Gov. Jerry Brown and leaders of the Legislature head down to San Diego today to sign the 2014-15 state budget. We’ll soon find out what pieces of the budget survive Brown’s final cut,
David Siders reports in the Sacramento Bee: “Governors have the right to reduce or strike appropriations in budget bills before signing them, but it is unclear what line-item vetoes Brown will make to the $156.4 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Last year, the Democratic governor made only a small number of line-item vetoes, totaling about $40 million.”
State lawmakers say California’s history of eugenics is resurfacing as an audit confirms more than 100 women were sterilized in state prisons.
Pauline Bartolone reports for Capitol Public Radio: “The new state audit has found that some surgeries were done illegally and that the safeguards built into the system had failed.”
“It says that in some cases, physicians didn’t sign forms to certify that a waiting period was observed, and that the patients understood the procedure’s implications.”
Derailment risks associated with oil trains traveling through California have legislators looking to intervene in any way possible.
Jeremy B. White reports in the Sacramento Bee: “A much-anticipated report released on Tuesday tamped down on those worries by depicting slim odds of an accident; in a sign of the dispute over the safety of transporting crude by rail, a prominent environmental group on Wednesday unveiled a report reaching the opposite conclusion.”
“Since interstate railroads are largely overseen by the federal government, California has limited authority to devise new regulations governing crude shipments. Instead, the state's role consists of enforcing federal rules.”
Bakersfield representative Kevin McCarthy is victorious in claiming the number two spot for House leadership.
Michael Doyle reports for the McClatchy Washington Bureau: “McCarthy will become more the public face of House Republicans, as well. He’ll be sought after by the Sunday talk shows, and have more of a say in the deals that get cut. On some California issues he could join forces with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.”
“California’s cotton, oil and gas producers could specifically benefit, along with the Silicon Valley business leaders McCarthy has spent considerable time cultivating. Individuals and committees affiliated with Oracle, Google, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum ranked among his top ten campaign contributors in the last election cycle, records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics show.”
In the course of a week, drought conditions have worsened.
Caitlin Owens reports for the Los Angeles Times: “Almost 33% of the state faces exceptional conditions. About 25% of the state faced those conditions last week.”
“Every part of California remains in what is considered severe drought.”
“A year ago, no part of the state was in exceptional drought conditions, the weather service said.”
California’s two Democratic senators agree that the United States should intervene in Iraq.
Matt Laslo reports for Capitol Public Radio: “California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer was one of only twenty three senators to vote against the war in Iraq under President George W. Bush.”
“But now, as well trained Islamist fighters take control of northern Iraq, Boxer says the U.S. military must step in and protect U.S. interests. Still, Boxer stops short of saying whether she’d support a bombing campaign in Iraq.”
State Democratic Party Chairman John Burton tells Texas Gov. Rick Perry “do a little research” before his rumored consideration to move to California.
Carla Marinucci reports for the San Francisco Chronicle: “"It may not be your scene," Burton says, in a true understatement.”
“Then he invites him to take a march in the June 29 Pride Parade in San Francisco. Not likely, after Perry made news this month comparing homosexuality to alcoholism at the Commonwealth Club of California.”
Google is looking to get girls into coding programs.
Martha Mendoza reports for the Associated Press: “A website features female role-model techies who write software to design cool fabrics or choreograph dances. There are simple, fun coding lessons aimed at girls and a directory of coding programs for girls. The search giant is also offering $50 million in grants and partnering with Girls Who Code, a nonprofit launched in 2012 that runs summer coding institutes for girls, including the one that helped focus Navarro's passion for technology."