Joaquin Arambula goes on trial next week. His freedom and his political career hang in the balance. The Fresno assemblyman faces one misdemeanor count of child cruelty stemming from an incident involving his young daughter. Arambula said he disciplined the then 7-year old with a spanking. Investigators say there is...
Assemblyman Arambula Goes on Leave After Child Cruelty Charges Filed
Charged with misdemeanor child cruelty Tuesday morning by the Fresno County District Attorney's Office, Joaquin Arambula is voluntarily taking a temporary unpaid leave from the Assembly. “My wife and I are shocked that the District Attorney has decided to file charges," the Democratic lawmaker said in a statement released by his...
Gettin' Busy in Sacramento: Over 200 Legislative Items in Just Three Days.
After only three days in session, members of the California Legislature have already proposed 204 items for consideration. Maybe that shouldn’t be so surprising. After all, 5,617 pieces were introduced in the 2017-18 session. Here's a small sampling of the solutions state legislators are offering as a way to fix...
Will Women Make US History & Run the Nevada Legislature?
RENO, Nev. — Nevada voters could soon make history by electing the country's first female-majority state legislature. Women, after winning a record number of primary contests last month, could make up nearly two-thirds of the statehouse by Nov. 7, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported . Women, based on their party registration and the...
Visalia Assemblyman Mathis Reprimanded For Sexual Comments
SACRAMENTO — California Assemblyman Devon Mathis was reprimanded in June for making sexual comments, including about fellow lawmakers. A heavily redacted letter from the Assembly Rules Committee released Wednesday says Mathis' comments violated the chamber's sexual harassment policy. According to the letter, the committee's investigation substantiated a complaint that he...
Visalia Assemblyman Mathis Reprimanded For Sexual Comments
SACRAMENTO — California Assemblyman Devon Mathis was reprimanded in June for making sexual comments, including about fellow lawmakers. A heavily redacted letter from the Assembly Rules Committee released Wednesday says Mathis' comments violated the chamber's sexual harassment policy. According to the letter, the committee's investigation substantiated a complaint that he...
Editorial: Want To Rebuild Middle Class? Then Boost CSU Funding.
There is unfinished bipartisan business in the state Legislature that belongs at the top of every lawmaker's to-do list. Members of the Assembly and the Senate must make it clear to their respective leaders that Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed $92 million budget increase for the California State University system is...
Who’s Running for State Office? Read the Official List.
The California secretary of state released the official list of eligible candidates for state and federal offices. For governor, 27 hopefuls are running to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown. That list includes 12 Democrats and five Republicans. Others are registered Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom or no party preference. Of the...
Walters Cites California Examples of Absolute Power Corrupting
In his Jan. 15 column for CALmatters, Dan Walters tells the tale of two powerful California politicians from the past: the late John Vasconcellos and Lou Papan. Vasconcellos, you might recall, was chairman of the Assembly’s budget committee and a big booster of the self-esteem movement. Papan was chairman of...
Walters Cites California Examples of Absolute Power Corrupting
In his Jan. 15 column for CALmatters, Dan Walters tells the tale of two powerful California politicians from the past: the late John Vasconcellos and Lou Papan. Vasconcellos, you might recall, was chairman of the Assembly’s budget committee and a big booster of the self-esteem movement. Papan was chairman of...