Elections

California Laws You Should Know That Start Jan. 1, 2016

In 2015, Californians wanted bold, progressive action on gas prices, toxics regulation and ratepayer protection against back room dealings with regulated utilities. But instead, the public too often saw meaningful reform watered down or dumped.

Proposals such as reducing the state's petroleum use by 50% by 2030, protecting groundwater from fracking waste, demanding transparency from oil companies manipulating the price and supply of oil, and shutting down polluting facilities operating for decades without permits failed to be approved.

Capitol Watchdog: Upcoming Meetings to Watch

The best time to have a hearing on another health insurance merger in California is when few in the media are around to prepare for it. So, obviously, California plans another health insurance merger hearing on the Monday after New Year's. Let's hope it is more informative than the last one, though we have our doubts. But the holiday season is also, in political terms, the calm before the legislative storm. The Legislature begins its next session on Jan. 4. 

CA Lawmakers Should Approve All Mail Ballot System Next Session

If California lawmakers truly want to change our woeful voter participation, and listen to their constituents, they will quickly adopt Sen. Ben Allen's push for a statewide mail ballot system in the next legislative session. 
 

Lawmakers Confront Badly Needed California Election Reform

Covered California Still ‘Assessing’ Voter Registration Efforts

If a public agency had $2.3 million tucked away for voter registration, you would think it could tell the public details – but not Covered California.
 
The health exchange said $1.4 million is for printing and mailing and the rest is for the policy unit.  No further details were given. A spokeswoman said that documents confirming that this money is going to voter registration and what exactly the money will be funding would not be available until June 19.  The Covered California Board is expected to approve the 2015-2016 budget on June 18.
 

Covered California’s Elimination of Budget Funds for Voter Registration Premature

Covered California has failed to effectively implement its mandate to help enrollees register to vote, and should restore voter registration funding that has been cut completely in the proposed budget it will consider today, said Consumer Watchdog in a letter to executive director Peter Lee and the Board.

Capitol Watchdog is owned and operated by nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. For more information about Consumer Watchdog visit http://www.consumerwatchdog.org