News Archives

9.16.2011

State Unemployment Rate Inches Up in August

California’s unemployment rate increased slightly form 12 percent to 12.1 percent in August, a loss of  8,400 during the month, according to a September 16 report issued by the state Employment Development Department.

The state’s workforce, not counting seasonal farm jobs, was just over 14 million — a net year-to-date gain of 98,500 jobs over 2010.    Read more »

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9.15.2011

Should A Search Warrant Be Required For Cell Phones and Handheld Computers?

Legislation that would require a search warrant before examining the content of a cell phone awaits action by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure – SB 914 by Sen. Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat – would overturn a 5 to 2 ruling by the California Supreme Court in People v. Diaz upholding the right of law enforcement to conduct a warrantless search of the phone’s content.    Read more »

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9.14.2011

More Voluntary Check-Offs Vie for Space on State Tax Forms

Californians feeling generous on April 15 could kick in for other causes besides sea otters under bills awaiting action by Gov. Jerry Brown adding voluntary check-offs to state tax forms.

On September 1, the Democratic governor signed a bill extending the stay of the Sea Otter Fund on Page Three of the Franchise Tax Board’s Form 540 until 2016.    Read more »

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9.13.2011

Today’s Latin Lesson Is How Rumors Spread

 

Ore Tenus

“By Word of Mouth”

(Literally: “Merely From the Mouth”)    Read more »

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9.12.2011
State’s Fiscal Picture a Bit Brighter in August, Says Controller

State’s Fiscal Picture a Bit Brighter in August, Says Controller

California’s August revenues were nearly $135 million above the projections in the recently enacted budget, State Controller John Chiang announced September 9.

Income taxes were above projections by $127.4 million.  Sales taxes were up $8.6 million and corporate taxes were up $46.7 million, Chaing said in his monthly cash statement.

Revenues collected in July, however, were nearly $539 million less than anticipated in the budget.    Read more »

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9.12.2011

Chief Executives Cannot Live By Kale Alone

Gov. Jerry Brown spent part of Sunday September 11 at the Yolo Land Trust’s Annual “Day in the Country” fundraiser at Park Winters, an 1865 Victorian near Winters.

The Democratic governor, who was not accompanied by First Lady Anne Gust, practiced the diversity he says he prizes, sampling a broad swath of the creations by chefs from various Northern California eateries.    Read more »

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9.07.2011

Gov. Jerry Brown Torpedoes “Paid Political Signature Gatherer” Badges

Paid signature gathers won’t be required to wear badges identifying them as such, thanks to a veto by Gov. Jerry Brown September 7.

The Democratic governor said the bill was “provocative but ultimately unpersuasive” and could set a bad precedent.

“If it is acceptable to force paid signature gatherers to place identifying badges on their chests, will similar requirements soon be placed on paid campaign workers?”    Read more »

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9.06.2011

This Photograph is Forwarded by a Subscriber

 

The subject line of the email says this: “It’s That Time Again.”

(Editor’s Note: California’s Capitol takes no position — pro or con — on any of the views expressed in this photograph. What goes on in the head of  Texas Gov. Rick Perry is far outside the knoweledge of California’s Capitol, to say nothing of this site’s  primary circulation area.    Read more »

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9.02.2011

A Special 45-Minute “Politics on Tap” for the Long Weekend. Cassandra Pye, Senior VP APCO Worldwide, Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Controller John Chiang runc ricles aroudn the the chief correspondent of California’s Capitol.     Read more »

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