Closed doors

Gov. Brown wants the opportunity to meet behind closed doors with the locals, and now he'll have his chance.

From the Mercury-News' Josh Richman: "Brown signed a bill into law Monday that will block public access to his meetings with local officials on public security issues, a move critics say shields the governor from having secret policy discussions over controversial public safety initiatives like prison realignment."

"Last week, Brown was poised to sign legislation that would have let local government agencies opt out of key sections of the California Public Records Act before public outcry forced him and lawmakers to abandon the plan. Now, open government advocates are concerned about a bill moving forward that would exempt a task force investigating construction concerns with the new Bay Bridge eastern span from open-meeting and public-record laws."

"I think anyone who knows about his record and his actions has very low expectations of him as an advocate for transparent government," said Terry Francke, general counsel of the open-government nonprofit Californians Aware.

Speaking of access to government, the Legislature has removed language from a bill that would have demonstrably weakened the Public Records Act and the measure now sits on the governor's desk. Brown, who like lawmakers is reversing course, is expected to sign it.

From Capitol Weekly's Alex Matthews: "The state Senate on Monday approved and sent to Gov. Brown a bill that would restore key provisions of the California Public Records Act, following an outcry from the media and others that officials had tried to block the public’s access to government business."

"The bill, SB 71 by the Senate Budget Committee, removed language that appeared in a budget-companion bill, AB 76, that sat on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature. But that measure came under fire for making certain core requirements of the California Public Records Act optional for local governments."

“Frequently, some people would say the fourth protocol [of the government] is the press because it’s the press’s access to open government that keeps the government free,” said Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, said during the Senate debate. He added that he also was skeptical of local governments support for the measure."

The governor's hopes of reastructuring California's enterprise zones -- where businesses that locate in low-income areas get tax breaks and hiring credits -- are back on the table, after beind postponed earlier.

From the Bee's David Siders: After Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to eliminate the state's enterprise zone program appeared to stall earlier this month, the Brown administration and Democratic legislative leaders rushed forward Monday with a slightly modified version of the plan, anticipating a floor vote in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon."

"The modified proposal would largely retain the geographic boundaries of California's 40 enterprise zones, but with significantly scaled back hiring credits for companies in those areas.

The proposal released Monday would provide hiring credits only to employers paying between 150 percent and 350 percent of the minimum wage, currently between $12 and $28 per hour. Except for small businesses, the program would generally not apply to temporary worker agencies, retailers, restaurants or drinking establishments."

One of the hardest-fought bills of the year is coming up this week -- a measure that would require big businesses like Wal-Mart from providing hours and wages to workers that are low enough to allow the employees to qualify for Medi-Cal. The vote this also will be a test of Democratic moderates.

From the Bee's Jim Sanders: "With Democrats set to lose their Assembly supermajority this week, moderates are in the hot seat as the house decides the fate of one of organized labor's top priorities."

"A measure by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, which seeks to bar Wal-Mart and other large employers from providing wages and hours low enough to qualify for Medi-Cal rolls, requires a two-thirds supermajority to pass."

"The bill, expected to be acted upon Thursday by the Assembly, will test liberal Democrats' ability to control the Legislature before their opportunity evaporates. They'll learn whether moderates of their own party will stand with them or move to kill a bill labeled a "job killer" by the California Chamber of Commerce. Time is running out on Gomez because Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield will resign his seat Sunday to join the Los Angeles City Council, leaving the Assembly with 53 Democrats, one shy of a supermajority."

Meanwhile, the governor -- who one would think has enough on his plate already -- is putting together a plan to  meet a federal order that he quickly reduce California's prison inmate population.

From the LAT's Paige St. John: "Gov. Jerry Brown has asked lawmakers for money to move thousands of inmates out of crowded state prisons, even as he appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court to make such a step unnecessary."

And now for something really different, we turn to our "National Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest." That's what we said ....

"Mimoza's creation was inspired by swans... and so her dress is titled 'Beautiful Swan'."

"But you should also check out Laurine's toilet paper 'Secret Garden' wedding dress; Susan M.'s contribution titled 'Springtime in Tokyo' (please note: the appliqued koi, splashing water and sun motif on the obi and the delicate cherry blossoms sprinkled on the shoulders), and don't miss looking at Amber's 'Victorian Alice' dress, inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the Victorian Steampunk era."