Thursday, February 5, 2009

California News Roundup - February 5, 2009

California legislators' inaction hits state workers in the pocketbook Thousands of state employees learned Wednesday that they will not be reimbursed for travel expenses until a budget deal is reached, as lawmakers' failure to strike such an agreement with the governor came back to bite them in their own wallets.


State furloughs may further delay unemployment benefits Already frustrated jobless Californians may have a tougher time getting unemployment insurance benefits of up to $450 a week as of Friday when most state workers start taking off two days a month without pay.


L.A. campaigns hope to tap into Obama's pool of new voters Candidates in the March 3 primary election in Los Angeles have zeroed in on the thousands of newly registered voters who lined up at the polls in November's presidential election, hoping to boost turnout in an off-year race that lacks a big-ticket political slugfest.


UC regents move toward easing admissions requirements University of California regents Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a controversial change in freshman admission standards that would drop the requirement for two SAT subject exams and make more students eligible for a review of their applications while guaranteeing entry to fewer.


California seeks to boost transfer rates to 4-year universities Leaders of California's public college and university systems announced Wednesday that they are launching a joint task force to boost the number of community college students who transfer to the state's four-year universities.

GOP accused of vote trading in budget talksBy Kevin Yamamura Labor and environmental leaders accused Republicans of illegally trading votes in budget negotiations and asked state Attorney General Jerry Brown for an immediate investigation, according to a letter they sent Wednesday.

The State Worker: Furloughs' unseen cost -- in morale Barring some unforeseen event, Furlough Fridays start tomorrow. Tens of thousands of state workers will take an unpaid day off.


State extends annual parks passes after printing error found State park officials are extending expiration dates of current annual passes and sending out temporary park entry certificates due to printing problems in processing passes.


In budget crisis, counties plot tax revolt against California Counties in California say they've had enough – and they aren't going to take it anymore.


Q & A: A talk with CalPERS' chief investment officerBy Dale Kasler CalPERS is getting a new chief investment officer, but don't expect any immediate wholesale changes in how the big pension fund invests its money.


Capitol Alert: AD 30: Labor slaps a bull's-eye on Gilmore In politics, the next election is never far away.


Capitol Alert: The (midyear) Capitol Alert budget pool So the state's political leaders have blown past their self-imposed Feb. 1 deadline to reach a budget accord. California has already stopped paying some of its bills. Taxpayer refund checks are on hold. Furloughs are on the horizon.


Capitol Alert: Counties fighting back against state California's 58 counties, whose payments are currently being withheld by the state to conserve cash, are beginning to fight back against Sacramento.


Capitol Alert: Why furloughs compute (and pay cuts didn't) San Diego Union-Tribune editorial writer Chris Reed asked the state controller's office how it was possible for the state's computers to furlough state workers, but not pay them minimum wage temporarily.


Capitol Alert: Cal's deficit, as big as it is, not the worstPosted by Dan WaltersThe immensity of California's budget crisis is shown in a new 50-state fiscal survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures, indicating that California's income-outgo gap is nearly a third of the current state budget deficits for entire nation.


Judges ask Calif. lawmakers to fix crowded prisons A special panel of federal judges pleaded Wednesday for California politicians to fix the state's overcrowded prisons and prevent the court-ordered release of tens of thousands of inmates.


Editorial: Counties' revolt is likely to be fruitless California's counties are getting rebellious, and no one can blame them. With the state running short of cash, Controller John Chiang has told counties he will not make $171 million in health and welfare payments the state owes them this month. Most of that money goes to pay welfare grants and foster care providers and to defray the counties' cost of administering these programs.

DMV proposal for face-detection technology irks privacy Even as cost-conscious Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger looks to trim state spending every way he can, officials at the Department of Motor Vehicles are planning to spend tens of millions of dollars on new driver's license technology.


Teachers union off base in fight with Schwarzenegger The state teachers union is driving an odd stake in the fast-eroding ground of state spending on education. The California Teachers Association is trying to stir up parents by harping on changes to the program that preserves small classes in lower grades. In a TV ad, the CTA blasts Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and "some Sacramento politicians" who are "using the budget as an excuse to abolish our successful class-size reduction program."


Heat coming from all sides as leaders work on budget Labor unions are threatening to recall lawmakers who vote to roll back worker rights. Right-wing shock jocks are calling for the heads of lawmakers who break from conservative orthodoxy.

Offshore oil drilling compromise diesOil company offered to shut down existing wells for ability to drill new onesIt may be true that the more things change, the more they stay the same. We were pleased at the substantive change in the works when environmentalists decided last year not to oppose an oil company's drilling off the coast of Santa Barbara. To receive environmentalists' support, Plains Exploration & Production Co. agreed to close other drilling operations off the coast and donate 4,000 acres for preservation.



California's stimulus share spelled out President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan would create or preserve as many as 421,000 jobs across California, the White House said Wednesday.

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