Covered California views transparency as an obstacle to be overcome and no-bid contracts as a perk to abuse. That's the lesson to be learned after an audit released Tuesday by the state auditor that questioned a broad policy that allowed the use of no-bid contracts at the health exchange, which contracted $198 million worth of bids, out of $989 million in total, for these type of sole-bid contracts during a three-period of time.
The California Medical Board had one job to do when it came to protecting patients from doctors on probation: Make it easier for patients to know. The Board failed, and now state Senator Jerry Hill is trying to rectify that error by proposing legislation.
While Governor Jerry Brown vetoed Senate pro Tem Kevin de León’s signature legislation a year ago to revamp the Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC), he approved funds for an Independent Review Panel to advise what to do with the profoundly dysfunctional agency. In vetoing the powerful legislation, Brown signaled that he wants business as usual.
Legislation that first appeared little more than one week ago, which is moving so fast it could be law this week, could give California’s health insurance companies one of the largest tax giveaways of the century.
Aliso Canyon will be front and center at an Assembly Utilities and Commerce hearing. Sen. Fran Pavley's bill, SB 380, would require state officials to immediately institute a moratorium on injections of natural gas into any wells located within and serving the Aliso Canyon storage facility.
Big Oil has fought for years to keep its secrets invisible. But this week, state officials may have finally realized that what is good for the oil industry has been devastating to Californians.