One lawmaker is looking for a legislative fix to prevent another headache of a recount.
Josh Richman reports for The Mercury News: “Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, announced Wednesday he's researching ways to ensure the recount process in future statewide elections is fair to all candidates, and he plans to introduce a bill when the Legislature returns from its summer recess.”
“Mullin said options might include setting a threshold that automatically triggers the recount process for very close races, the development of a recount standard across counties, and a state-funded recount process.”
It's up to the public to hold government agencies accountable for water waste.
Matt Weiser reports in the Sacramento Bee: "In a little-noticed provision of the regulations adopted Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board declared that public agencies--in addition to individuals and businesses--an be prosecuted for a criminal infraction and fined $500 per day for certain categories of water waste."
"Those categories include using a hose to wash off sidewalks and driveways; watering landscaping so much that water runs off into streets or gutters; washing vehicles using a hose without a shutoff nozzle attached; and using potable water in a decorative fountain unless it recirculates that water. The law is expected to take effect Aug. 1 and continue for 270 days, unless renewed by the water board."
Summer months mean things are calming down at the Capitol for all, but one guy.
Marc Lifsher reports in the Los Angeles Times: "Down on the Capitol's ground floor in Gov. Jerry Brown's office, known as the "Horseshoe" because of its configuration, the pace of work isn't slowing down."
"The governor signs bills, makes appointments and huddles with aides about legislation that will be pending Aug. 4 when senators and Assembly members return for a final month of session."
Political turnover is approaching on a large scale in Califronia's leadership.
Alexander Burns reports in Politico: "Democrats here — along with a few tenacious Republicans — say there’s a palpable sense that a changing-of-the-guard moment is approaching. It has already begun in some places, with the retirements of several long-tenured federal lawmakers and the defeat of 16-term Democratic Rep. Pete Stark in a 2012 primary."
"For the most part, members of the under-50 crowd in California politics aren’t taking shots at their elders. On the contrary, they praise them for their steady leadership of an often-troubled state even as they brace for a shakeup that may be as few as two years away."
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein tells Vladimir Putin to "man up."
Dustin Volz reports for The National Journal: "Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein thoroughly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for his role in empowering Ukraine's pro-Russian separatists during an interview with CNN on Sunday, largely laying the blame at his feet for the downing last week of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet."
"Regardless of Putin's level of involvement in the plane crash, Feinstein said U.S. relations with Russia had dipped to a new low."
Republicans are looking to flex their libertarian muscle in finding a base of supporters in the Silicon Valley.
Darren Samuelsohn reports for Politico: “"It should be fair game, both for the intellectual capital they bring to the table, and also the money they bring to the table,” he said."
"But he also lamented that the GOP’s technology shortcomings could still stymie any recruiting success that Paul or other presidential contenders have in Silicon Valley."
“If you have all this talent, but if you pour them into a leaky bucket, it’s still an ineffective process,” he said. Republicans, he added, need to “put some duck tape on those holes until they’re completely mended and that’s what we’re in the process of doing.”
