California’s crime rates soared in the 1970s and became a potent political issue that Republicans used, with great effect, against Democrats by accusing them of being soft on crime. More or less simultaneously, a Democratic Legislature and governor, Jerry Brown, enacted collective bargaining for California’s public employees. Those two seemingly...
Budget Talks Resume Amid Pessimism Over Border Differences
WASHINGTON — Budget negotiators will meet Monday to revive talks over border security issues that are central to legislation to prevent key parts of the government from shutting down on Saturday, but an air of pessimism remains after talks broke down over the weekend. They collapsed over Democratic demands to...
Researchers Come Face to Face With Huge Great White Shark
HALIEWA, Hawaii — Two shark researchers who came face to face with what could be one of the largest great whites ever recorded are using their encounter as an opportunity to push for legislation that would protect sharks in Hawaii. Ocean Ramsey, a shark researcher and conservationist, told The Associated...
Liberals Dare Trump to Back Their Bills Lowering Drug Prices
WASHINGTON — Challenging President Donald Trump to make good on his pledge to cut prescription drug prices, congressional liberals proposed legislation Thursday to bring U.S. prices in line with the much lower costs in other countries. The Democratic bills stand little chance of becoming law in a divided government. But...
Is Mandating E-Receipts Smart? Or Nanny State Legislation?
SACRAMENTO — California would become the first state to require businesses to offer electronic receipts unless customers ask for paper copies under legislation proposed Tuesday. Many businesses and consumers already are moving toward e-receipts, said Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting of San Francisco. But he said a law is needed because...
Trump Says He's Eager to Sign Sweeping Criminal Justice Bill
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a sweeping criminal justice bill Tuesday that addresses concerns that the nation's war on drugs had led to the imprisonment of too many Americans for non-violent crimes without adequately preparing them for their return to society. Senate passage of the bill by a vote of...
Facing Pressure, McConnell Agrees to Sentencing Reform Vote
WASHINGTON — Under pressure from President Donald Trump and many of his Republican colleagues, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he will bring legislation to the floor to overhaul the nation's sentencing laws. McConnell's decision comes after more than three years of overtures from a large, bipartisan group...
Trump Prods McConnell on Sentencing Bill: 'Go for It Mitch!'
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's reluctance to hold a vote on a popular criminal justice bill has angered top Republican senators and created an unusual rift with a longtime GOP ally, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa. And on Friday, it also brought on a tweet from President Donald...
California Court Reverses Ruling Against Assisted Suicide
LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court overturned a lower court order that had imperiled the state's assisted suicide law, but a longer legal fight may loom because the ruling skirted the larger issue of whether the legislation was unconstitutional. A three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeals...
Brown Signed $1 Billion in Wildfire Prevention. None of It for This Year.
Protecting California from devastating wildfires was the Legislature’s biggest focus in this year’s session. Recognizing the urgency, lawmakers formed a special wildfire committee, heard from numerous experts, and, after several emotional debates, passed a $1 billion new law they said would “prevent catastrophic wildfires and protect Californians.” Less than two...