Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
February 6, 2012 | 5:36 pm
A proposal by Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) probably won’t make her many friends among her colleagues. She wants to reduce the Legislature to part-time status and cut its pay from $95,000 annually to $1,500 a month.
By Jim Sanders and Phillip Reese
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 – 7:10 am
With California billions behind on its budget and public services shrinking, the Assembly collectively tightened its belt last year – but not all of its members did.
Records released under court order show that Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez boosted the budgets of six members by tens of thousands of dollars apiece despite the fiscal emergency.
By Dan Walters
Published: Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Many years of partisan wrangling over the state budget reached a climax in 2010 when public employee unions and Democratic politicians persuaded voters to pass Proposition 25, eliminating the two-thirds vote for budgets.
It gave the Legislature’s majority Democrats the power to pass budgets without having to garner Republican votes. But that’s not all it did.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
January 31, 2012
Rural and urban school districts in California that make heavy use of buses appear safe — for now.
State lawmakers are fast-tracking legislation that would transform a $248 million midyear school bus cut into a general-purpose reduction that hits each K-12 district evenly. The Assembly Budget Committee passed Senate Bill 81 with bipartisan support Tuesday, while an aide to Gov. Jerry Brown testified that the governor supports the proposal.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
January 30, 2012 | 3:31 pm
California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye lost a round over Judicial Council power
The state’s top judge lost a political battle Monday when the state Assembly voted to shift key budget decisions from the state Judicial Council that she heads to local trial courts, some of which have complained about the panel’s handling of money.
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 01/28/2012 06:11:04 AM PST
Hoping to restore jail funding to San Bernardino County, an Inland Empire assemblyman introduced a bill on Friday that could potentially bring $16 million to county coffers.
By Howard Mintz hmintz@mercurynews.com
Posted: 01/30/2012 06:56:26 AM PST
Updated: 01/30/2012 07:31:17 AM PST
With a crucial vote looming Monday, a conflict that has shaken California’s judiciary reaches a critical stage when the Assembly considers legislation that would strip control of most of the court system’s purse strings from a central bureaucracy and turn it over to the Legislature and local trial judges.
Assemblywoman Norma J. Torres
Created: 01/28/2012 06:06:11 AM PST
The state Supreme Court’s ruling which eliminated redevelopment agencies has created uncertainty for cities and counties engaged in redevelopment activities. Redevelopment has been used as a tool by many cities and counties to successfully revitalize communities. The court’s decision throws into question how cities and counties will pay for infrastructure, housing and retail projects in blighted communities.
Assemblyman Curt Hagman
Created: 01/26/2012 11:31:48 AM PST
California’s Legislature has a full plate this year: crafting a responsible budget, protecting our schools, encouraging job creation, reforming public pensions and much more. Gov. Brown has just proposed a 7 percent increase in his 2012-13 budget and again asking voters for more tax increases when the state’s economy remains stalled by already high taxes and slow growth. Yet in my time in the state Assembly, it never ceases to amaze me when liberal politicians introduce unnecessary legislation that has nothing to do with the priorities of California’s citizens.
By Dan Walters
Published: Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Tuesday, the Public Policy Institute of California issued a new poll that found, among other things, just 17 percent of the state’s voters like the Legislature’s performance.
Simultaneously, the Legislature’s top leaders provided another reason for Californians to harbor such scorn.
POLITICS
By Shane Goldmacher
Updated: January 26, 2012 | 5:34 p.m.
January 25, 2012 | 9:30 p.m.
A sleepy race for a California Legislature seat is turning into a fractious family feud that pits a former top staffer to Buck McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, against the congressman’s wife.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
January 24, 2012 | 1:51 pm
Democratic lawmakers sued state Controller John Chiang on Tuesday seeking limits on the controller’s right to withhold lawmakers’ pay during a budget stalemate.
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Published: 22 January 2012 07:52 PM
Workin’ It
When Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. visited Riverside last week, a lot of the discussion was about the jobs created by goods movement and related construction projects such as the Magnolia Avenue underpass.
Add Laurence Parker to the job-creation list. Parker, waving an American flag and dressed as the Statue of Liberty, crashed Boxer’s presser to get a little attention for Liberty Tax Service, which has an office on Magnolia just north of the underpass. Usually he just stands in front of the office to draw the attention of drivers, much like a sign-spinner.
Neil Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Created: 01/22/2012 06:22:41 PM PST
For two Rancho Cucamonga businessmen, the road to victory on Election Day in November got a tad easier in the wake of Rep. Jerry Lewis’ retirement earlier this month.
But before being able to represent the newly drawn 40th Assembly District, Republican Mike Morrell and Democrat Russ Warner will have to get past each other.
Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sacramento –Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to finally fix California’s finances relies on several dubious assumptions, including that voters approve his proposal to raise taxes in November and that the revenue from those come in at the level the administration projects.
BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 19 January 2012 06:19 PM
SACRAMENTO — Redevelopment agencies focused on bringing new businesses and other projects to decommissioned military bases could keep operating if legislation taking shape in the Capitol becomes law.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
January 19, 2012 | 3:28 pm
Now that Gov. Jerry Brown has unveiled his budget proposal, it’s time for lawmakers to pull out their red pens.
The Senate Budget Committee held its first hearing Thursday, and its Assembly counterpart will do the same Tuesday. Until the governor releases an updated proposal in May, lawmakers will be poking and prodding his budget plan – and spinning it for political purposes.
Staff report
Created: 01/17/2012 10:11:29 AM PST
Russ Warner announced Monday he had dropped out of the race for Congressional District 31, and will instead run for State Assembly District 40 against Republican Mike Morrell.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
January 13, 2012 | 1:47 pm
By election guru Allan Hoffenblum’s reckoning, there could be a record number of open seats up for grabs in this year’s elections, including 33 of the 80 state Assembly posts.
Monday, January 9, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 9, 2012 – 11.24 a.m.
According to the Z107.7 website in Morongo Basin, Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) has dropped his bid for a seat on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.
The radio station apparently let the cat out of the bag early.
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Published: 08 January 2012 07:02 PM
Last week started badly for Inland Assemblyman Tim Donnelly and only got worse.
The Twitter-verse erupted Tuesday after security officers found a loaded handgun in Donnelly’s carry-on luggage at Ontario International Airport. Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, said he forgot he had put the gun in his briefcase and believed he was carrying his laptop computer.
By Mark Gutglueck
Friday, January 6, 2012
Questions continue to dog the second highest ranking member of the county auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector’s office with regard to the role he and a political action committee he controlled played in illegally passing through and laundering money for those convicted of or charged with participation in a bribery and extortion conspiracy.
By Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 01/06/2012 10:52:55 AM PST
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly said Friday the effort to repeal the California Dream Act had fallen short of gathering enough signatures needed to get on the ballot.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
January 6, 2012
Complying with a court order, the California Assembly released thousands of pages of documents about its members’ expenditures today that it fought against providing to the public.
Staff Reports
Created: 01/05/2012 05:38:23 PM PST
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly on Thursday said he was assaulted and threatened on Dec. 26 by a man in Rancho Cucamonga due to his opposition to the Dream Act.
By Dan Walters
Published: Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The state Constitution requires governors to unveil their proposed budgets for the next fiscal year by Jan. 10.
Jerry Brown’s 2012-13 proposal was hastily released Thursday, five days before its scheduled delivery, after it inadvertently found its way onto a state website.
By Torey Van Oot
tvanoot@sacbee.com
The Sacramento Bee
Published: Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Lawmakers returned to Sacramento with a bang Wednesday, kicking off 2012 with a flurry of new bills, a leadership transition and no shortage of drama involving members’ personal troubles.
BY JIM MILLER
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 04 January 2012 10:38 AM
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly was stopped at Ontario airport this morning after security line officers discovered a handgun in his luggage, his office said this morning.
Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, was cited and released, a spokeswoman said. He faces a misdemeanor charge.
By PE Politics
January 3, 2012 8:56 AM
Assemblyman Mike Morrell ended 2011 with a $67,000 ball-drop into his 2012 re-election campaign, records show.
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 – 7:03 am
Happy new year, lawmakers?
Don’t bet on it.
The California Legislature will reconvene Wednesday amid a flood of red ink, a long history of partisan bickering, and a coming statewide election using newly drawn districts and a new way of choosing the top two candidates for legislative seats.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
January 2, 2012
Reporting from Sacramento—- When state lawmakers convene again Jan. 4, their plates will be filled with leftovers.
Their agenda is expected to be dominated by issues that have been unresolved in the last few years: state budget problems, pension reform, a new water supply system and legalizing poker on the Internet.
Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
The Sacramento Bee
Published: Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 – 12:11 am
More than 250 Assembly employees received pay hikes this month under the sweeping authorization granted by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez recently for aides whose pay had not risen in three years.
BY JIM MILLER AND BEN GOAD
STAFF WRITERS
jmiller@pe.com | bgoad@pe.com
Published: 26 December 2011 08:59 PM
SACRAMENTO – For the past 20 years, most legislative elections in Inland Southern California have been ho-hum affairs.
Republicans dominated the region, and Democratic caucuses had better prospects elsewhere.
By Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times
December 26, 2011
Ask most people what’s significant about Dec. 30 and you may get a puzzled look. But politics junkies know that’s the official start of California’s next election season.
It opens on a markedly altered stage, set with a new primary system and different voting districts. Lingering uncertainties about some of those districts, thanks to a federal lawsuit and a possible state referendum aimed at overturning them, are adding to the drama.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
December 16, 2011 | 4:07 pm
Two influential Republican lawmakers called Friday for California to slow down the high-speed rail project.
The vice chairs of the Assembly Budget Committee and Appropriations Committee asked the head of a budget panel to reject a request to allocate an additional $18 million for work to buy land for the $98.5-billion project.
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
California’s Legislature would become part-time under a constitutional amendment proposed Friday by a Republican lawmaker and the head of a political watchdog group.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
December 8, 2011
The Assembly has decided not to appeal a Sacramento Superior Court judge’s ruling requiring it to release member-by-member budgets and any changes made to them through the year.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 – 12:10 p.m.
Sources tell InlandPolitics.com that San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman James Ramos is conducting a push poll for his campaign to defeat Neil Derry on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.
December 05, 2011 6:30 PM
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who represents Apple Valley and Hesperia, will be featured Monday night in a segment on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” according to a spokeswoman for Donnelly.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 12/04/2011 06:03:30 AM PST
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Election Day may be about 11 months away, but campaigning for the 40th Assembly District seat has quickly progressed.
Polling has been conducted, an endorsement has been made, fundraising has begun and the politicking has been ongoing.
By Joe Piasecki, Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2011
A Sacramento Superior Court judge has ruled that the California Assembly must disclose budget records of individual lawmakers, handing a victory to newspapers that filed a lawsuit accusing legislators of flouting the state’s open records laws.
Friday, December 2, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
Assemblyman Paul Cook, a self-proclaimed reform candidate for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, is reportedly finding it a little lonely these days.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
December 1, 2011 | 3:54 pm
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge has tentatively ordered the California Assembly to release lawmakers’ office budgets and other legislative documents it had claimed were exempt from public disclosure.
By Torey Van Oot
tvanoot@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 – 9:44 am
Dozens of state legislators are turning in their car keys this week, as a decades-old program providing them with state-purchased vehicles comes to an end.
Neil Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/28/2011 05:51:35 PM PST
Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part series looking at the newly redrawn Inland Empire legislative districts for California’s Assembly. Sunday’s installment was Congress; on Monday we examined the California Senate.
When members of California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission compiled the state’s new political maps, they did so in hopes of ending gerrymandering.
An early look at Assembly races in this region seem to indicate they have succeeded in creating a more competitive atmosphere. The commission released the new maps in July.
November 28, 2011, 5:11 pm • Posted by John Myers
Assembly Speaker John Perez isn’t ruling it out — never say never, one supposes — but nonetheless says that talk of the Legislature stopping, or even just rejiggering, the budget’s automatic spending cuts isn’t likely to go anywhere.
BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 27 November 2011 09:57 PM
SACRAMENTO – Instead of voting yes or no, members of Inland Southern California’s legislative delegation abstained on hundreds of bills that came before the full Assembly and Senate this year.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
November 22, 2011 | 6:19 pm
The decision to pay state lawmakers mileage for using their cars on business instead of a $300-per-month transportation allowance could end up costing taxpayers more.
BY CASSIE MACDUFF
COLUMNIST
cmacduff@pe.com
Published: 22 November 2011 10:11 AM
Local restaurants have gotten a boost from San Bernardino International Airport employees dining at public expense.
Public records I requested in September for credit card receipts of the airport’s then-executive director and assistant director were finally provided this month, revealing this routine.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: 20 November 2011 05:33 PM
Various Capitol interest groups began releasing legislative scorecards shortly after lawmakers finished their 2011 session in September.
Holding particular interest for Republicans are the rankings put out by Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. The organization, named after the force behind 1978’s tax-limiting Prop. 13, has a lot of influence in GOP circles, particularly at election time.
November 20, 2011 9:12 AM
From Staff Reports
SACRAMENTO • With a record number of California legislators earning failing grades, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association issued A’s to two of the High Desert’s three state representatives.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 – 11:00 a.m.
Boy you gotta hand it to the governor and state legislature.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office for the State of California has just dropped a bombshell this morning.
The LAO is projecting a budget deficit for the 2012-13 fiscal year at a stunning $13 billion.
Sunday, November 13, 2011 – 12:45 a.m.
Here we go again!
Another sham California budget. Another multi-billion dollar shortfall.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/06/2011 05:54:45 PM PST
Assemblyman Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, said he is moving to another home in Rancho Cucamonga because his current residence isn’t in the newly drawn 40th Assembly District.
Morrell plans to run for the 40th Assembly District in 2012.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 – 11:00 pm | Page 3A
California’s budget runs chronic deficits, public pension systems are chronically underfunded and the fund that pays benefits to a million-plus unemployed workers is running huge deficits and dependent on federal loans.
The common thread is that politicians have endemically spent more – often much more – than underlying revenues can support.
BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 03 November 2011 10:41 AM
Former Inland lawmaker Steve Clute has moved a step closer to a full-fledged campaign for the state Senate and opened a fundraising committee.
Thursday, November 3, 2011 – 09:00 p.m.
San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry appears un-phased in his bid for reelection to a second term.
Money & Politics | Daily Report
November 3, 2011 | Chase Davis
Lobby spending in Sacramento already is on pace to touch new highs this legislative session, according to third-quarter filing totals released by the secretary of state’s office.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Oct. 31, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
That ancient philosophical – or would it be biological? – question has a political counterpart in California, to wit:
By Maura Dolan and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
October 27, 2011
Reporting from San Francisco and Sacramento — The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to intervene in new voting districts drawn by a citizens commission, deciding unanimously to reject two challenges to the boundaries.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
October 21, 2011
Opponents of a new law that allows illegal immigrants to receive college financial aid were given the green light to begin collecting signatures for a referendum to overturn the measure, Secretary of State Debra Bowen’s office announced today.
Jahn
Thursday, October 20, 2011 – 09:15 a.m.
We missed this yawner last week.
It would seem State Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks) has a primary opponent.
McEachron
October 19, 2011 11:08 AM
Brooke Edwards Staggs
Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE • Mayor Ryan McEachron has formed a campaign finance committee to run for Congress in 2012, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.
By Laurel Rosenhall
lrosenhall@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
It was after midnight on the last day of the legislative session last month when the state Senate took up a controversial bill concerning election laws for the very first time.
Most bills go through a months-long process of hearings, negotiations, amendments and votes. Not this one.
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 10/12/2011 04:50:16 PM PDT
Freshman assemblyman Mike Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga, might be facing a fellow Rancho politician when he’s up for re-election next year.
Donnelly
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 10/10/2011 04:55:21 PM PDT
California Dream Act AB 131
AUTHOR: Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles
WHAT IT DOES: Allows undocumented students in the state’s public colleges and universities, who meet in-state tuition requirements, to apply for state financial aid. AB 131 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2013.
BY JIM MILLER AND DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITERS
jmiller@pe.com | dgang@pe.com
Published: 05 October 2011 03:23 PM
The race for Riverside County’s 1st Supervisorial District got a little bit more crowded this week.
Cook
Saturday, October 1, 2011 – 12:30 p.m.
Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley), a newly announced candidate for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, says he wants to help distance the county from corruption and thus will run on an anti-corruption platform.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, September 29, 2011
BY JIM MILLER and IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITERS
jmiller@pe.com | ighori@pe.com
Promising a “clean break” from the county’s ongoing corruption scandal, Assemblyman Paul Cook announced Thursday that he will run for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/29/2011 10:52:20 AM PDT
Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucaipa, has announced his run for the San Bernardino County 3rd District Supervisorial seat now held by Neil Derry.
Cook
Thursday, September 29, 2011 – 10:30 a.m.
State Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) has thrown his hat into the ring for San Bernardino County Supervisor.
Cook joins incumbent supervisor Neil Derry and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman James Ramos to make a current field of three.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
September 24, 2011
Days after a Field Poll found a majority of Californians support the concept behind legislation scheduling all ballot measures during the November election, opponents of the bill are pushing back with their own poll results showing voters overwhelmingly oppose Senate Bill 202.
Dan Walters
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Sep. 25, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The state constitution assumes that the governor and the Legislature will pass one state budget each year, and that’s the way it worked for many decades.
Capitol Notebook By Marisa Lagos
Chronicle Columnist
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Gov. Jerry Brown has taken great care in recent weeks to warn his fellow Democrats in the Capitol that his party affiliation doesn’t spell a slam dunk for the hundreds of bills they sent him this month.
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Sep. 20, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The California Assembly has criticized as “unfounded and unnecessary” a public-records lawsuit filed by The Bee and Los Angeles Times seeking access to current fiscal records.
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