A month after taking over as the California Assembly’s Republican leader, Chad Mayes brought his caucus to a shelter for homeless mothers. The lawmakers listened as women shared stories of drug abuse and recovery. They poked their heads into rooms crowded with bunk beds. They greeted children bouncing balls on the playground. “It’s important to […]
Posted inEnvironment
Renovating a home is about to cost more
Owning a home in California could get more complicated starting next year with a new law intended to cut energy consumption, partly by increasing the efficiency of home heating, cooling and lighting systems. The legislation requires a doubling of statewide energy savings by 2030. All sectors of California’s built environment — state buildings, commercial and […]
Posted inClimate Change, Environment
How is California doing on climate change?
A panel of energy experts gave mostly passing marks to California’s landmark climate change law, but raised concerns about the cost of implementing additional, more stringent, measures. In a spirited but cordial debate Thursday night in Bakersfield, lawmakers, regulators and advocates explored the state of play in the decade since the passage of AB32, the […]
Posted inClimate Change, Environment, Politics
Oil gears up for another climate fight
A Harvard economist known globally for his work on climate change policy sat in the Sacramento office of the oil industry’s lobbying firm recently, making the case that California is fighting global warming the wrong way. The state has a good cap and trade system, Robert Stavins said, but some of its other environmental policies […]
Posted inEvents
California’s Energy Future-event
Thu, March 3, 20166:00 PM – 8:30 PM PSTSOLD OUT LOCATION:The Mark1623 19th StreetBakersfield, CA 93301 California, home to America’s car culture as well as its most ambitious climate change policies, is experimenting with a new future for energy. Gov. Jerry Brown hopes to cut gas consumption in half by 2030 with government mandates and […]
Posted inEnvironment
Making California more energy-efficient: What will the new rules mean for you?
CALmatters is looking into the complex topic of making California’s houses, schools, hospitals, offices and other buildings more energy-efficient — part of Governor Jerry Brown’s strategy for battling climate change. Beginning next year, new rules will determine how millions of structures throughout the state use less energy so that consumption is cut in half by […]
Posted inPolitics
Photo gallery: #WinLikeAGirl reception for women in California politics
Women who work in California politics gathered in the historic Governor’s Mansion in Sacramento for a #WinLikeAGirl networking event paid for by the state Democratic party on February 11, 2016. All photos by Max Whittaker for CALmatters. Cynthia Bryant (holding microphone, executive director of the California Republican Party) and Shawnda Westly (at right, senior strategist […]
Posted inPolitics
Female lobbying firm thrives in male-dominated Capitol
#WinLikeAGirl at the Governor’s Mansion Click here to see more photos from the bipartisan networking event for women in California politics. Photos decorating the Political Solutions lobbying firm look like those inside many similar businesses in Sacramento. One shows a firm partner on the golf course with a former assembly speaker. In another, three […]
Posted inEducation, K-12 Education
How to follow Vergara v. California
This week, a state appellate court will be asked to overturn a closely watched legal decision that said poor and minority school students in California have been denied their right to a proper education because of laws that prevent the dismissal of bad teachers. The case, Vergara v. California, was filed on behalf of nine […]
Posted inPolitics
How did Eric Linder win the left and the right?
Several times in the last year, Assemblyman Eric Linder (R-Corona) pushed the green “Yes” button on his desk when most of his Republican colleagues pressed “No.” He broke from his party to vote for labor-backed bills requiring more disclosure of health care rates, new layoff protections for civil servants and a system for workers to […]