Articles by Lucy Ma

Credit: aecom.com 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 ongoing "water war" over the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta. The proposal includes constructing a pair of underground tunnels designed to move water through the Delta at 9,000 cubic ft. per second to the south toward cities and millions of acres of farmland. It also includes...

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 rules in San Bernardino County. This marks a first for the FPPC which has never before contracted with a county to help enforce campaign contribution limits. Assemblyman Paul Cook, R- Yucca Valley, authored the bill in hopes that the partnership will not only prove to be smart policy but al...

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 announcement this Wednesday about plans to increase the state's existing water infrastructure. The controversial and expensive project- $23.7 billion to be exact- centers on the building of 2 tunnels that carry water from the Sacramento River under the Delta and into the California Aqueduct. Opponen...

Photo: Gage Skidmore 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 California, hold onto the House". House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, the third ranking Republican and a native son of the Central Valley, has been hard at work crafting a plan to not only maintain but pick up seats in the Golden State. The critical push for election ...

Credit: labeez.org 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 facing the state. California currently has over 7 million uninsured residents who will be affected by the sweeping policy changes taking place under the Affordable Care Act. While the goal of the ACA is to achieve near-universal health care coverage by providing a strong fed...

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 $271,000- which is especially shocking when you consider the scale of cutbacks underway due to our budget deficit. Turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to the keen investigative sense of Bee reporters, an even bigger scandal has been discovered. A scandal worth about $54 mil...

Credit: dailycal.org 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 measure, otherwise known as Prop 30, while promising not to increase tuition rates for undergrads- unless Brown's tax measure fails in November. Should the tax measure fail at the ballot boxes this fall, a 20 percent tuition hike is likely to become a necessity for the...

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 effort to balance the budget. The austerity measures didn't stop at cuts to state programs- most state workers will also be facing a pay cut starting this fiscal year. That being said- what are your thoughts on merit pay raises for legislative staffers during a time of fiscal crisis? Re...

Credit: laist.com 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 California Citizens Redistricting Commission, managed to not only change the makeup of the electorate in some areas, it also created a scenario where several incumbents are locked in tough campaigns to keep their seat after being drawn into the same district. The rules that w...