Shark fin soup lovers could get one-year reprieve
Assemblyman Paul Fong this morning amended his controversial bill banning shark fin soup, a change that would allow businesses that already buy and sell the Chinese delicacy to continue doing so until...
View ArticleOverwhelming support for measure to keep state parks open
Some of the 70 state parks slated for closure — victims of the state budget crisis — may have some hope of keeping their gates open. On Thursday, the state Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill that...
View ArticleLawmaker’s disparaging remarks about Italians leads to near-brawl on Assembly...
Accusations of a Sopranos-style shakedown. Two men exchanging words, chest to chest, as others work to pull them apart. It sounds like a movie, but it was actually the action on the state Assembly...
View ArticleCounties launch constitutional amendment to protect realignment funding
Local officials embarked today on what is sure to be a long and tough fight to convince voters that funds for Gov. Jerry Brown’s realignment plan should be constitutionally protected. A coalition of...
View ArticleMerced County Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani comes out as gay
It appears that the state Legislature’s LGBT caucus will be adding a new member: Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, a Democrat from Livingston (Merced County) who’s best known around the Capitol for her...
View ArticleDemocratic leaders sue, say controller had no power to withold pay
In a legal battle that pits Democrats against Democrats, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez sued state Controller John Chiang Tuesday, saying Chiang’s decision...
View ArticleAssembly committee rejects plan to make it easier to kill shelter animals
Animal lovers can breath a bit easier tonight, after an Assembly budget subcommittee smacked down a plan by Gov. Jerry Brown to roll back major portions of a state law aimed at protecting stray and...
View ArticleState lawmakers want repeal of ruling boosting corporate spending
As big money pours into the November election campaign, the California Assembly voted Thursday to ask Congress to amend the Constitution to overturn the Supreme Court ruling that opened the door to...
View ArticleJerry Brown says lawmakers need to ‘man up,’ make budget cuts
Gov. Jerry Brown didn’t mince words on his 40-minute appearance on KGO radio’s Ronn Owens show this morning, saying that Sacramento lawmakers need to “man up” and make the billions of dollars worth of...
View Article20 Latino political rising stars of 2012 (with PHOTO GALLERY)
Latino politicians will be center stage over the next two weeks at both the Democratic and Republican conventions. The Democratic National Convention will be chaired by Antonio Villaraigosa, the...
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