Capitol

Lawmakers and the governor use a fund reserved for labor enforcement to plug budget holes, and leave tens of millions unspent. Business and labor agree more of the money could be spent to hire more staff to speed investigations of wage theft claims.

A Bay Area transit funding bill is delayed so supporters can seek consensus on how the money will be raised and distributed. Many California transit agencies are trying to avoid financial disaster and increase accountability.

The CalVans program in the Central Valley transports thousands of laborers to the fields. It is now trying to meet a mandate to electrify its fleet — a key test of how to make the state’s climate policies work in rural and disadvantaged areas.

Only one legislator in the California Assembly voted against a controversial shoplifting bill while dozens of progressive lawmakers declined to vote.

The state auditor confirms that severe understaffing, poor training and other problems at the Labor Commissioner’s office are causing long delays in wage theft investigations.

Facing a deadline next month, top Democrats release their counter proposal to Gov. Newsom's May budget plan. They push back on some cuts that Newsom is seeking.

A group trying to force an election to kick the Fremont Democrat out of office didn’t submit the necessary signatures in time. It and the Secretary of State’s office dispute what went wrong.

More than $114 million was spent to lobby California state government in the first quarter of this year, about the same amount as last year when advocates set a record for spending on influence efforts.

State lawmakers often don’t know how well a program is working before deciding whether to cut or increase spending. Instead, they hear from advocates, interest groups and sometimes the public. Key budget hearings ramp up this week.

The state's multibillion-dollar shortfall shapes which spending bills survived the 'suspense file' hearings by the Assembly and Senate appropriations committees.