Sen. Kevin De Leon, a Los Angeles Democrat, told the state's Fair Political Practices Commission that he didn't arrange a $25,000 contribution to a nonprofit linked to Sen. Ron Calderon, who is under investigation by the FBI.
From the LAT's Patrick McGreevy: "An FBI affidavit that is part of an investigation into Sen. Calderon alleged the $25,000 was contributed in exchange for Sen. Calderon dropping his challenge to Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) for the chairmanship of the caucus."
“This shall confirm that Sen. De Leon did not request the contribution, did not recommend the contribution and was not part of any vote or decision to make the contribution,” wrote Stephen J. Kaufman, an attorney for De Leon, to Gary Winuk, the enforcement chief for the FPPC."
Hedge-fund billionaire Tom Steyer, who pushed Proposition 39 in 2012, says he is launching an effort to establish an oil severance tax in California with voter approval next year.
From the AP's Juliet Williams: "Steyer, a major Democratic donor who also bankrolled last year's Proposition 39 campaign, said he thinks is it ridiculous that California is the only oil-producing state that does not levy such a fee on oil pumped from private land, which could generate billions of dollars a year for the state budget."
"Proposals for an oil tax have stalled repeatedly amid pressure from oil companies, which are major donors to lawmakers' campaigns. But Steyer said he believes the current Legislature is more progressive and collaborative than in the past."
UC Berkeley, scratching for money, is becoming a magnet for the children of Asia's wealthy, says a school economics professor.
From Steven E.F. Brown in the San Francisco Business Tiimes: "The University of California, Berkeley, has chosen to become "a finishing school for the superrich of Asia" in order to survive financially, argues one of its employees, Economics Prof. Brad DeLong."
"To make that strategy pay off, DeLong argues in a recent post on UC Berkeley's blog, the school will have to change the way it funds and organizes its classes."
Neanwhile, the Metroplitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority have a date in court.
From the U-T's Michael Gardner: "The water authority contends that Metropolitan’s alleged overbilling amounts to $57 million this year alone and cumulatively $150 million since 2011. That practice treats San Diego ratepayers as a “cash cow” for Metropolitan, the authority claims."
“The case is all about whether Metropolitan can set whatever rates it wants to charge or whether it is governed by the California constitution and statutes that require public agencies to only recover the costs of service,” said Dennis Cushman, assistant general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority."
Sutter Health and Anthem Blue Cross have come to an operations agreement for 2014, a move that has relieved the worries of thousands of HMO members who thought they had to find a new company.
From the Sacramento Business Journal's Melissa Weise: "In November, Anthem alarmed 33,000 HMO customers by sending letters warning them that a contract with the Sacramento health system was expiring Jan. 1, and that they’dhave to choose new doctors."
"The multi-year contract means Anthem members can keep their Sutter doctors without additional action, according to a news release from Sutter."
Gov. Brown doesn't like standardized school testing.The reason: The story of the leaf.
From the Bee's David Siders: "Interviewed on stage during a conference in Mountain View, Brown recalled a "shocking" exam he took as a senior in high school. It included only one question, Brown said: "Write your impression of a green leaf."
"Brown, now 75, said he "didn't know how to deal with it" and that even now, walking by a tree, he wonders, "How's my impression going? Can I feel anything? Actually, this is a very powerful question that has haunted me for 50 years, but you can't put that on a standardized test," Brown said."