Advocates of same-sex marriage celebrated Wednesday after SCOTUS turned down an appeal from the backers of Proposition 8, and said same-sex couples were entitled to the same benefits under federal law as opposite-sex couples.
From the Chronicle's Bob Egelko: "The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal Wednesday by sponsors of California's ban on same-sex marriage and issued a ruling that is likely to allow gays and lesbians to marry in the nation's most populous state. The justices sidestepped the question of whether the Constitution allows states to prohibit same-sex marriages."
"In a separate ruling, the court said married same-sex couples are entitled to the same federal benefits as opposite-sex spouses."
"Despite leaving constitutional issues unresolved, the rulings - the court's first ever on same-sex marriage - added up to a historic victory for gay-rights advocates. The justices ruled 5-4 that the sponsors of Proposition 8, the 2008 California initiative that defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman, could not represent the state or its voters in appealing lower-court rulings that held the initiative unconstitutional. The measure's sponsors had stepped in after Gov. Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris declined to defend Prop. 8."
(The Supreme Court's opinion on the Proposition 8 case can be seen here.)
After hours of intense negotiations, the state Senate approved a plan that all but dismantles the existing enterprise zone program and redirects an estimated $700 million elsewhere.
From the AP's Judy Ling: "The state Senate late Tuesday passed a compromise version of Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to retool California's enterprise zone program in a way the governor hopes will encourage manufacturing and job growth."
"Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting 30-9 to meet a two-thirds vote threshold on AB93. The bill now moves to the Assembly."
"Brown, who has called the enterprise zone program both wasteful and inefficient, has been advocating for changes for more than two years. He first proposed eliminating the economic development program along with community redevelopment agencies."
A flurry of measures await action in the Legislature to that would allow 55 percent majority votes on local tax measures, reducing the hurdle set by Proposition 13 some 35 years ago.
From Capitol Weekly's Samantha Gallegos: "Proposition 13, California’s iconic, tax-cutting ballot initiative of 1978, is confronting its most serious political challenges in decades as majority Democrats push to reduce the thresholds needed to approve local tax measures."
"Next year will be the year to take a look at some more fundamental changes in the local government relationship, and that will include taxes,” said Senator Lois Wolk, D- Davis, who authored one of several bills or constitutional amendments seeking the lower tax threshold for for local projects."
"Democratic leaders, fearful of the political fallout for supporting higher taxes, ordered the measures parked in the Rules Committee instead of being shipped to the floor for a vote."
Back to the Supreme Court: The high court's earlier decision to strike down a key section of the Voting Rights Act will have an impact on thyree California counties.
From the LAT's Maura Dolan: "Three California counties — Monterey, Yuba and Kings — will no longer have to seek federal approval to make changes in their election rules as a result of Tuesday’s Supreme Court decision striking down a key portion of the Voting Rights Act."
"A history of voting discrimination against Latinos and Asians had made the counties subject to the federal requirements. As result of the voting law, attempts to change from district to at-large elections have been stopped, and polling consolidations have been delayed, civil rights lawyers said."
"The high court decided 5-4 to strike down a provision of the voting law that contained a formula used to determine which state and local governments must seek prior approval for election changes."
Richard Pombo, the former copngressman who was pushed into a retirement by a bruising election, is back -- with a new Super PAC.
From Roll Call's Kent Cooper: "A former Congressman has planted a seed and started a super PAC in the central valley of California."
"Former Rep.
Richard Pombo, R-Calif., is the new chairman of
Empower Central Valley, a new super PAC that has registered with the Federal Election Commission. The PAC is based in Tracy, Calif. The PAC will support conservative candidates, such as freshman Rep. Jeff Denham R-Calif., and freshman Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif.The super PAC may receive contributions of any size and make independent expenditures for and against candidates."
"Pombo served in Congress from 1992 to 2006 and was chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee from 2003 to 2006. His committee handled legislation about natural resources, Indian lands and Indian gaming. He was also on the House Agriculture Committee."
And in yet another case of an innocent man behind bars, a man sentenced to life for rape has been exonerated after serving eight years in prison.
From Dwane Brown at KPBS: "He was wrongfully convicted of grabbing a women in Lemon Grove and sexually assaulting her. But it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity."
"Uriah Courtney, 33, served 8 years of a life sentence for a crime new DNA testing determined was committed by someone who looked like him."
"It was a terrible experience, one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," Courtney said. "I'm just grateful to be out and grateful to the Innocence Project for everything they've done on my case."
