Triggered by public comment, the peripheral tunnel project is being delayed for additional studies.
Matt Weiser reports for The Sacramento Bee: ““We’re going through it and we’re going to revise and send it back out for public review,” Vogel said. “We continue to look for ways to reduce the impacts to Delta residents and landowners, and we’ll have a lot more information in six to eight weeks.””
“Officials said the revised document will be re-released for public comment “in early 2015.” They originally intended to approve the current plan near the start of the new year. Together with more time for public comment on the revised document, the delay will amount to several months.”
It’s that time again: to be on the look out for gut-and-amended legislation.
Ben Adler reports for Capitol Public Radio: “It happens every year in the waning days of the California Legislature: A bill is amended to address a completely different subject, then brought up for a vote without going through the full legislative process. It's known as “gut-and-amend.” And although the practice draws scorn from many, lawmakers insist there are good reasons to use it.”
Lawmakers forged deals yesterday on some of this year’s most hotly contested bills.
Jeremy B. White reports in The Sacramento Bee: “While both bills attracted debate about California’s economic competitiveness and spurred lobbying from powerful interests, they also centered on two markedly different industries: one old, one new.”
“Assembly Bill 1839 seeks to protect California’s film industry, dangling tax breaks to stanch the slow exodus of films to states that offer their own incentives. Assembly Bill 2293 would impose new controls on an ascendant business model that has displaced taxis by allowing people to transport people in their own cars, with the help of a Web app, for a fee.”
The debate over legislation to ban single-use plastic bags at grocery stores is a prime display of misleading tactics lobbyists use as session draws to a close.
Jessica Calefati reports for The Mercury News: “In January, Padilla announced a breakthrough compromise with some of the legislation's other opponents. He agreed to make $2 million from the state's bottle-and-can recycling fund available to California plastic bag makers who want to retool their operations and instead manufacture reusable plastic bags that meet the bill's standards. So the bill had been widely expected to pass.”
“No one will know precisely how much money the plastic and paper bag industries have dumped into lawmakers' laps until they file campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State's Office detailing their contributions. The reports aren't due until October, but Capitol observers expect spending will be substantial because it's an election year.”
In his congressional race against former legislator Toy Strickland, state Sen. Stephen Knight is getting flack for his vote on a bill outlawing certain sales of the confederate flag.
Jean Merl reports for The Los Angeles Times: “"Many of the senator's constituents are concerned about the way he voted on this bill," said community activist Veronica Fields, who plans to attend the meeting with Knight.”
“"I don't think any reasonable American believes that Confederate memorabilia should be sold on state-owned property or by state agencies," Strickland campaign spokesman Evan Handy said.”
He always said “I’ll be back,” this time the former governator is returning to debut his official portrait.
David Siders reports for The Sacramento Bee: “No official word on who painted the Schwarzenegger portrait – or where it might hang.”
“The former governor’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment on the portrait. But the San Francisco Chronicle reported as far back as 2012 that it was already complete, done by Gottfried Helnwein, a famous Austrian-Irish painter.”