Gov. Brown unveiled a new plan to reorganize a piece of the state bureaucracy by combining two entities -- the Department of Personnel Administration and the State Personnel Board -- and creating a new Department of Human Resources. It won't save a lot of money, at least initially, but it does streamline operations.
From Anthony York at the LAT: "Days before his updated budget is set to be released,
Gov. Jerry Brown announced a proposal to consolidate pieces of the bureaucracy
that he said would save “millions of taxpayer dollars.” But it would do nothing
to impact some generous, long-term appointments doled out by his predecessors."
"Brown will seek legislation to fold the state’s
Department of Personnel Administration and State Personnel Board into a new
California Department of Human Resources. The two organizations handle
different pieces of the state’s payroll administration."
"The State Personnel Board is made up of appointees who
serve 10-year terms. Four of the five members of the current board were
appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, including his former chief of staff,
Patricia Clarey and his former legislative secretary, Richard Costigan. Board
members receive a annual salary of $40,669, according to Brown spokesman Evan
Westrup –- up to $406,690 over the course of a 10-year term. Brown’s plan would
not eliminate the board, Westrup said, because it is protected by the state Constitution."
Speaking of the bureaucracy, the Legislative Analyst issued a critical report on California's high-speed rail program, questioning its management and handling of money and urging that it be transferred to Caltrans.
From Capitol Weekly: "The Legislative Analyst’s Office questioned the ability
of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) to obtain funding, noting
the uncertainties of federal dollars, and said decision-making authority should
be removed from the HSRA board to “ensure that the state’s overall interests,
including state fiscal concerns, are fully taken into account as the project is
developed.”
"The LAO’s critical report also urged lawmakers to
dramatically scale back the high-speed program’s request for $185 million for
“consultants to perform project management, public outreach, and other work “
and approve instead only “the $7 million in funding requested for state
administration of the project by HSRA.”
"The LAO said the terms of funding with the federal
government should be renegotiated because under the current system there are
restrictions on the money. “We believe the state must obtain relief from the
current federal restrictions on the project if it is to be developed
successfully, and therefore that the Legislature should proceed with the
project only if this flexibility is obtained from the federal government.”
Down in San Berdoo, an unfolding politics-and-money scandal isn't a classic tale of bribes, it's a tale of the influence of unregulated campaign contributions. The Press-Enteprise's Duane W. Gang has the story.
"Legal experts say when prosecutors can prove a clear
intent and agreement between the two sides to receive something specific in
return for the donations. In this case, prosecutors contend, the votes needed
to approve a $102 million legal settlement with the company."
"Establishing that intent, legal experts say, will be
difficult but key to the prosecution's case."
"Money has long been a fact of life in political campaigns
and many local officials insist the best way to curb its influence is greater
transparency and reporting.
But in recent years, nearly all of the major public
corruption cases in the Inland region involve campaign contributions."
Californians would save a lot more than gasoline by going to electric and hybrid vehicles -- they'd save about $6 billion annually in health care costs. The Fresno Bee's Matt Grossi has the story.
"Californians would avoid more than $6 billion in health
and fuel costs if the state requires more hybrid, electric and other advanced
vehicles by 2017, the American Lung Association says."
"The group's latest study, released today, also says more
than 400 lives could be saved annually if the California Air Resources Board
tightens vehicle rules later this year."
"We've done all the easy things to clean up
vehicles," said Jane Warner, president and chief executive officer of the
association. "Now, we need to transform the vehicle fleet in
California." Cars and trucks create nearly half the bad-air emissions
in California, which has the worst ozone and particle pollution in the country."
The possiblity of deep budget cuts is pushing a round of analyses in every area of government, and the California State University is no exception.
From the LAT's Carla Rivera: "California State University is considering a contingency
plan that would increase tuition up to 32% and turn away thousands of students
next year if the state makes further budget cuts."
"Details of the plan were presented at a meeting Tuesday
of the Cal State Board of Trustees, who were told that the drastic actions may
be necessary to keep classroom doors open if state budget problems force an
"all cuts" budget that could reduce state support for the university
by $1 billion."
"Under the plan, Cal State campuses would wait-list
applications for winter and spring 2012 enrollment without making admissions
decisions until a state budget is finalized.
In the worst-case scenario, 20,000 qualified applicants
could be turned away, Chancellor Charles B. Reed told trustees."
And finally from our "Incredible Investigative Reporting" file comes word that the cost of gasoline and the cost of air travel are linked. Stop the presses.
"What I find especially interesting is how ticket prices
have edged even higher than they did back in July of 2008, when oil hit $145
per barrel (and no, we haven't gotten back to those dizzying heights — yet).
This increase has a lot to do with fuller planes and continued demand. But
first, a little background."
"The price of a ticket is route-specific and depends on
many variables including competition, which helps keep prices low.
Unfortunately, recent mega-mergers such as Delta/Northwest, United/Continental
and most recently Southwest/AirTran have significantly decreased the number of
carriers battling for your bucks as these mega tie-ups not only mean less
competition but typically include seat cuts."
"Then of course, there's also the rising cost of fossil
fuel."
"On the bright side, there are probably plans for several
start-up airlines just waiting for oil to take a dive to a more reasonable
level — say, $70 a barrel."
