Digital Democracy

A California Democrat who made a name for himself by taking on the health care industry is carrying a bill to regulate private equity stakes in the sector.

Departing California lawmakers don’t have to disclose that they’re looking for a new job. Ethics experts say that’s a problem.

Patients looking for doctors who will take their insurance often find the list of doctors provided by their insurance companies are inaccurate or out of date. Insurers and doctors are fighting a bill that would fine insurers for having “ghost networks” that aren’t accurate.

The California Democratic Party’s primary function is electing candidates. Lately, it’s become a lobbying powerhouse, taking positions on dozens of bills. The party usually gets its way.

California’s rival gambling interests gave the 22 members of an obscure legislative committee more than $1 million in campaign donations. Did the cash infusion to this “juice committee” influence members’ votes?

Nearly every major environmental group in California opposed the bill, which would have modified the state’s signature environmental law to speed up upgrades to power lines. Supporters said it would have helped free the state from fossil fuels and make the grid more reliable, but opponents feared it would damage state parks.

Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, who owns restaurants that serve drinks, has introduced several bills adding requirements for bar owners and drink servers to do more to prevent drink spiking.

The total stock portfolio of the Legislature was worth as much as $112 million last year but experts say the public should know more about a politician’s total wealth.

After her DUI arrest, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo has been talking about her struggles with alcohol. Now she has introduced legislation to educate high school students about the harms of booze.

Sen. Scott Wiener is irked that he had to introduce a bill that would require health officials to ask LGBTQ people for demographic info on state health forms. He says they should have been doing it anyway.