Lawmakers speedily sent a budget to the governor for the 2016-17 fiscal year, amid hopes for a continued strong economy.
From the LAT's Chris Megerian: "With concerns about the potential for another recession casting a shadow over this year’s budget negotiations, California lawmakers approved a new $170.9-billion spending plan on Wednesday that increases some funding for social services but stashes more away in a rainy-day fund."
"Although lawmakers are finishing their work on this year’s budget, some of the most consequential decisions for the state’s financial future may not be made until the November election. Voters will likely be asked whether to extend higher taxes on the wealthy, increase the levy on cigarettes or borrow billions of dollars to build and renovate schools."
"It’s a classic example of California’s dual-track system for managing its finances, with some decisions made in the Capitol and others at the ballot box."
SEE ALSO: California budget: by the numbers -- AP in Sac Bee.
The state's latest legislative effort on policy transparency is becoming a battle of who-wrote-the-bill-first between Reeps and Dems.
From the AP: "California lawmakers would be stripped of their ability to make last-minute changes to bills and all public hearings would be videotaped under a measure likely to go before voters in November."
"A wealthy Republican donor, Charles Munger, Jr., and a former lawmaker have submitted signatures for an initiative that would require lawmakers to publish all bills for at least 3 days before the full Senate or Assembly could vote on them. Their initiative, touted as an overdue requirement for legislative transparency, has hit a nerve with lawmakers in the Democratically controlled statehouse who are advancing their own, weaker version of the measure."
"Former Assembly Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee, a Republican who submitted the initiative with Munger, said one of the more frustrating parts of being a lawmaker was to be asked to vote on bills written and distributed just hours earlier."
Data shows that additional fees tacked onto traffic tickets and revocation of driver's licenses stemming from the lack of paying fines is adversely affecting poor populations across the state.
Chronicle's Michael Cabanatuan reports: "A repayment program established by the state last year to protect low-income Californians from losing their driver’s licenses over unpaid traffic fines is not working in many California counties, according to a coalition of civil rights advocates, who say local courts are failing to take a person’s ability to pay into account."
"Led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, the coalition filed suit Wednesday against Solano County Superior Court — one of dozens, it says, that have been intractable on the issue — and warned 26 others that they could be next."
"Christine Sun, ACLU legal director, said the problem stems from the state’s practice of tacking on pricey administrative fees to simple traffic tickets, which can drive the price of a $100 citation to $500 or more. Failing to make those payments can result in fines that push the price hundreds of dollars higher — and well beyond the reach of many people living on fixed incomes or small paychecks."
Gov. Brown has refused to declare a state of emergency regarding the homeless epidemic spreading across California.
Kevin Walker reports in KPCC: "In a blow to Los Angeles officials grappling with the county's growing homeless population, Gov. Jerry Brown said Wednesday he will not declare a state of emergency on California's homeless crisis.""A gubernatorial declaration is not appropriate," Debra Hoffman, the governor's deputy press secretary said in an email to KPCC."
"We recognize the importance of addressing homelessness in our cities and will continue to support local governments, which remain best positioned to tackle challenges like this and tailor solutions to the needs of their communities."
"The statement comes a day after the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to encourage state lawmakers to seek out a state of emergency."
Lawmakers have put a stop to the state's electric car incentive program, and now there is speculation that California will have a much harder time seeing its emissions goals realized.
LA Time's Liam Dillion and Chris Megerian report: "A few months ago, Gabriel Lua purchased a 2013 Chevy Volt to replace his 1987 Honda Civic, which had been giving him exhaust headaches and made him worry about the health of his children, ages 3 and 5."
"Even though the old Civic had failed the state's smog test three times and was costing him hundreds of dollars a month in maintenance, Lua said he couldn’t afford to replace it until he learned about a state incentive that helps low-income residents in California’s most polluted communities replace their dirty cars. The state covered more than half the new car’s price tag."
"It saves me gas. It saves me money. I feel safer. And most important, it’s for my kids,” said Lua, a 31-year-old mail carrier for a San Joaquin Valley school district."
This week's 'This Golden State' discusses what precedent has been set with the first female presidential nominee receiving more fundraising money than her male opponents.
Randy Shandobil: ""This Golden State: Historic Fundraising Gender Gap” and it’s not just because Hillary Clinton is the first presumptive nominee for president for a major party. Host Randy Shandobil talks with a major Democratic Party bundler and the Executive Director of the crowdfunding website WomenCount.org. What does it mean to the political process that for the first time, women are giving more money to a presidential candidate than men?"
And now from our "Fifteen percent, or twenty?" file ...
One restaurant received a tip they'll never forget.
Mirror.co.uk: "A drunk customer who put down a tip of £700 for a £42 meal returned to the restaurant the next morning to ask for it back."
"The unnamed man was dining at the Thailicious restaurant in Edgewater, Colorado when he tucked into a meal which was so good he wanted to reward it."
"But the waiter was stunned when the reward turned out to be $1,000, around £705."
