, 2013 – 11:30 a.m.
Here’s polling numbers released by one of the campaigns competing in next Tuesday’s special election to represent the 52nd State Assembly District.
Sunday, July 14, 2013 – 12:30 p.m.
The special election primary to replace now-State Senator Norma Torres, in Assembly District 52, is heading into the final week.
Interestingly, voters may be in for a surprise.
By Matt Vasilogambros
Updated: July 10, 2013 | 9:33 a.m.
July 10, 2013 | 6:00 a.m.
In the aftermath of the Edward Snowden NSA surveillance leaks, American attitudes towards U.S. counterterrorism efforts have drastically shifted.
By Scott Bland
Updated: June 26, 2013 | 6:20 a.m.
June 25, 2013 | 9:59 p.m.
As eight senators huddled behind closed doors to craft a bipartisan and comprehensive immigration-reform bill, South Carolinians began seeing television ads bashing Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham for his involvement. “Who elected Graham to demand amnesty and welfare for millions of illegal aliens?” a faceless voice asked in the February ad paid for by advocacy group NumbersUSA.
Gridlock and ineffectiveness give Congress worst rankings in decades.
By Ron Fournier
Updated: June 14, 2013 | 12:07 p.m.
June 14, 2013 | 10:20 a.m.
A bit of news for members of Congress on their way home for the weekend: America hates you.
Nearly eight in 10 Americans told Gallup pollsters this month they disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job, the 45th consecutive month that more than two-thirds of Americans graded Congress poorly.
By Michael A. Memoli
May 15, 2013, 9:15 a.m.
WASHINGTON — Republican congressional leaders, faced with an array of crises threatening to overwhelm the White House, appear to have singled out the targeting of conservative political groups by the IRS as the most fertile — and politically advantageous — to focus on.
By William Cutting
Monday, April 22, 10:30 p.m.
You all are undoubtedly familiar with the Harris Poll/Harris Interactive polling company. They have been around for over 50 years I believe and conduct numerous well known polls. From presidential elections and other assorted public policy issues to the weekly college football poll every fall, they do it all.
Posted by Scott Clement
March 27, 2013 at 4:27 pm
A growing number of Americans are not just dissatisfied, but angry at Washington after repeated standoffs over taxes and the deficit have pockmarked the start of President Obama’s second term.
“I’m mad as hell….”
March 26, 2013 9:30 PM
Jim E. Winburn, Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE • Rep. Paul Cook spoke to local leaders Tuesday about the impact of federal budget cuts to High Desert communities and the prospects of living with the Affordable Care Act.