The controversy over the recently proposed “Sodomite Suppression Act” has increased scrutiny of the initiative process, with some calling for significant changes. KQED’s John Myers looked at the response to the anti-gay initiative and the likelihood of changes to California’s initiative process.
On the other side of the coin, the LAT Editorial Board says that wack-a-doo proposals are the least of the problems with the process.
“This kerfuffle over a creepy, long-shot proposal aside, the real abuse of the citizen-initiative process comes at the hands of monied interests, including corporations, trade groups, public employee unions, wealthy individuals and others with $10 million or more to forward their own agendas.”
If you haven’t heard enough of Tim Donnelly, we have good news for you: the former legislator (and conservative firebrand) is launching a new radio show, starting April 15. From David Siders at the Sacramento Bee:
“According to a promo, Donnelly will be “broadcasting from deep behind enemy lines in the occupied territory of the socialist republic of California.”
“Donnelly, a Republican from Twin Peaks, fell in last year’s primary election to a more moderate Republican, Neel Kashkari, who went on to lose to Gov. Jerry Brown.
“Talk 960, a radio station in Victorville, said on its website that “The Tim Donnelly Show” will air weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.”
Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board sat down with KQED’s Craig Miller for a long conversation. Short take: there will be no “March Miracle” this year.
“It’s the worst thing that any of us have dealt with — probably worse than anything our grandparents ever dealt with, for a number of reasons. The precipitation levels have, of course, been terrible. Our reservoirs are low and you can see that graphically. Our snowpack is even worse. And so the dislocation caused by multiple years of low precipitation — particularly the fact that it’s been so warm and we don’t have snowpack — is like a double whammy.
“People will quibble about precipitation levels and look at 1924 and 1977 as technically having less precipitation than now. That is nothing to have a party about because there are millions more people than there were relying on that water.”
Health Access marked Monday’s fifth anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act by releasing a study marking the successes – and challenges – of “Obamacare.”
Susan Abram, Los Angeles Daily News: “The study, compiled by Health Access, a statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, pointed out the success of the Affordable Care Act in California, where 4 million previously uninsured people found coverage. Those people either enrolled through a health plan through Covered California, the state’s insurance exchange, or else qualified for Medi-Cal, which was expanded.
“But the study also detailed several remaining challenges. Those included holding insurance companies accountable for saying they provide specialists in their networks when in fact they don’t, fine-tuning Medi-Cal so that care is easier to access and expanding coverage to the state’s 2.6 million undocumented residents, who don’t otherwise qualify under the federal law because of their legal status.”
And, speaking of the Affordable Care Act, Politico reports that the scramble is on the succeed Nancy Pelosi.
Little bit of good news: congrats to Juliet Williams, tapped to head Sacramento coverage for Associated Press.
And some bad news: former senator and longtime lobbyist Bill Campbell died over the weekend.
And some funny news: deputies in Mariposa County tracked down a thief who had stolen a woman’s entertainment system when he logged into her Netflix account.
“A woman reported to deputies that on March 4, someone had broken into her home by way of a second-story balcony and took a 65-inch smart TV, Wi-Fi Blu-ray player, laptop computer, surround sound system and other miscellaneous speakers, cables and wires, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department said.
“Three days later, the woman said movies were being viewed on her Netflix account that were not being watched by anyone in her household.
“The woman told deputies that both her TV and Blu-ray were linked to her Netflix account, officers said.
After contacting Netflix to get the IP address of the Wi-Fi unit, deputies were able to locate where the Wi-Fi signal was coming from.
“A search warrant was issued for a home in Mariposa, but when officers went to that home, they did not find any of the stolen property.
The homeowner told officers they allowed their neighbor, Bobby Alexander, to use their Wi-Fi, according to officials.
“Deputies knocked on Alexander's door, but no one answered. A K-9 officer and a deputy searched the home and found the stolen property, officials said.”
Alexander was arrested and is being held on $75,000 bail.