Voters are mostly willing to make some changes California’s landmark Proposition 13 according to a new Field Poll.
David Sider reports in the Sacramento Bee: “The poll, done in collaboration with Carl Stempel, a California State University, East Bay, professor, found bipartisan support for changes to the law to prevent businesses from structuring property transactions to avoid triggering reassessments under Proposition 13. Seventy-one percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans favor such a change, according to the poll.”
“Last year, a bill that sought to address that issue stalled in committee. The measure was opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce, which labeled it a “job killer.”
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown has to work with the Republicans in the legislature to pass his proposed rainy day fund.
Chris Megerian reports for the L.A. Times: “The governor needs some GOP support for his measure because it is a constitutional amendment that requires a two-thirds vote for passage, and Democrats are now shy of that threshold. If the proposal passes, it would go before voters in November.”
“Republicans have wanted a rainy-day fund that functions differently from the one Brown proposes, and the governor risks a political black eye if they don't go along. But the special session offers Republicans a way to collaborate across the aisle on an issue likely to have broad public appeal.”
The leading Republican gubernatorial candidate, Assembly member Tim Donnelly has fired his legislative chief of staff.
David Siders reports in the Sacramento Bee: “Donnelly's former campaign manager, Jennifer Kerns, announced last month that she had quit his gubernatorial campaign, while Donnelly called her departure a "mutual" decision.”
“In an email Wednesday, Kerns said Vassar's firing "represents a continuation of poor judgment" by Donnelly.”
Leland Yee closed a ballot measure committee days after being indicted by federal authorities on several charges.
Jim Miller reports for the Sacramento Bee: “Yee created the committee in fall 2008 and it raised about $72,000 from 2009 through 2012, records show. Beginning in 2011, the committee's stated purpose was "school bond."
“In the criminal complaint against Yee and more than 20 others that became public March 26, Yee allegedly encourages an undercover agent seeking contracts with the state to give to his ballot measure account.”
A federal appeals court ruled in favor of environmentalists in a Delta water fight.
Paul Elias reports for the Associated Press: “An 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Wednesday ruled that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation violated the Endangered Species Act when it failed to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service in renewing 41 contracts a decade ago. The appeals court sent the case back to a trial judge for further proceedings.”
California’s large public pension fund CalPERS approved a nearly half-billion dollar rate hike.
Dale Kalser reports for the Sacramento Bee: “More is coming; the rate hikes approved Wednesday marked phase one of a series of increases planned for the next few years.”
“All told, the state’s annual contribution to CalPERS is expected to rise by about $1.2 billion when the new assumptions are fully phased in, to a total of about $5 billion.”
The Sriracha sauce maker is considering relocating his factory out of Irwindale midst public complaints about its smell.
Frank Shyong reports for the L.A. Times: “Relocating Sriracha production would not be simple. Tran has been working with a single pepper grower in Ventura County for years, and the businesses have shaped their operations around each other, expanding in tandem. Since peppers for Sriracha hot sauce must be fresh ground on the day they are harvested, Tran said he'll have to find a new grower if he moves, as well as replace or relocate 60 to 200 employees.”
“Tran said his first choice is to stay in Irwindale, but the city government's actions have created an uncertain business climate.”
