Many obstacles lie ahead, but the governor has managed to put California in the Tesla “gigafactory” game.
Dana Hull reports The Mercury News: “CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday that Gov. Jerry Brown and his staff are working hard to make California a “significant candidate” for the gigafactory, but that Tesla needs to move fast on permits and construction. Tesla wants to break ground on the gigafactory next month, and speed is not exactly California’s forte.”
California’s jails are both deteriorating and being relied on more than ever because of realignment.
Dan Walter reports in the Sacramento Bee: “The prison population has dropped dramatically to near the level fixed by the courts but there have been complaints from some local law enforcement officials that filling county jail cells with felons has forced them to incarcerate fewer misdemeanor offenders and thus put more of them back in the community. There also have been complaints that the money from the state isn't enough to cover costs.”
President Obama dropped into California to urge wealthy Democrats not to forget about this year’s congressional races.
Steve Holland reports for Reuters: “At the Bel Air home of Disney chairman Alan Horn, Obama spoke to a crowd that included actress Barbra Streisand and her husband, actor James Brolin.”
“He exhorted them to help turn back a strong challenge from Republicans who are trying to win control of the Senate and build on their majority in the House.”
Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer released a poll that indicates Californians want an oil extraction tax and county control over fracking.
Josh Richman reports in Contra Costa Times: “The poll of 800 likely voters, conducted in late April, found 64 percent support an oil-extraction fee while 27 percent oppose it. Support for the fee crosses party lines, with 71 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of independents and 50 percent of Republicans in favor. And when told that California is the only one of 22 oil-producing states that doesn't already have such a fee, the support of likely voters grows to 75 percent.”
A multi-million dollar fight is looming for health insurers over a ballot measure being pushed by the state insurance commissioner.
Chad Terhune reports in the Los Angeles Times:” Obamacare in California could suffer setbacks, delays and legal challenges if voters this year approve a statewide ballot initiative to regulate insurance rates, a new industry-backed report warns.”
“Those predictions drew immediate fire from Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. He said the concerns are nonsense and passage of the ballot measure is essential for consumers to reap the full benefits of the Affordable Care Act.”
Political adviser to Neel Kashkari, Aaron McLear, confronted rival Tim Donnelly on a radio talk show over Donnelly’s claims Kashkari submits to Islamic law.
David Siders reports in the Sacramento Bee: “It sounds like the assemblyman is once again a bit confused about the truth, and so I thought it'd be helpful to educate him on exactly what's going on," McLear said. "Neel Kashkari, first of all, is a Hindu, not a Muslim, as Mr. Donnelly is trying to insinuate."
“Donnelly said he "never insinuated anything," and he shot back at the Kashkari campaign for posting a website attacking Donnelly on a variety of issues.”
