People making news today

A roundup of the day's notable events. »Read

In this article: Joe Biden, Susan Davis, John McCain, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Tom Tancredo,

Lawmakers in at least three dozen states try to pre-empt whatever might come out of Washington. »Read

In this article: John Garamendi, Barack Obama, Henry Waxman,

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Over the past 12 years, Josh Libresco's health insurance premium has increased almost eight-fold for his family of four.... »Read

In this article: Darrel Ng, Barack Obama, Steve Poizner,

Lawmakers are fed up with the state Employment Development Department, saying its technology staff is set to rack up $53 million in cost overruns on projects funded with federal stimulus money and is behind on assisting the unemployed. The ... »Read

In this article: Charles Calderon, Jose Solorio, Teri Takai, unemployment insurance,

Meg Whitman's nonstop five-month barrage of radio ads has vaulted her into a huge poll lead in the Republican run for governor, with most surveys showing her ahead of rival Steve Poizner by about 30 percentage points. »Read

In this article: Proposition 13, Gray Davis, Thomas Elias, Mike Murphy, Sarah Palin, Steve Poizner, referendum, Richard Riordan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Simon, Meg Whitman,

A new bill backed by CalPERS and CalSTRS makes a second attempt to tighten control of placement agents, the middlemen who collect multi-million dollar fees for helping investment firms get pension fund money. But the big California pension funds, ... »Read

In this article: CalPERS, CalSTRS, John Chiang, Rob Feckner, Ed Hernandez, Roger Kozberg, Bill Lockyer,
Bills: AB 1584,

When Sarah Palin wrote a cheat sheet for an interview on her hand, liberal pundits gleefully bashed her. But only Calbuzz* will tell you that the ex-Republican veep candidate in doing so was simply following in the, uh, footsteps of California ... »Read

In this article: Jerry Brown, Dianne Feinstein, Sarah Palin, Steve Poizner, Meg Whitman, Pete Wilson,

Rep. Murtha, the first Vietnam veteran to serve in Congress, called in 2005 for an immediate pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq. He also delivered billions in federal dollars to his home state. ... »Read

In this article: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Nancy Pelosi,

Casey Stone says if the Williamson Act ceases to protect agricultural land from high assessments, "the incentive will be to just develop the state" and California's status as the No. 1 agricultural state will end. Ranchers in Yolo County ... »Read

In this article: John Gamper, Williamson Act, John Young,

Daniel Lee, an automotive student at Sierra College, fears he won't be able to finish his degree; the automotive program is among those that may be cut.A packed board meeting inside the Sierra College theater last week offered a glimpse of the many ... »Read

In this article: Scott Lay, Legislative Analyst's Office, Jack Scott, water,

RANDY PENCH Bee file, 2009 Mayor Kevin Johnson said he believes his new plan will "resonate with the entire community." Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has moved away from his strong-mayor initiative and will ask the City Council tonight to ... »Read

In this article: Steve Cohn, Kevin Johnson,

El Dorado Irrigation District officials moved Monday to restructure the district's debt after approving scaled-back rate increases last week. District officials over the past month announced a number of steps to boost revenue and cut costs in an ... »Read

In this article: Ted Gaines,

The Legislature's ideological polarization is often cited by critics – correctly – as one of its major deficiencies. Uber-liberal Democrats and ultra-conservative Republicans occupy all but a handful of the Legislature's 120 seats, ... »Read

In this article: Juan Arambula, John Garamendi, Abel Maldonado, Ken Mettler, Pedro Nava, Arnold Schwarzenegger, state budget, Dan Walters,

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has released a partial list of guests to his closed-door lunch with legislators last month, and revealed who picked up the tab for their steak-or-salmon feeding. Public notices filed by the Governor's Office show the ... »Read

In this article: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Scott,

The plot thickened Monday in the story of GOP state Sen. Abel Maldonado's bid to be seated as lieutenant governor. Three Democratic members of the Assembly announced they'll oppose Maldonado for various reasons. Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa ... »Read

In this article: Assembly Democrats, Abel Maldonado, Pedro Nava,

Federal and state lawmakers called Monday for a closer examination of Mercury Insurance Group in the wake of a state report that suggests the firm may have engaged in illegal practices, including deceptive pricing and discrimination against military ... »Read

In this article: Hector De La Torre, Kathy Fairbanks, Carla Marinucci, Steve Poizner, Harvey Rosenfield, Loretta Sanchez,

More than 10,000 San Francisco city workers - from librarians and gardeners to secretaries and street cleaners - would be laid off and most rehired for jobs with shorter hours under a controversial plan being examined by Mayor Gavin Newsom. The ... »Read

In this article: John Avalos, Gavin Newsom,

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner dispatched a letter Monday to executives at WellPoint, the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross, urging them to postpone rate increases until May 1 so an independent actuary can investigate. ... »Read

In this article: Steve Poizner, Anthony Wright,

Two investment firms under investigation in California's public pension fund scandal agreed to forfeit a combined $19 million Monday to settle a pension corruption probe in New York. The firms, Markstone Capital Group and Wetherly Capital Group ... »Read

In this article: Fred Buenrostro, CalPERS, CalSTRS, Ed Hernandez,

Many Californians have long bemoaned the back-room deals where political honchos drew electoral districts to protect friends and punish enemies, making many districts less competitive that they would otherwise be. Want to change that? Well, ... »Read

In this article: Board of Equalization, Elaine Howle,

California is on the cusp of financial Armageddon. Finding a solution to the state's $20 billion budget hole should be priority No. 1 for state lawmakers, regardless of party. Yet at the Capitol these days, the major sideshow is state Sen. Abel ... »Read

In this article: John Laird, Abel Maldonado,

MANNY CRISOSTOMO mcrisostomo@sacbee.com A crash involving a California Highway Patrol car and a big rig closed southbound Interstate 5 for eight hours Saturday.Freeway shutdown unwarranted Re "Accident injures CHP officer, shuts I-5 lanes ... »Read

In this article: John McCain, Tom McClintock, Dan Walters,

Darrell Issa's representative to speak at republican meeting »Read

In this article: Darrell Issa, Don McKinney,

Vaughn Walker almost lost his chance to reach the federal bench because of claims that he was anti-gay and hostile to civil rights. Two dozen House Democrats, led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, opposed his nomination because of his alleged ... »Read

In this article: Nancy Pelosi, Proposition 8,

Two proposed initiatives would go a long way toward restoring the Golden State. Eight years ago, California was the world's fifth-largest economy and surging. ... »Read

In this article: Fred Keeley, Steve Westly,

In the circle of lawyers and judges I know, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker is a giant. He is a brilliant jurist, legal eagles will tell you, who has insightful, and often unexpected, opinions. He's funny and charming - and he's gay. As Walker has ... »Read

In this article: Proposition 8, Andrew Ross,

Sarah Palin drew enthusiastic crowds and standing ovations at a sold-out speech Monday night in Redding when she called for changes to America's leadership. »Read

In this article: Nadine Bailey, Wally Herger, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-California state Assemblyman Pedro Nava, who is running for attorney general, appears to be leading the Democratic opposition to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pick for lieutenant governor.Schwarzenegger in November ... »Read

In this article: Assembly Democrats, John Garamendi, Ted Lieu, Abel Maldonado, Tony Mendoza, Pedro Nava, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jose Solorio, Ellen Tauscher,

44 | Leading House Republicans raise prospect unless existing reform bills are scrapped. »Read

In this article: ACORN, Devin Nunes, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Nancy Pelosi,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)—California Attorney General Jerry Brown on Monday criticized the state's largest pension funds for continuing to invest in companies in Iran.Brown, a Democrat and presumptive gubernatorial candidate, directed his ... »Read

In this article: CalPERS, CalSTRS, Anne Stausboll,

ONTARIO - With dwindling water supplies, agencies throughout California are grappling with how to survive under the current drought conditions. »Read

In this article: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, water,

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura are scheduled to tour the World Ag Expo in Tulare this morning, the Governor's Office said. Read comments »Read

President Barack Obama's proposal to overhaul the No Child Left Behind Act this year is being roundly praised by San Gabriel Valley and Whittier-area educators »Read

In this article: No Child Left Behind, Jack O'Connell, Barack Obama,

Two major events turned the USC campus into party central last week. On Feb. 1, the USC Rossier School of Education, which is celebrating its centennial this year, joined the ongoing marathon of fetes for retiring USC President Steven B. »Read

In this article: Michael Flanagan, John McCain, Chuck Reed, Richard Riordan, Antonio Villaraigosa,

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In this article: Fred Aguiar, Jim Brulte, Richard Costigan, Gray Davis, Susan Kennedy, Rosario Marin, Steve Maviglio, Jim Miller, Scott Reid,

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In this article: Barbara Boxer, Tom Campbell, Chuck DeVore, Carly Fiorina, Rose Kapolczynski,

Why can't California be like Texas, with an $11 billion state budget surplus? Despite — or because of — having no income tax. Instead, California has a $20 billion budget deficit. Our governor, supposedly an 'action hero,' whines to ... »Read

WHITTIER - If you're at the Target store in the Whittwood Town Center you just might see Whittier Councilman Owen Newcomer standing there, clipboard in hand, asking for your signature. »Read

In this article: Owen Newcomer,

SACRAMENTO ---- Democratic members of the Assembly on Monday called on their colleagues to reject the confirmation of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's nominee for lieutenant governor, saying the Santa Mar »Read

In this article: John Garamendi, Abel Maldonado, Pedro Nava, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jose Solorio,

The top spenders were Caltrans, with $10.4 million for vehicles, and the DMV, with $1.7 million for furnishings. An additional $2 million went to conferences and meetings, report shows. ... »Read

In this article: Air Resources Board, Erin Shaw, Stanley Young,

The Golden State's political problems have progressed from bad to worse. It is not just suffering financial and budgetary difficulties, it is also flirting with state failure. There are many who believe it beyond repair. Perennial gerrymandering, ... »Read

In this article: referendum, Meg Whitman,

LOS ANGELES ---- The Obama administration on Monday asked California's largest for-profit health insurer to justify plans to hike customers' premiums by as much as 39 percent, a move that could affect »Read

In this article: Darrel Ng, Barack Obama, Steve Poizner,

Mayor Jim Dear reportedly shuts speakers' microphones down with a before their allotted three minutes are up. 'It's a very unique complaint,' a district attorney's official says. ... »Read

In this article: Jim Dear, Mike Gipson,

Thanks to $30,000 worth of donations, the Angeles Gate tugboat is now in shipshape condition and ready to serve again as a hand-on classroom. Photo Gallery »Read

In this article: Gerald Desmond, Janice Hahn,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)— Retroactive pension increases paid to some retired public employees in California are unconstitutional, a Republican candidate for state attorney general said Monday.John Eastman, a constitutional scholar vying ... »Read

In this article: Jerry Brown, CalPERS, John Eastman, Tom Harman,

Links: *  Patty Berg is officially out of the Insurance Commissioner Race. She hadn't been really campaigning, and her campaign account shows less than $3,000. Her listed consultants are now informing reporters that she is officially out of the ... »Read

In this article: Patty Berg, John Doolittle, Tom McClintock, Steve Poizner, Meg Whitman,

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to enter the next phase of reshaping city government on Tuesday as it wrestles with more than a $200 million shortfall over the next four months and a projected deficit of $400 million next year. »Read

In this article: John Franklin, Eric Garcetti, Carmen Trutanich, Antonio Villaraigosa,

Two Democrats signed on to a Republican bill that would prevent funds from being spent on prosecuting Guantánamo Bay suspects. Read more... »Read

In this article: Dennis Cardoza, Dianne Feinstein, Patrick Murphy, Barack Obama,

Stockton Unified faces a big budget problem, but from now on, district trustees will be discussing it in a smaller venue. »Read

In this article: Arnold Schwarzenegger,

Blue Dog Democrats want Congress to go further than President Barack Obama’s proposal to freeze spending in next year’s budget. Read more... »Read

In this article: Nadeam Elshami, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, John Tanner,

A long-simmering controversy about the private life of California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring has erupted into a divisive public conflict within the political organization. »Read

In this article: Michael Crimmins, Tony Krvaric, Ron Nehring, Thaddeus Taylor,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is traveling to Vancouver, British Columbia, to serve as a torchbearer Friday for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the committee organizing the Games announced Monday. »Read

In this article: Arnold Schwarzenegger,

Financial documents reviewed by KCRA 3 suggest Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson flip-flopped on discretionary fund accounts. »Read

In this article: Jon Coupal, Kevin Johnson,

I need to say something: I <3 John Laird. There, I said it. Former Asm. John Laird is neither flashy nor overly charismatic. But when it comes to quietly doing the work of the people, nobody works harder, knows his stuff better, or really ... »Read

In this article: John Laird, Brian Leubitz, Abel Maldonado, Bruce McPherson, Pedro Nava,

The Legislature may take up reforming state worker pensions as soon as this year, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, has said. We would welcome Mr. Steinberg's leadership on the issue, but, after hearing him interviewed, we... »Read

In this article: CalPERS, Lottery, Darrell Steinberg,

Buried in the “Legislative, Judicial and Executive” section of the multiple phonebook-sized state budget is $890,000 to carry out “the duties described under the provisions of Government Code Section 12015 and 12015.5.” Those two sections ... »Read

In this article: Gray Davis, H.D. Palmer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver,

The simmering fight over cuts to breast cancer screening for poor women was in full effect Monday in the state Capitol. Democrats donned pink aprons (yes, including some men) and held a bake sale... »Read

In this article: Tom Campbell, Noreen Evans, Mark Horton, Carla Marinucci, Sarah Palin, Maria Shriver,

California failingI have been paying close attention to California since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978. I have watched California's politicians worm and weasel their way around the will of the people. »Read

In this article: Proposition 13, George W. Bush,

THE FEDERAL deficit has soared to $1.4 trillion this year and is expected to be $1.6 trillion next year. Spending is out of control and has risen to 25. »Read

In this article: Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi,

Republican Assemblymember/U.S. Senate candidate Chuck DeVore today became the first Assembly GOP member to say he'll vote against State Sen. Abel Maldonado as LG. No surprise: if the Flash Report says jump, DeVore says how high. »Read

Department of Insurance released 275-page document that shows members of military were among many groups who had difficulty getting coverage. »Read

In this article: Jerry Brown, Kathy Fairbanks, Darrel Ng, Steve Poizner, Harvey Rosenfield,

Dave Maass of San Diego CityBeat posted a story this afternoon that Attorney General Jerry Brown today called on CalPERS and CalSTRS to abide by the law and divest from Iran. This follows CityBeat's story of last week detailing how the two large ... »Read

In this article: CalPERS, CalSTRS,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)—California attorney general hopeful Ted Lieu, the only state lawmaker also currently in military service, was promoted Monday to lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Air Force Reserves.Lieu, a 40-year-old Torrance ... »Read

In this article: Jerry Brown, John Eastman, Tom Harman, Kamala Harris, Ted Lieu, Pedro Nava, Alberto Torrico,

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to spend Friday morning in Vancouver, B.C. participating in the last leg of the torch relay that leads up to the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympic games. The former body-building champ will pass the ... »Read

In this article: Arnold Schwarzenegger,

The California Teachers Association has pitched half a million dollars into a campaign account for its proposed ballot initiative to repeal tax benefits for corporations approved over the last two years. The donation from the CTA's Issues PAC, ... »Read

In this article: California Teachers Association,

A bill by an East Bay legislator would tax oil companies for petroleum extracted in California. Although the proceeds would go to colleges and universities, the devil is in the details for those institutions. »Read

In this article: Jack Scott, Alberto Torrico,
Bills: AB 656,

I'm no fan of the current con-con initiative that's being circulated, but if this is true, it is deeply troubling: Repair California, the Bay Area-based business group behind two initiatives that would convene a Constitutional Convention, has ... »Read

In this article: John Grubb, Fred Kimball, Brian Leubitz,

More DNA is being analyzed at a faster pace under a new Orange County forensics program run by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and county CEO Thomas Mauk, according to a report being presented Tuesday to the Board of ... »Read

In this article: Sandra Hutchens, Tony Rackauckas,

Ventura County Assemblyman Pedro Nava Monday took the lead among legislative Democrats who hope to block the nomination of Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado to become California's next lieutenant governor. »Read

In this article: John Garamendi, Abel Maldonado, Tony Mendoza, Pedro Nava, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jose Solorio, Audra Strickland,
Bills: AB 32,

California voters itching to serve on the brand new redistricting commission -- an 11-member body that will draw the lines of the state's legislative boundaries for the next decade -- have an extra... »Read

In this article: Tom Campbell, Elaine Howle, Carla Marinucci, Sarah Palin, Maria Shriver,

The death of Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Murtha this afternoon marks the end of one of the U.S. House’s most enduring modern traditions. »Read

In this article: Susan Davis, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Nancy Pelosi, Linda Sanchez, Tom Tancredo,

We're camped out in front of the Fox News Channel, where GOP Senate rivals Assemblyman Chuck DeVore and ex-HP CEO Carly Fiorina are set to appear on Glenn Beck's FNC show. (He's in California all... »Read

In this article: Tom Campbell, Chuck DeVore, Carly Fiorina, Carla Marinucci, Sarah Palin, Maria Shriver,

Three of the six Democrats vying for California Attorney General had news to report today. Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, led a news conference with other Assembly Democrats this morning in Sacramento asking their colleagues to vote ... »Read

In this article: Assembly Democrats, Ted Lieu, Abel Maldonado, Pedro Nava, Robin Swanson,

The nominee getting hit from both the left and the right… the urgency, or lack thereof, in having a new #2… and the fact that someone's actually doing the job as we speak. es, another intriguing week in store over a job that never gets ... »Read

In this article: Gil Cedillo, John Garamendi, Abel Maldonado, Tony Mendoza, John Myers, Pedro Nava, Mona Pasquil, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jose Solorio, Beth Willon,

If you think the Super Bowl commercial depicting 'The Green Police' was a joke, think again. California's Cap and Trade law, AB 32 will allow fines, fees, and a law enforcement approach against 'green violators,' all while attempting to reduce the ... »Read

Bills: AB 32,

The Department of Health Care Services said today it may have breached the privacy of 49,352 state residents who receive adult day health care services from the state. In a terse news release, the department said that letters it mailed a week ... »Read

In this article: Anthony Adams, Karen Bass, Sam Blakeslee, Barbara Boxer, Tom Campbell, John Chiang, Dave Cogdill, Chuck DeVore, Bob Dutton, Mike Duvall, Dianne Feinstein, Carly Fiorina, John Garamendi, Dennis Hollingsworth, Bill Lockyer, Abel Maldonado, Gavin Newsom, Jack O'Connell, Alex Padilla, Don Perata, John Perez, Steve Poizner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Darrell Steinberg, Antonio Villaraigosa, Mike Villines, Meg Whitman,

Democratic members of the Assembly are calling on their colleagues to reject the nomination of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's nominee for lieutenant governor. They say the voting record of Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado does not align with ... »Read

In this article: John Garamendi, Abel Maldonado, Pedro Nava, Arnold Schwarzenegger,

One of the most prominent anti-tax organization in California, and across the country for that matter, is the National Tax Limitation Committee. NTLC's President, Lew Uhler, just sent over the following statement to publish on the FlashReport ... »Read

In this article: Abel Maldonado, Lew Uhler,

The plot thickens around Santa Maria Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado's appointment to fill in for 10 months as lieutenant governor. Three Democratic members of the Assembly held a press conference today to announce they'll oppose Maldonado for ... »Read

In this article: John Garamendi, Abel Maldonado, Tony Mendoza, Pedro Nava, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jose Solorio,

The Department of Health Care Services said today it may have breached the privacy of 49,352 state residents who receive adult day health care services from the state. In a terse news release, the department said that letters it mailed a week ago ... »Read

The deadline for submitting applications to serve on the Citizen's Redistricting Commission has been extended four days -- to Feb.16 at 5 p.m. To date, more than 19,900 Californians have applied to be one of the 14 members on an independent panel ... »Read

In this article: Board of Equalization, Elaine Howle,

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has released a partial list of guests to his closed-door lunch with legislators last month, and revealed who picked up the tab for their steak-or-salmon feeding. Public notices filed Friday by the governor's office show ... »Read

In this article: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Scott,

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner was already badly lagging rival Meg Whitman in the polls. Now comes another piece of bad news: he has yet to receive any contributions this year over $5,000, according to the Secretary of State's Web ... »Read

In this article: Steve Poizner, Meg Whitman,

The only California Assembly member currently a member of the military, Democrat Ted Lieu, was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Air Force Reserves in a 30-minute Capitol ceremony today. Lieu, 40, is a 15-year member of the ... »Read

In this article: Ted Lieu,

Poulos and Del Beccaro's resignation come as the CCRP's ad hoc financial investigation committee nears the release of its report. »Read

In this article: California Republican Party, Tom Campbell, Tom Del Beccaro,

Assemblyman Ed Hernandez introduced a bill to the California legislature co-sponsored by State Treasurer Bill Lockyer that requires pension fund placement agents to register as lobbyists before making their pitches to public pension plans. »Read

Republican U.S. Senate candidates Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore will be on Fox News personality Glenn Beck’s show at 2 p.m. today, for a segment live from Los Angeles in which “Glenn explains how he’d fix California’s budget,” according ... »Read

In this article: Chuck DeVore, Carly Fiorina,

The Audi Green Police Super Bowl ad causes a stir in the Bay Area »Read

In this article: Barbara Boxer, Tom Campbell, Mark DeSaulnier,