L.A. Times - California Politics

Brown stymied by same budget dysfunction that plagued predecessors

By Nicholas Riccardi and Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:43:00 PDT

California's governor is stuck between Republicans who refuse tax hikes, Democrats who resist cuts and a tangle of special interests and voter-mandated requirements on where money can be spent.

SACRAMENTO — Jerry Brown told voters he was different — that only he, a septuagenarian government veteran with no aspirations to higher office, could fix the cycle of swelling budget deficits that has plagued California for more than a decade.

Jerry Brown's plea to voters: 'Please increase taxes temporarily'

By Chris Megerian and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal for closing California's $16-billion funding gap includes 4-day state workweeks and Medi-Cal cuts. He warns that cuts will be even more severe if voters reject tax hikes on the November ballot.

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown released a plan to close California's rapidly growing deficit by switching state offices to a four-day week, slashing welfare benefits and healthcare for the poor and relying on a variety of short-term fixes — all in the hopes that voters will give the state some breathing room by raising taxes in November.

California offered piece of the action from Internet poker

By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:34:00 PDT

Casino operators lobby hard for legalization by the state. Co-sponsors of a state legalization bill hope it could raise hundreds of millions for the budget-battered state.

SACRAMENTO — As state leaders sweat over another possible round of cuts from schools and social services, casino operators are offering officials a cut of the action if they will legalize Internet poker in California.

Cigarette tax is a lifesaver

George Skelton — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Tobacco companies are taking aim at Proposition 29, which would raise cigarette taxes $1 a pack. But they're blowing smoke.

SACRAMENTO — Cigarette makers have a certified history of deception, distortion and lying. And let's not forget fraud and racketeering.

June primary is key test for state's top-two election system

By Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Candidates are campaigning earlier, spending more money and trying to broaden their appeal as only those who come in first and second will advance to the November ballot.

In the first broad test of California's new "top-two" election system, many candidates in heated races for Congress and the state Legislature have been campaigning earlier, spending more money and downplaying their party affiliation as they try to widen their appeal.

Tobacco company ads take aim at Proposition 29

By Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:32:00 PDT

The June 5 ballot initiative would raise cigarette taxes by $1 a pack to fund tobacco-related disease research. Its supporters lack the funds for a comparable campaign.

Every morning when UC San Diego physicist Herbert Levine laces up his running shoes and chugs alongside Mission Bay, his earphones crackle with radio ads opposing a proposed $1-per-pack cigarette tax to raise money for cancer research.

Solar project in desert gets boost from California Legislature

By Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

The legislation to enable the developer to bypass local agencies in seeking approval was fast-tracked in the Assembly. Environmentalists say the proposed Calico Solar facility would be ecologically damaging.

Despite strong opposition from environmentalists, the state Assembly on Thursday approved controversial legislation that allows a solar energy developer to bypass local agencies in seeking to build a large-scale power plant in a valley that is home to desert tortoises, golden eagles and bighorn sheep.

Gov. Jerry Brown warns more budget cuts are coming

By Chris Megerian and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Brown issued the warning while delivering boxes of petitions to election officials requesting that his proposed tax hike be placed on the November ballot.

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown warned Californians on Thursday to brace for another round of difficult budget cuts as he hand-delivered boxes of petitions to election officials requesting that his proposed tax hike be placed on the November ballot.

13% in U.S. foreign-born, a level last seen in 1920

By Rebecca Trounson, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Of 40 million born abroad, the greatest number lives in California, with large populations in New York, Texas and Florida, Census Bureau report says.

The U.S. foreign-born population has risen to its highest level since 1920, with 13% of all those living in the nation in 2010 having been born elsewhere, a new report from the Census Bureau shows.

Proposed tweak to term limits makes eminent sense

George Skelton — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

By allowing California legislators to serve 12 years in one house, Prop. 28 would instill some adult supervision and dampen political ambition, especially in the Assembly.

Proposition 28 proposes a tiny tweak in legislative term limits. But it could have a huge impact on legislative quality.