Are There Any Pretzels Instead?

More than 3 million people in the United States report being allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or both. Peanuts is the most common food allergy for children. Only 21 percent of those who are allergic to peanuts grow out of it. Each year, some  15,000 emergency room visits due to anaphylaxis and nearly 100 deaths are attributed to  peanut allergies.    Read more »

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Who GIves a F*CK About “Hope” Anyway?

The card at left and below adorned the tables at a December 14 Birthday Party for California Democratic Party Chair John Burton, who turned 80 the following day. Burton, former president pro tempore of the state Senate and longtime San Francisco Assemblyman, expressed gratitude and a measure of surprise at reaching the milestone.     Read more »

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What Was Wrong with “Avocado?”

What’s in a name?

Plenty if you’re the California Health Benefit Exchange, which plans to have a website operational by September displaying the various health care plans several million individual Californians without coverage and the operators of small businesses can purchase beginning January 1, 2014.

A key part of the exchange’s mission is to ensure more uninsured Californians become insured.    Read more »

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California’s Population Grows Slightly to 37.8 Million

SACRAMENTO – California’s population grew by 256,000 between July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012 to total more than 37.8 million persons, according to official population estimates released today by Gov. Jerry Brown’s Department of Finance. The current growth rate of 0.7 percent is about the same as last year’s population growth, and continues the pattern of modest growth rates over the past few years.    Read more »

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Happy Birthday UNICEF!

UNICEF – the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund — was created on December 11, 1946.

Since then, the acronym jhas remained the same by the name has changed to the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Originally, UNICEF provided food, clothes and medical care for children in countries devastated by World War II.    Read more »

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First Assembly Constitutional Amendment of the New Legislative Session a Non-Starter

The first constitutional amendment in the Assembly introduced in the two-year legislative session that began December 3 won’t be appearing on the state ballot.

First, a two-thirds vote is required to place it on the ballot. That’s great if the author were a Democrat who hold super-majorities in both the Assembly and the Senate and, should they wish to, can palce anything they want before voters without a single GOP vote.    Read more »

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Golden State’s Future a Little More Golden But Still Work to Do, Recent Poll Says

Although Californians view their governor, their Legislature and their future more positively, there’s still some changes they would like to see in how state government operates, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released December 5.

The poll of 2,001 adults – 1,025 likely voters – found two-thirds or more of respondents supporting an annual cap on state spending, boosting the size of the state’s reserve account and requiring policymakers to identify funding sources for any new programs.    Read more »

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After The November Election, FitchRatings Says This About California:

Fitch Ratings-New York — 05 December 2012:

“The State of California’s progress in recovering from the severe fiscal challenges of recent years could receive an additional boost thanks to the outcome of the Nov. 6 election. The state’s fiscal recovery is incomplete and challenges remain but continued economic improvement, a demonstrated commitment to more sustainable budgetary operations and progress on reducing budgetary debt would be viewed positively by Fitch.    Read more »

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A New Legislature Begins Work

California’s 120 legislators were sworn in December 3 for the two-year session that runs through 2014. Both houses have “super-majorities” of Democrats meaning there are enough Democratic votes to pass taxes or place constitutional amendments on the ballot without the need to compromise with Republicans to win the necessary votes.

While not a stampede, several Democrats are introducing constitutional amendments that lower the approval threshold for local taxes and bonds.    Read more »

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Planning Ahead — But For What?

SAVE THE DATE:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012

5:30 – 7:30 P.M.

ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE ENG

INVITES YOU TO HIS:

“FAREWELL TO THE ASSEMBLY

HELLO TO THE ???” 

Private Gala Reception – Fundraiser to

Celebrate “Mike’s Next Step” 

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5, 2012

5:30 – 7:30 P.M. 

SAN GABRIEL HILTON HOTEL

225 West Valley Blvd.    Read more »

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