Bob Morris

Progressive blogger at Politics in the Zeros since 2003. Former Green Party of Los Angeles County Council co-coordinator (2002-2004). Organized antiwar protests 2004-2007. Focuses on issues that transcend party lines. Silicon Valley.

Brown and Whitman fight over ties to Goldman Sachs, but offer no details on California pension crisis

A Rasmussen poll released last week showed Brown now in the lead over Whitman, 44%-38%, with 9% undecided and 9% preferring others. A month ago, they were tied. Brown

By Bob Morris

/ April 27, 2010

Brown and Whitman fight over ties to Goldman Sachs, but offer no details on California pension crisis

California water wars heat up over Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

“Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over,” said Mark Twain, which is certainly true here in California and in the southwest in general. The problem, of course, is

By Bob Morris

/ April 22, 2010

California water wars heat up over Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

California public pension funds may face $500 billion shortfall

Stanford University recently released an analysis of the three big public pension funds in California saying they are woefully underfunded, with a potential shortfall of over $500 billion, much larger

By Bob Morris

/ April 20, 2010

California public pension funds may face $500 billion shortfall

New bill would mandate energy storage for California power grid

A new bill in the California Assembly would mandate that electricity utilities store 2.25% of peak demand load by 2014 and 5% by 2020. AB 2514 was introduced by

By Bob Morris

/ April 15, 2010

New bill would mandate energy storage for California power grid

Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman engage in political theater as California continues to collapse

The kerfuffle last week over the California Chamber of Commerce attack ad on Jerry Brown was not only an opening salvo in the expected race for governor between Attorney General

By Bob Morris

/ April 13, 2010

Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman engage in political theater as California continues to collapse

California utility companies scrambling to buy out-of-state renewable energy

The California Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) passed in 2002 and was accelerated in 2006. It mandates that electricity providers get at least 20% of their retail sales from renewable sources

By Bob Morris

/ April 8, 2010

California utility companies scrambling to buy out-of-state renewable energy

Caltrain facing major cutbacks, future in doubt

Caltrain is a commuter rail line serving the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley. It is operated by Amtrak, funded by local and regional governmental entities, and runs from

By Bob Morris

/ April 6, 2010

Caltrain facing major cutbacks, future in doubt

California ISO releases five year plan as state transitions to renewable energy

Most everything we do is dependent in some way upon electricity. Without it, as we’ve all discovered during blackouts, our modern life screeches to an immediate halt, affecting everything

By Bob Morris

/ April 1, 2010

California ISO releases five year plan as state transitions to renewable energy

CalPERS investigated by feds over possible pay-to-play payments

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether illegal payments were made to employees at California public pension fund giant CalPERS and others to influence where they invested money.

By Bob Morris

/ March 30, 2010

CalPERS investigated by feds over possible pay-to-play payments

Janice Hahn brings Los Angeles credentials to Lieutenant Governor race

Janice Hahn has been a member of the Los Angeles City Council since 2001. She is running as a Democrat for California Lieutenant Governor, and her main opponent in the

By Bob Morris

/ March 25, 2010

Janice Hahn brings Los Angeles credentials to Lieutenant Governor race

While high speed rail languishes in the US, it booms in China and beyond

In 2008, California voters approved a $9.4 billion proposition to build a High Speed Rail [HSR] network in California. The trains will reach speeds over 200 mph. Construction may

By Bob Morris

/ March 23, 2010

While high speed rail languishes in the US, it booms in China and beyond

CalPERS continues to face severe budget shortfall

The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) is the largest public pension system in the country with current assets of about $205 billion. They fund pensions and health plans

By Bob Morris

/ March 17, 2010

CalPERS continues to face severe budget shortfall