L.A. Times - California Politics

California's political watchdog panel eases its approach to ethics issues

By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:59:00 PST

The Fair Political Practices Commission has eased restrictions on gifts to lawmakers, called fewer open meetings and stopped notifying the public of pending investigations. Some good-government advocates are angry.

Reporting from Sacramento -- Three decades after Gov. Jerry Brown played a key role in creating a state political watchdog, the panel — now dominated by his appointees — has retreated from its aggressive approach to ethics enforcement.

Parts of Obama's mortgage refinancing package will be reality

By Kenneth R. Harney — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

The proposals that require congressional approval have little chance, but some of the president's ideas can be enacted administratively and could begin affecting consumers within weeks.

Though it was pronounced dead before arrival by opponents on Capitol Hill, President Obama's new mortgage refinancing package contained far more than legislative proposals.

Proposal to establish rights for domestic workers splits lawmakers

By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:26:00 PST

Proponents say it would extend basic protections to more employees, but opponents say it would drive up costs.

Reporting from Sacramento -- Maria Moctezuma's workday began at 6 a.m. and often ran until midnight when she was nanny, housekeeper and cook for a family of four in Rancho Cucamonga.

Divided court rejects Proposition 8

By Maura Dolan and Carol J. Williams, Los Angeles Times — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

The 9th Circuit panel declares that California's gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional.

Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles -- A federal appeals court has declared California's 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, concluding that the prohibition served no purpose other than to "lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians."

Ruling expected on constitutionality of gay marriage ban

By Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to decide Tuesday whether California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, violates the federal Constitution.

Reporting from San Francisco -- A federal appeals court is expected to decide Tuesday whether California's ban on same-sex marriage violates the federal Constitution, a ruling that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court next year.

Catholics plan counterattack on new contraception coverage

By Mitchell Landsberg, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 4 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Church vows to use courts and legislation to fight 'un-American' requirement for religious employers to provide contraception to workers with government-required health insurance.

The Catholic Church reacted strongly Friday to a White House defense of new rules that will force many religious employers to provide contraception to their workers in government-mandated health insurance plans.

Ex-mayor of Rosemead admits guilt in bribery case

By Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 4 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

John Tran, 36, admits to shaking down a developer for more than $10,000 while on the City Council. He also resigns from the school board and withdraws from an Assembly race.

A former Rosemead city official who made a run for state Assembly has agreed to plead guilty to soliciting and accepting more than $10,000 in bribes from a developer.

California lawmakers keep school buses rolling

By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

The California Legislature restores $248 million for home-to-school transportation. Gov. Jerry Brown had eliminated school busing money after state revenues fell short of projections.

School buses are likely to keep rolling for now, as the Legislature on Thursday restored $248 million for home-to-school transportation that was particularly crucial for small and rural school districts that need to take students across long distances.

Berman, Sherman among those reporting campaign funding

By Jean Merl and Anthony York, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Rep. Howard Berman raised more than $1 million in the last three months of 2011, according to campaign reports, for a total of $2.9 million. His opponent, Rep. Brad Sherman, reports having $3.7 million on hand.

Reporting from Los Angeles and Sacramento -- The public got an early look this week at the money behind the candidates in this year's pivotal California elections.

Ruling on redistricting a wake-up call for California GOP

George Skelton — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

The 7-0 court decision shows how out of sync the party has been. Its problem is not the shape of new districts but the size of a shrinking membership.

Now that the state Supreme Court has delivered the Republican Party a 7-0 smack-down, California can proceed with a key piece of its ongoing political reform.