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6.17.2013
Politics on Tap Gets Green

Politics on Tap Gets Green

A  Lively Chat Between Dan Jacobson of Environment California, Linda Adams, Former California EPA Secretary and now Partner with Clean Tech Advocates & Loren Kaye, Head of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education

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6.17.2013

How Much Pork Does $4,100 Buy?

Nothing remotely felonious about Sen. Ricardo Lara’s recent fundraising invitation, which can be seen in larger form by clicking the image to the left.

That said, the artwork on the Los Angeles Democrat’s solicitation might be a bit unappetizing to some.

But it’s certainly no crime to host a $1,000-a-head “Pig-Roast-a-Palooza.”    Read more »

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6.14.2013

Act Now to Revitalize School Funding

By Linda Galliher and Ted Lempert 

California’s students deserve a public school system that will provide them the tools they need to develop a solid foundation of academic achievement. The Legislature can start us on a path toward this goal by passing Gov. Jerry Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula. 

Under the formula, the existing complex and outdated bureaucratic structure would be replaced with a new local system that gives schools the flexibility to direct education dollars to school districts and students that need it most.    Read more »

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6.13.2013

Buy California Fruit, Nuts, Vegetables, Cheese and Meat — Pretty Please

The “Choose California Act” was one of hundreds of Assembly bills volleyed into the Senate during the end-of-May frenzy before the deadline for legislation to leave its house of origin.

When it began its legislative life, the well-intentioned measure, AB 199, was eight paragraphs long. The bill sent to the Senate for its consideration on a 77 to 0 vote had been reduced to one, 30-word paragraph:

“All California state-owned or state-run institutions and all public universities, public schools and school districts in California are encouraged to purchase agricultural products grown in California to the extent possible.”    Read more »

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6.10.2013

See the Stats in Paragraph Three

From the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation:

SAN QUENTIN – Condemned inmate Richard Ramirez, 53, was pronounced dead early this morning, June 7, 2013. He died of natural causes at Marin General Hospital.

Ramirez, widely known as the “Night Stalker,” was found guilty in 1989 of 13 counts of murder and numerous other counts of attempted murder, sexual assault and burglary.    Read more »

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6.07.2013

Still Two Shopping Days Left

Ten days past the official beginning of the “season,”  the California Legislature holds its annual White Suit Day Monday, June 10.

The poster below announcing the event, which bills itself as a celebration of  “summer and style,”  details the fashion rules regarding the wearing of  white suits:

“White suits are to be worn after Memorial Day and before Labor Day.    Read more »

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6.04.2013

“Quote Investigator” — A Reason to like the Internet

Recently, Phil Isenberg, chair of the Delta Stewardship Council,  made California’s Capitol aware of Quote Investigator and it’s eponymous efforts.

Isenberg, a former lawmaker and lobbyist, forwards the outcome of Quote Investigator’s investigation of a statement routinely attributed to Mark Twain. Isenberg begins his email by saying:

“Another Urban Legend put to rest.”    Read more »

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6.03.2013

Chaotic, Last-Minute Bill Passing Bad for Californians

Why lawmakers are afraid to go where no lawmaker has gone before

By Greg Lucas

Sacramento News & Review, May 30, 2013 — Don’t disturb lawmakers right now, they’re deep in the plak-tau.

Plak-tau is the Vulcan “blood fever” manifested during the final stages of pon farr, the once-every-seven-years Vulcan mating obsession, which is pretty crazed by itself.    Read more »

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6.03.2013

After 46 Years, Treasurer Bill Lockyer To Retire From Public Service in 2015

With his announcement June 3 that he is leaving public office in January 2015, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer ends 40 years as a lawmaker and statewide office holder. 

“I need to do something different that’s challenging and interesting,” Lockyer said in announcing he won’t seek the job of controller in 2014 for which he’s raised $2.2 million as of January, state campaign reports show.    Read more »

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