California's campaign ethics agency plans to levy some $1 million in fines against two groups that funneled $11 million into last year's effort to defeat the governor's tax measure on the ballot.
From Chris Megerian and Anthony York: "The state's political watchdog will announce a combined fine of $1 million -- the largest-ever for violating the state's campaign finance laws -- against a pair of nonprofit groups for funneling millions of dollars into a pair of ballot measure campaigns in 2012."
"The sanctions from the Fair Political Practices Commission will be announced at a news conference on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the investigation who requested anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the case."
"The penalties will be levied against Americans for Responsible Leadership and the Center to Protect Patient Rights, a separate Arizona-based group that has ties to billionaire conservative activists Charles and David Koch. The FPPC has found the nonprofits were used to illegally diverted $11 million into a campaign account that worked to defeat Proposition 30, a tax measure on last year's ballot pushed by Gov.Jerry Brown."
The deaths of two workers on the tracks during the BART strike is prompting a review of safety methods.
From the Chronicle's Jaxon Van Derbeken: "BART has suspended its practice of not taking steps to protect repair crews when a train is heading toward them, a policy that federal investigators say they are looking into as part of their probe into the deaths of two workers killed on the tracks Saturday in Walnut Creek."
"The procedure, which dates back at least 30 years, makes workers solely responsible for their own safety on the tracks. BART has run trains through work areas at full speed and has taken no steps to set up an alert system, saying that would make track crews less vigilant."
"The two workers killed Saturday - Christopher Sheppard, 58, a BART track engineer, andLaurence Daniels, 66, a contract employee - were working under the procedure when they were struck while checking on a reported dip in the tracks between the Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill stations.
Rep. Henry Waxman, a power in Congress for decades, faces a challenge in next year's election fight -- a well-known author.
From the LAT's Jean Merl: "Best-selling author Marianne Williamson isn't wasting any time hitting the campaign trail since her announcement Sunday that she will challenge veteran Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) next year."
"The self-described "thought leader" will be at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in Redondo Beach on Thursday evening. It will be her first political appearance since announcing her candidacy."
"Williamson, a former Democrat, said she will run as an independent in the largely affluent, coastal 33rd Congressional District, which runs from Beverly Hills and Malibu to the Palos Verdes Peninsula."
Meanwhile, California and several other states are getting together to push a greater use of zero-emission vehicles.
From the Bee's Mark Glover: "Gov. Jerry Brown and governors of seven other states today will announce an initiative that aims to put 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on the roadways within a dozen years."
"The multi-state effort dovetails with California’s previously stated goal of putting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025."
"The initiative takes the form of a memorandum of understanding signed by the governors of California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. Officials said those states comprise nearly 25 percent of the U.S. vehicle market."
The nation's top education official has chosen a former head of the California Board of Education for a major position in the administration.
From EdSource's Kathryn Baron: "U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has reportedly tapped former California State Board of Education president Ted Mitchell for a key post in his administration."
"EdWeek and The Chronicle of Higher Education are reporting that Duncan wants Mitchell as the next under secretary for the department. Mitchell would succeed another Californian, former chancellor of the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Martha Kanter, who announced in August that she’s leaving the post and returning to California."
"Mitchell was president of the State Board of Education from 2008 to 2010. During that time he also took over as president and CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund, a nonprofit venture philanthropy fund based in Oakland but with offices in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere, that supports entrepreneurial programs to improve education for low-income students. The Fund’s portfolio includes many of the nation’s largest charter school organizations, such as KIPP, Aspire and Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools. Before the nomination came to light, Mitchell told EdSource he had recently moved to the Washington, D.C., area after his wife accepted a job at the University of Maryland."
