This week's Capital Notes Podcast is slightly different… a peek into Wednesday's legislative hearing that examined the pros and cons of leasing out the California Lottery. It was a four and a half hour hearing, but in this overview of … Continue reading »

New evidence out today confirms what most everyone knows about California politics… it's hip to be a freelancer when it comes to party affiliation. The latest voter registration report from Secretary of State Debra Bowen shows that almost 3 million … Continue reading »

Those three questions… and more… are at the heart of the growing chatter over privatizing the California Lottery. In a hearing this morning before the Senate Governmental Organization committee, experts and analysts outlined the pros, cons, and unknowns of leasing … Continue reading »

In advance of tomorrow's big state Senate hearing on the idea of privatizing the California Lottery, the most in-depth analysis of the state gambling operation to date suggests there's a lot to consider… and not a lot of time to … Continue reading »

A Sacramento judge has sided with Governor Schwarzenegger in a case that questioned the constitutionality of this year's $7.4 billion prison bond package. Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster has ruled that the bonds to be sold under AB 900 do … Continue reading »

Everyone knows that the Capitol works in the following way: determine the absolute, no way to move, final, final, deadline… and only then forge consensus on a major policy issue. It's been that way in recent years with everything from … Continue reading »

Tonight marks the official end of the 2007 legislative session, as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger finished work on the 964 bills that made it to his desk. The final tally: 750 signed, 214 vetoed. As is often the case, it's likely … Continue reading »

Just a short note to say thanks. Today marks the third anniversary of this newsblog, which began merely as an attempt to chronicle some of the flotsam and jetsam of California politics and public policy. That first posting seems like … Continue reading »

This week, a different Capital Notes Podcast: a one-on-one conversation with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, where he speaks candidly for the first time about recent criticism over his campaign fundraising. As you know, it's been an unusual week for the … Continue reading »

Over the next few weeks, the two biggest questions in the battle over four Indian gaming agreements will be this: did the campaign to overturn these agreements by referendum miss their constitutional deadline? And were they given bum advice by … Continue reading »