“Mr. Tipping Point”
Al Gore calls Steyer "Mr. Tipping Point" at a fund-raising dinner featuring grass-fed beef: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/al-gore-tom-steyer-mr-tipping-point-103719.html
California Billionaire / Environmentalist With 2014 Game Plan
Candidates with big check books traditionally do poorly in the Golden State. But what will be the impact of a billionaire hedge fund proprietor / environmentalist, particularly after he spends $100 million in national politics? http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/tom-steyer-political-spending-103636.html
Desert Solar Continues to Face Powerful Environmentalist Opposition
The Soda Mountain Solar project would place 358 megawatts' worth of solar panels on 2,557 acres on either side of Interstate 15 between Baker and Barstow. The project would also include about 1,600 acres of support infrastructure, including roads, operations buildings, and an electrical substation. Depending on the plant's configuration, the project's East Array would
State Senate Leader Introduces Gas Tax Instead of AB 32 Carbon Tax
Darrell Steinberg, the president pro tem of the state Senate who will leave the position and the Legislature later this year, proposed Thursday that gasoline taxes be increased sharply to fight global warming and provide new financial support for low- and middle-income families. But his plan could be dead on arrival, given the Capitol’s political
LAO Recommends New Legislative Committee for Infrastructure; Examines Governor’s 5-Year Plan
In this report, we review California’s Five-Year Infrastructure Plan, the first statewide infrastructure plan released by the administration since 2008. We commend the administration’s renewed focus on infrastructure. We also find that the plan raises some important policy issues related to the financing and maintenance of state infrastructure and serves as a valuable starting point
Public Employee Cutbacks Seen as Safety Issue
National public employee union asserts staffing cutbacks are a worker and public safety issue. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-worker-safety-20140211,0,37926.story?track=rss#axzz2sww3QcPM
Legislature’s Supermajorities Have Minimal Impact
Two years ago, as a collateral effect of President Barack Obama’s landslide re-election win in California, Democrats gained two-thirds “supermajorities” in both legislative houses. It sparked a torrent of private and public speculation over potential impact on legislative issues, such as tax increases and constitutional amendments, that the controlling party might pursue. However, the supermajorities
San Diego Mayor’s Race Gives “New Life” for California GOP
Republican City Councilman Kevin Faulconer won a decisive victory over Democratic Councilman David Alvarez in the San Diego mayor’s race Tuesday, signaling a new chapter for the city after the scandal-plagued tenure of former Mayor Bob Filner. Faulconer had 54.5 percent compared to Alvarez’s 45.5 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting. A Faulconer
Run, Jerry, Run!
Why wait? With $17 million in the bank and a job approval rating of 60 percent among likely voters, political experts and consultants say, Brown can delay the formal start of his candidacy with little risk of hurting his chances in June's open primary or November's general election. He gets to put off answering tough
What’s a Food Desert?
Do food deserts exist in the US? Interesting comment: http://slate.me/1dCQMNu