One of the most important pieces of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in California is the impact on Medi-Cal, the state-federal health care program for the poor. An idea of the magnitude of that impact will start becoming apparent on Wednesday.
From the LAT's Eryn Brown: "It's one of the next big hurdles for the Obamacare rollout: What will happen when hundreds of thousands of low-income Californians shift from county health plans to the state's huge Medi-Cal system on Jan. 1?"
"Judging from a similar surge in 2011, patients and physicians could see plenty of problems."
"Starting on New Year's Day — Wednesday — as many as a million formerly uninsured or underinsured people will begin moving onto Medi-Cal rolls and reporting to clinics and hospitals that have agreed to provide treatment at set rates."
The trial of Sen. Rod Wright, the Inglewood Democrat who heads the Governmental Organization committee, is expected to begin this week in Los Angeles. Wright, a veteran legislator, is accused of voter fraud.
From the LAT's Jean Merl: "More than three years after a grand jury indicted state Sen. Roderick Wright on charges of perjury and voting fraud, the Inglewood Democrat's trial is scheduled to start on Thursday."
"Jury selection will begin in the morning on the first day the court is open after the New Year's Day holiday, according to the court's calendar. Wright's attorney, Kevin Winston McKesson, said he will ask for a couple of days' break between jury selection and opening arguments."
"Wright was indicted in September 2010 on eight criminal counts. The counts stem from an investigation by the district attorney's office, based on a tip. The D.A. has accused Wright of lying about where he lived in order to run for his state Senate seat."
Speakking of L.A., the area is known for its earthquakes, but authorities have approved building projects anyway without seismic investigation.
From Rosanna Xia, Rong-Gong Lin II and Doug Smith: "The cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica in the last decade have approved more than a dozen construction projects on or near two well-known faults without requiring seismic studies to determine if the buildings could be destroyed in an earthquake, according to a Times analysis."
"Los Angeles building records show that when officials approved projects, they used outdated information that placed the Santa Monica and Hollywood faults much farther away from the developments."
"The structures include a 49-unit apartment complex on the Westside and a three-story office building near the Mormon temple, whose landmark hill was formed by the Santa Monica fault."
And still more on L.A: The bastions of sinecure on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are coming to an end as term limits kick in and the scramble for seats gets under way.
From the Bee's Dan Walters: "Kenneth Hahn served on the board for 40 years, from 1952 until 1992. Mike Antonovich has been there 31 years. No longer."
"Los Angeles County voters passed a term-limit measure in 2002, limiting supervisors to three consecutive four-year terms."
"Beginning next year, current members will begin departing and that is creating something of a political feeding frenzy."
California's Fair Political Practices Commission, which enforces the state's campaign finance laws, says it won't target Sen. Kevin De Leon in connection with a $25,000 donation to a nonprofit. The FPPC had written De Leon earlier in the month that investigators were looking into the issue.
From the Bee's Laurel Rosenhall: "California's political watchdog agency has decided not to open an investigation of state Sen. Kevin de León, and will instead investigate the political action committee that made a $25,000 contribution to a nonprofit group run by the brother of Sen. Ron Calderon, who is under federal investigation for alleged bribery."
"We opened an investigation into...the transaction itself and not against anyone specifically," said Gary Winuk, chief of enforcement for the Fair Political Practices Commission."
"We are not targeting Senator de Leon."
