Waste, Fraud and AbuseCaltrans Bay Bridge delays shun private solutionsMonday, May 20th, 2013 May 20, 2013 By Katy Grimes The Caltrans Bay Bridge debacle is worse than just a case of embarrassment for government infrastructure projects. The bridge is unsafe, according to engineering experts across the country, after the discovery that a third of the of the 96 massive, high-strength... Bullet train CEO on war pathThursday, May 9th, 2013 May 9, 2013 By Chris Reed Last month’s Los Angeles Times’ bombshell about the state bullet-train project could scarcely have made those in charge of the California High-Speed Rail Authority look worse. The Times reported that in determining who would be chosen to build the first segment of... Green cars burn taxpayer greenMonday, April 29th, 2013 April 29, 2013 By Steven Greenhut We're used to political races revolving around pointless slogans, but sometimes an important race focuses the public's attention on a meaningful and relevant issue. For instance, the Virginia governorship may hinge on voters' increasing distaste for insider-en... Legislators take secret trip to Cuba with Sacramento lobbyistFriday, April 5th, 2013 April 5, 2013 By John Hrabe and Katy Grimes At least two California state legislators secretly traveled with Sacramento’s “best connected” lobbyist to Cuba during the legislature’s spring break, an exclusive CalWatchdog.com investigation has revealed. State Sen. Cathleen Galgian... Politicians seek special enviro deal on arenaSaturday, March 30th, 2013 This is Part One of a two-part series. March 30, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO -- The unusually speedy approval of a new NBA arena for the Kings basketball team in the heart of downtown Sacramento leaves many details and unanswered questions on the table, including how this arena proje... Bond betrayal: Did college district dupe OC Tax on PLA?Friday, March 29th, 2013 March 29, 2013 By John Hrabe When Orange County voters approved $698 million in new borrowing for the Coast Community College District last fall, they received reassurances from the county’s preeminent taxpayer organization that the measure took a responsible approach to long-term indebtedne... CA welfare state wants more ‘clients’Friday, March 22nd, 2013 March 22, 2013 By Katy Grimes The Employment Development Department used to be called the “Unemployment Department.” And state welfare recipients are now “clients.” The majority party in the California Legislature appears determined on expanding social services in the state despite ... Radicalness of CARB’s long-term plans comes into focusWednesday, March 20th, 2013 March 20, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO -- While the California Air Resources Board continues to forge ahead like a blind bull in a china shop with its far-reaching climate change plan, the extent of the destruction that could result is beginning to become evident. At a legislative hearing... Cracking down on ADA lawsuit abuseTuesday, March 19th, 2013 March 19, 2013 By Joseph Perkins I was a White House staff member when George H.W. Bush was in the Oval Office. I remember well when he signed the Americans With Disabilities Act into law, insisting that it would not “lead endlessly to litigation.” Not in his wildest nightmares did Bush... |