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 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.
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
A California Supreme Court ruling Friday significantly raised Democratic Party prospects of gaining the supermajority needed in the state Senate to pass tax or fee increases.
The high court decided that Senate maps drawn recently by a 14-member citizens commission will be used for this year’s legislative elections, even if a pending referendum qualifies for the ballot.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
January 27, 2012 | 10:19 am
A correction has been added to this post. See below for details.
The California Supreme Court, faced with a possible ballot measure to scrap newly drawn election districts, decided Friday to leave the boundaries in place for this year’s state Senate races.
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.
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.
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.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/19/2012 11:19:19 AM PST
The race for the 31st District got more interesting this week with state Sen. Bob Dutton officially tossing his hat in the ring.
Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, will face a field of contenders that includes Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar; Renea Wickman, the cofounder of a nonprofit aimed at helping juvenile offenders readjust to society; Justin Kim, an attorney from Loma Linda; and Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar.
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.
Thursday, January 19, 2012 – 08:05 a.m.
The latest candidate to jump into the election fray is State Senator Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga).
After toying with the prospect of challenging Assemblyman Mike Morell, Dutton will now take on Rep. Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) for the 31st Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands).
BY JIM MILLER
SACRAMENTO BUREAU
jmiller@pe.com
Published: 18 January 2012 04:17 PM
SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Bob Dutton declared his candidacy Wednesday for the redrawn 31st Congressional District, setting up a June showdown with veteran Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/14/2012 06:07:45 AM PST
Ruben Ayala was more than just a man who served as a state senator, or a person who has had a park, school and streets named after him – he was a devoted husband, father and a person who loved his community.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Created: 01/13/2012 11:29:33 AM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – State Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, teed off on a variety of issues Friday during a legislative breakfast at Shandin Hills Golf Course, but his biggest swing came at the end, when he hinted at a possible run for Congress.
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.
By Frank C. Girardot, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/13/2012 09:16:01 PM PST
Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea, is moving on.
The longtime congressman has spent 13 years on Capitol Hill representing his hometown of Diamond Bar. And, those who live there know, Gary’s a fixture around town when he’s not in Washington.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
January 12, 2012 | 5:41 pm
Republican state senators say Gov. Jerry Brown is overstating the need for new tax hikes, according to an internal analysis.
The 61-page report, which examines Brown’s proposals from a Republican perspective, said state tax revenues will bounce back without the temporary taxes the governor wants.
Thursday, January 12, 2012 – 05:30 p.m.
Whew…..
Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) has finally announced he won’t seek another term in the republican-controlled House of Representatives.
An expected move based on the congressman’s recent indecision.
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.
Published: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 4A
A Republican group backing a referendum challenging newly drawn state Senate districts believes they have inched closer to qualifying just days before the California Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether it should intervene.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
January 5, 2012
California’s top Senate Democrat today shut the door on Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal to make deep cuts to social services programs in the first few months of the year.
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.
Money & Politics | Daily Report
January 6, 2012 | Will Evans
Behind the legislative record of newly chosen Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff is a host of special interests that have funded his campaigns and given him expensive gifts.
BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com
Published: 05 January 2012 01:38 PM
Former Democratic state Sen. Ruben S. Ayala, author of the Peripheral Canal bill who for two decades represented parts of San Bernardino County in the Legislature and was the first Latino mayor of Chino, died Wednesday. He was 89.
By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 01/04/2012 06:30:30 PM PST
The state Senate Republican Caucus on Wednesday unanimously selected Sen. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, to lead state Senate Republicans in 2012.
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.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
January 4, 2012 | 1:23 pm
State Sen. Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster) said Wednesday she will be working indefinitely away from her office as she awaits a lung transplant because of complications from an autoimmune condition.
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 Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 01/02/2012 03:10:55 PM PST
The California Supreme Court will hear arguments on Jan. 10 about redistricting lines that will be used in 2012′s state Senate elections.
A Republican group had asked the California Supreme Court on Dec. 2 to shelve the newly drawn state Senate district map, even though the court previously declined to take up such a challenge.
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.
Debra J. Saunders
Thursday, December 29, 2011
“You don’t normally end on a triumphant note. You enter in triumph and you leave on tiptoe,” quoth Jerry Brown at a Tuesday press conference to sum up the first year of his second stint as California governor.
For one hour, Brown was highly quotable: “I’m a reformed reformer,” he offered. And: “Just because a bill is useless doesn’t mean I should veto it.”
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 23, 2011 | 12:58 pm
Republicans in the state Senate will get a new leader to go with the new year.
Senate Minority leader Bob Dutton of Rancho Cucamonga announced Friday that he will step down after the Republican caucus chooses a new leader in January.
THE PRESS-ENTEPRISE
Published: 18 December 2011 06:55 PM
CHABOT NAMED
Heading into an important election year, The Republican Party of San Bernardino County has a new woman at the helm.
The group named Brenda Chabot, a longtime political activist and wife of former Assembly candidate Paul Chabot, as its executive director, the party’s first since July 2009.
BY JIM MILLER, SACRAMENTO BUREAU
AND BRIAN JOSEPH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
jmiller@pe.combjoseph@ocregister.com
Published: 17 December 2011 06:33 PM
SACRAMENTO — More than 230 years since the American Revolution, taxation without representation survives in the California State Senate.
Under new lines scheduled to take effect next year, millions of Californians will lack a senator while millions of others will be represented by two senators in 2013 and 2014.
And it’s totally legal.
Sen. Bob Huff
Created: 12/10/2011 06:07:36 AM PST
I do believe that California can take positive steps to help lure new business and jobs to California. I also believe we pass some bad laws in California that do exactly the opposite. Our regulatory climate is nothing to brag about. California is routinely ranked as one of the worst states to do business in, which tells me that we can do a much better job.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
December 9, 2011
The California Supreme Court expects to rule “as early as the end of January” on which state Senate districts would apply to next year’s state elections if a referendum challenging newly drawn maps qualifies for the November ballot.
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.
By Dan Walters
Published: Friday, Dec. 9, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
California law says that three weeks hence, on Dec. 30, candidates can begin taking out papers to run for legislative and congressional seats next year.
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.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
December 2, 2011
A Republican-backed group seeking to place newly drawn state Senate districts before voters next year is asking the California Supreme Court to prepare for its referendum to qualify for the ballot.
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.
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.
Neil Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/27/2011 06:03:44 AM PST
Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part series looking at the newly redrawn Inland Empire legislative districts for state Senate. Sunday’s installment was Congress; Tuesday will examine the Assembly. Recently redrawn state Senate lines likely won’t see a major shift of power in the Inland Empire from Republicans to Democrats.
Despite being in the minority in Sacramento, GOP senators have enjoyed a majority in the Inland Empire for years and that trend is unlikely to change.
The 14-member California Citizens Redistricting Commission introduced the redrawn maps in July.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/27/2011 02:37:13 PM PST
Nearly 1,000 county businesses screen employees’ immigration status with a process called E-Verify, part of a 37-percent surge statewide in the number of employers using the system since 2010.
Neil Nisperos and Benjamin Demers, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/26/2011 06:05:56 AM PST
Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series looking at the newly redrawn Inland Empire legislative districts. Today, the new-look congressional districts.
California’s redrawn lines for the House of Representatives may result in some longtime lawmakers from the region facing tough re-election campaigns.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 11/24/2011 06:10:20 AM PST
State Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Montclair, is co-chairing a committee to hear the statewide concerns of employers and employees on the issue of pension reform.
The lawmaker, who plans to run for Congress next year, was elected to serve the 32nd District in the California State Senate in 2006.
By Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times
November 25, 2011
Republican activists trying to overturn some new voting districts cleared a significant hurdle toward putting the issue on the ballot by turning in petitions bearing hundreds of thousands of signatures.
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.
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.
November 14, 2011, 5:12 pm
Posted by John Myers
The sole challenge to the work of California’s citizen redistricting panel appears to have crossed a significant milestone over the weekend, but still faces some tough odds to actually blocking the use of the panel’s work in 2012.
Sunday, November 13, 2011 – 12:45 a.m.
Here we go again!
Another sham California budget. Another multi-billion dollar shortfall.
BY BEN GOAD
WASHINGTON BUREAU
bgoad@pe.com
Published: 10 November 2011 01:22 PM
EMILY’s List, a Washington-based group that backs women in politics, is throwing its support behind state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod in her Congressional bid.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
November 10, 2011 | 1:23 pm
Backers of a referendum drive to overturn the new state Senate district maps said Thursday they have begun turning in signatures at all 58 counties.
By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
November 9, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento— Under fire for spending $111,316 in taxpayer funds to feed themselves this year, state senators have decided to end the practice.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Whither redistricting?
It’s been nearly three months since the state redistricting commission released its maps for 177 congressional, legislative and Board of Equalization districts.
Posted by Jim Sanders
November 8, 2011
A Republican-backed referendum campaign to overturn the state’s new Senate districts is vowing to submit more than 700,000 signatures Thursday to place the issue before voters next November.
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 Shane Goldmacher and Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
November 6, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento— For state senators, there is such a thing as a free lunch. And dinner. And breakfast.
On an August day last year when California deferred a $2.5-billion payment to public schools because it didn’t have its finances in order, the Senate took a break from bickering over legislation to lunch on the taxpayers’ dime.
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 Neil Nisperos Staff Writer
Created: 11/04/2011 10:13:19 PM PDT
From boondoggle to significant?
The man who many believe will be the next Republican leader in the state Senate has a completely different viewpoint on the state’s proposed high-speed rail plan than the current holder of that position.
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:
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
October 26, 2011
A $1 million contribution from the owner of Mercury General Insurance Corp. to the California Republican Party this month has helped the GOP push a referendum challenge to the state’s newly drawn Senate districts.
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.
Published: Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Bolstered by a new $400,000 donation from the California Republican Party, officials of a referendum campaign to overturn the state’s new Senate districts say 400,000 voter signatures have been collected and a full-court press has been launched for more.
BY BEN GOAD
WASHINGTON BUREAU
bgoad@pe.com
Published: 17 October 2011 08:04 PM
WASHINGTON — Incumbents outpaced challengers in fundraising efforts in the third quarter , as candidates in the freshly redrawn set of Inland congressional districts amassed their war chests in advance of the 2012 elections, new campaign finance reports show.
State Senator Bob Dutton
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 10/16/2011 08:53:22 PM PDT
The partisan divide in Sacramento has become ever harder to bridge over the past few years.
Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, has seen peaks and valleys in this discord.
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.
Dan Walters
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
The last big recession to hit California was in the early 1990s and largely centered in Southern California, as the aerospace industry was clobbered by the end of the Cold War.
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