As lawmakers and the governor focus on the budget in coming weeks, the redistricting commission will do what voters asked it to do -- draw maps. Patrick McGreevy at the L.A. Times as the story.
"As the new Citizens Redistricting Commission begins
its work next month, members say, the 23rd Congressional District will be a good reminder of
what not to do."
"It's been used as an example of how absurd the process
is,'' said Peter Yao, the commission's chairman. "It
does not allow people to choose the candidate. They
are forced to go with the party's choice.''
Outside interests hold sway in the Legislature, influencing politics and policy to a considerable degree, reports Karen de Sa of the Contra Costa Times.
"Sponsored bills accounted for almost 40 percent of all legislation introduced and 50 percent of bills that became law. And in the recession-stained session of 2009 and 2010, these bills took on a particular character: In the name of creating jobs, lawmakers embraced special-interest legislation that would upend environmental protections, block lawsuits, allow corporations to reduce fees and accountability, and increase consumer costs...."
"Sponsorship has become so common that when the bills carry no sponsor, committee members notice. In previous years, prior to his unsuccessful U.S. Senate quest, DeVore introduced 35 or more bills each session -- most with no sponsor attached. When he would bring his bills to colleagues in committee hearings, unaccompanied by a lobbyist, he recalled in a recent interview: "It was almost like, 'What the heck are you doing here?' "
Meanwhile, Gov.-elect Jerry Brown, who lived in an apartment with a mattress on the floor on N Street during his first stint as governor, is moving a few blocks away to a loft on J Street, reports the Bee's David Siders.
"The one-bedroom unit is at 16th and J streets, near the Capitol and across from Memorial Auditorium, a source said."
"Brown was spotted last week visiting the 1530 J St. building, a renovated, one-time automobile dealership building. On the ground floor are two restaurants, P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Mikuni Japanese Restaurant."
Back to the campaign trail, the distrust of Latinos for the GOP had a devastating impact on Meg Whitman's failed race for governor, notes the LAT's George Skelton.
"On Nov. 2, a record 22% of the California electorate was Latino. They voted heavily for Democrat Brown — somewhere between 64% and 80%, depending on which poll you believe. Whatever the real figure, it should scare the GOP because Latinos are by far California's fastest-growing voter group."
"Republicans need to understand that they live in suburbs with second-generation Mexican American neighbors whose parents came here and worked in agriculture and the service industries and are very proud" of their families' success, Stutzman says."
The new state law targeting fast-food calories will have a six-month soft-launch, reports Nancy Luna in the Orange County Register.
"A coalition of California environmental health directors voted to recommend a “soft six-month rollout” of the state’s menu labeling law, which targets fast-food and sit-down dining chains with 20 or more locations statewide."
"The decision comes as regulators debate if a new federal law pre-empts California’s menu guidelines."
And finally, we have the case of the "Revolting Jury," which rebelled against convicting a defendant for possessing a small amount of marijuana.
"In fact, one juror wondered why the county was wasting time and money prosecuting the case at all, said a flummoxed Deputy Missoula County Attorney Andrew Paul."
"District Judge Dusty Deschamps took a quick poll as to who might agree. Of the 27 potential jurors before him, maybe five raised their hands. A couple of others had already been excused because of their philosophical objections."
“I thought, ‘Geez, I don’t know if we can seat a jury,’ ” said Deschamps, who called a recess."
"And he didn’t."