Articles

Review Panel Aims at Top Toxics Regulator, Let's Hope It Doesn't Miss

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 14:37
Courtesy of Gov. Jerry Brown and Senate pro Tem Kevin de Leon, California's top toxics regulator now has an independent review panel. It meets tomorrow for the first time. This panel is critically important to reform of the scandal-plagued Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). It's got one good shot at changing the department's culture--and that is what it is going to take to make this department worthy of its name.
 

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Stonewalling PUC Hides Jerry Brown's Involvement in Failed San Onofre Deal

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 11:48

Now we know why Gov. Jerry Brown killed a key piece of legislation that would have forced more public disclosure at the state's powerful utilities commission: He was protecting himself. This shouldn't come as a surprise, because as we saw with Mapgate, the governor often tries to carefully avoid transparency. 

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Capitol Watchdog: Meetings to Watch This Week

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 08:23

In this week's meeting, from Nov. 16 - 20, the state's insurance department will be hearing a dispute over a rate increase by State Farm that Consumer Watchdog believes is unfair and overcharging customers by more than $200 million. In addition, the Public Utilities Commission was expected to decide if the Southern California Edison should be financially penalized over alleged improper communications tied to the San Onofre Nuclear power plant decommissioning. 

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Reducing Drug Prices Proposal Could Pit Well-Funded Healthcare Players Against Each Other

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 08:01
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation's proposed measure to reduce prescription drug prices in California is simple enough: Require the state to negotiate prices just like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does. Proponents say it will lower costs for state programs, potentially save taxpayers millions and ease rising medical costs for the most vulnerable. 
 

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Will Jerry Brown Apologize for Using State Workers for Personal Business?

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Thu, 11/12/2015 - 14:05
Amid ongoing media scrutiny of Gov. Jerry Brown for using state workers to search for oil on his own private land, he and his staff continue to claim that he received no special treatment. That's untrue, and instead of being tone-deaf to the growing consensus, he should acknowledge his mistake and apologize. 

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