2018

California working, UC Berkeley report says

Between 2011 and 2016, California enacted a set of 51 policy measures addressing workers’ rights, environmental issues, safety net programs, taxation, and infrastructure and housing. Critics predicted that these policies—collectively called “the California Policy Model” (CPM) in this paper—would reduce employment and slow economic growth, while supporters argued that they would raise wages for low-wage workers, increase access to health insurance, lower wage inequality, and…


Issa, Hunter deal behind closed doors?

Trading places? In the Donald Trump “shithole” world of Reps. Darrell Issa (R-49th Congressional District) and Duncan Hunter (R-50th Congressional District), or maybe “House of Cards” and “Scandal,” the talk Thursday of the two trading congressional districts might even be considered too low to go. Yet, reports circulated that a baseball trade gone politically bonkers might be in the works. Hunter goes into free agency…



Cal anti-abortion speech goes to SCOTUS

Whether you’re for abortion or against – can the state force you to say anything about it? What about posting a notice with information for the other side? This year, the U.S. Supreme Court must decide. A 2015 California law, the Reproductive FACT Act, requires faith-based “crisis pregnancy centers” that don’t offer abortions to post notices about state family planning and pregnancy-related services. In National…


Hang on to your fruit – invasive Mexfly back

This is one unwanted visitor from Mexico that even Donald Trump’s fabled wall could never stop. And it’s a dire threat to local, state and national fruit growers and consumers. A portion of San Diego County has been placed under quarantine for the Mexican fruit fly following the detection of seven Mexflies within the City of Encinitas. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the…