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CORRECTED 6/28/2012

UPDATED 7/6/2012

Here’s a quick guide to the different

California’s political landscape has undergone some major changes in 2012 due to redistricting and the introduction of the state’s first top two open primary. New district lines created by the independent

Despite its reputation as a blue state, California is of paramount importance to Republicans aiming to maintain control in the House of Representatives past this election cycle. As the slogan goes, “hold onto

Today, Governor Jerry Brown and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar formally announced the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. The BDCP is a controversial multi-billion dollar project aimed at fixing California’s

Here’s your midweek news update:

Tuesday, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that will allow the Fair Political Practices Commission- the state campaign finance watchdog- to enforce campaign finance

A few current California news items making the rounds this week:

California’s water wars is set to heat up again as Governor Jerry Brown and federal Interior Secretary Ken Salazar prepare to make an

Despite its reputation as a blue state, California is of paramount importance to Republicans aiming to maintain control in the House of Representatives past this election cycle. As the slogan goes, “hold onto

Earlier in the week, the Capitol community was abuzz when The Bee uncovered an unauthorized vacation buyout program taking place in the Department of Parks and Recreation. A buyout that cost the state over

The Public Policy Institute of California published a recent report that takes a closer look at how the federal Affordable Care Act will be implemented in California and the unique health care challenges

The University of California Board of Regents met this week to vote on several issues with large impact on university campuses statewide. UC leaders approved a resolution endorsing Governor Jerry Brown’s tax

It’s no secret that California’s fiscal house has long been out of order, and it’s become especially apparent this past year when the Governor and Legislature pushed through a series of deep cuts as a last-ditch

California’s political landscape has undergone some major changes in 2012 due to redistricting and the introduction of the state’s first top two open primary. New district lines created by the independent

Over the past month, three California cities, Stockton, Mammoth Lakes, and now San Bernardino have begun proceedings to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. This is an alarming trend when considering that

UPDATE

As expected, members of the California State Assembly voted Thursday afternoon to approve the initial $8 billion in funding for the high-speed rail. Final vote came in at 51 to 28.

Passage of

This week the California State Legislature passed the last of the remaining California budget trailer bills. Although lawmakers passed the main budget bill on June 15th, thus meeting California’s

Lawmakers in California are racing against the clock to finalize legislative matters before taking off for a month of summer recess starting this Friday. Here are some highlights:

Pension reform deal falls

The California Manufacturers and Technology Association released a new report last week that suggests costs associated with AB 32 may be a lot higher than previously estimated. AB 32, otherwise known as the

Governor Jerry Brown has finally reached a budget compromise with legislative leaders Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez. Brown, Steinberg, and Perez have been

California lawmakers are set to vote on and pass the state’s budget in Sacramento today. IVN has previous covered the obstacles and drama surrounding the budget process in California. Today, June 15th, marks

Although Democratic leaders managed to muster the votes needed to pass the main budget bill, a deal has yet to be reached with Brown on what the final cuts to welfare will look like as these items were not taken

Governor Jerry Brown has proposed tough budget cuts in an effort to close California’s $15.7 billion deficit, including to health and human services. Ongoing talks this week between Democratic leaders and Gov.

Friday, June 15th is California’s constitutional deadline to pass a balanced budget through both houses of the state legislature. According to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Democratic leaders are

The anti-incumbent fever was scarcely evident in California’s open primary held yesterday. Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has been in office since 1992, easily defeated all 23 of her primary

Yesterday, Californians participated in the state’s new “top two” open primary, where the top two vote getters in each district (regardless of party) will advance to the general election in November.

Twenty

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today denied a request by Proposition 8 backers to reconsider a ruling made earlier this year that found California’s 2008 gay marriage ban unconstitutional. The court’s

The anti-incumbent fever was scarcely evident in California’s open primary held yesterday. Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has been in office since 1992, easily defeated all 23 of her primary

Yesterday, Californians participated in the state’s new “top two” open primary, where the top two vote getters in each district (regardless of party) will advance to the general election in November.

Twenty

Today is the last chance for candidates to try and get out the vote before Tuesday’s primary election. June 5th marks California’s first top two open primary in which all candidates regardless of party

Today is the last chance for candidates to try and get out the vote before Tuesday’s primary election. June 5th marks California’s first top two open primary in which all candidates regardless of party

The California Citizens Compensation Commission met in Sacramento yesterday to discuss cutting pay for California’s elected officials. A 5 percent pay cut was approved by the independent commission and will be

The race for Senate District 31 in Riverside County will bear great significance to the 2012 elections. Not only will the outcome impact residents in the newly drawn district, which stretches from Corona to

The Public Policy Institute of California released a poll earlier this week showing that Governor Brown’s approval has dropped among likely voters.

The margin is slim, but now tips toward disapproval of his

The race for Senate District 39 will be among the most contested legislative races this year as Democrats and Republicans struggle to maintain and pickup seats. Democrats, led by Senate President pro Tem Darrell

The newly drawn Sacramento County seat, stretching south from Citrus Heights to include the Wilton area, will be a key California battleground between Democrats and Republicans this election cycle. Due to the

There is no question that California’s new open primary process has been a major cause for concern amongst both the Democratic and Republican Party. With Decline to State registration numbers on the rise in

Of California’s projected voters in 2012, at least one in five will be Latino. The number of registered voters that identify as Latino are at 3.9 million and counting, which roughly equates to 26.3% of

California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro was in Sacramento yesterday to kick off a statewide tour focused on putting a stop to Governor Jerry Brown’s ballot tax proposal. He was joined by

Yesterday in Sacramento marked the 2012 California State Asian Pacific Islander Policy Summit. This annual event features discussions on key issues and current policy proposals that affect California’s

Earlier this week, the Independent Voter Network profiled four California State Senate races that should be on every Independent voter’s elections watch list.

The races surrounding the 80 State Assembly

California’s new “top two primary” is right around the corner, and Independent voters have no shortage of exciting races to follow going into June 5th.

A spotlight has been cast on the upcoming election, and

Yesterday in Sacramento, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the California Fair Political Practices Commission hosted a symposium on campaign finance reform and disclosure.

It is no secret

In recent years, California has been at the forefront of embracing clean tech and implementing legislation focused on sustainability. The state has pursued an aggressive agenda when it comes to going

The Golden State was once seen as a beacon of growth and entrepreneurship- a model economy many sought to imitate. Hard hit by the recession and housing crisis, the state has had its share of struggles when it

This week the California Republican Party announced its endorsements for the 2012 June primary. The final list came just two weeks after the CRP held their annual spring convention in Burlingame, CA, where

It’s almost springtime here in Sacramento, and nothing says spring quite like a staged protest at the State Capitol. At 10 a.m. this morning, thousands of students, parents, union workers, and professional