Legislature

Will Big Oil Money Continue to Trump Public Interest in Legislature?

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Mon, 08/17/2015 - 13:35
As news that California allowed thousands of oil and fracking wells to dump waste water into protected underground aquifers surfaced, legislation to prevent such environmental disasters wound its way to a floor vote in both houses of the Legislature.  
 

Tags: 

As Investigations Grow, California Senate Considers Top Utilities Regulator Confirmation

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Thu, 08/06/2015 - 11:22

Stonewalling legislators when you have to be confirmed by their colleagues is usually not a good idea but that is the approach Michael Picker, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, appears to be taking. 

Tags: 

Wheelchairs and Oxygen Not Essential, Says Sen. Ed Hernandez

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 07/17/2015 - 11:22
What could be more of a basic medical need than a wheelchair or oxygen? If you're having a tough time paying for the cheapest Covered California health plan, even with subsidies, you better hope you don't need those essential health benefits in the near future because you'll have to pay for it out of your own pocket if proposed legislation is approved.  
 

Tags: 

California Senate’s Rubberstamp Oversight

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Thu, 07/16/2015 - 11:22

A demolishing developer. An inattentive fracking regulator. A lenient toxic director. 

The California Senate has the power to confirm certain governor appointees, and it also has the power to reject them. It rarely does the latter, and never if both branches are ruled by the same party, and recent events show how this collegial culture has led to unfortunate choices. 

Tags: 

Wining and Dining With Energy Firms Still the Norm for PUC Commissioners

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Wed, 07/15/2015 - 10:17

As investigations over alleged back-room dealings at the California Public Utilities Commission continue, Commissioner Mike Florio was wined and dined at a convention for a trade group that represents energy providers. 

Tags: 

California's $2000 initiative poll tax?

Submitted by Carmen Balber on Sun, 07/12/2015 - 22:55

Even as the Secretary of State and legislative leaders are championing legislation to make it easier for Californians to register and turn out to vote (for them), lawmakers don't seem to want Californians to be able to vote on ideas of their own.

A bill to increase the ballot initiative filing fee tenfold could pass the State Senate next week.

Multiplying the filing fee from the current $200 to $2000 would make proposing a ballot initiative in California more expensive than any other state.

Pages

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