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FCC commissioner wants to end Obamaphone fraud
A top federal regulator wants the Federal Communications Commission to rein in the so-called “Obamaphone” program. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai told an audience of right-leaning tech policy advocates Monday morning during an event organized by the nonprofit organization Citizens Against Government Waste that he wanted to reform the Lifeline program. Lifeline was first created in […]
Pot politics could inhale controller’s race
The California Republican party has a lot riding on Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. She’s the only prominent Republican who carried a strong lead into the recent “jungle” primary elections for statewide office, under which the top two candidates, regardless of party (or no party), advance to a November runoff. Swearengin sat atop the field of candidates […]
The myth of California’s underpaid public school employees
Eduardo Benard, a custodian at San Francisco’s Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School, received $107,912.31 in pay and benefits in 2013. He was one of 31 custodians employed by California public schools that boasted more than $100,000 in compensation last year, according to just-release figures revealed on Transparent California, a database maintained by the nonpartisan California Policy Center. […]
The Public Rejects Obama’s Immigration Policies
President Barack Obama is pushing for a huge amnesty in the weeks before Americans go to the polls, but a new poll shows that the swing-voters are deeply hostile to his immigration policies and to illegal immigration, and are growing very worried about legal immigration. Only seven percent of swing-voting independents say the 50,000-plus Central […]
Groundwater war breaks out
Future historians might mark July 20 as the date when a full scale war broke out over California’s groundwater. On July 20 in the Los Angeles Times, George Skelton, the dean of California journalists, said it was unfair to tell him he can’t hose off his driveway or water his lawn while farmers can use all the […]
CPR Blog
Taking the Right Fast Track on Trade
One aim of President’s Obama’s trip to Asia is coming to agreement on a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. To enhance that prospect, the President has asked that Congress resurrect “fast-track” trade negotiation authority, which puts trade agreements to up-or-down votes, with no amendments. Without fast-track authority, such negotiations make little headway, because, as Peter […]
Mercy and Liberty
March is Women’s History Month. But virtually ignored is one woman who played a central role in American history—Mercy Otis Warren—who died 200 years ago this October. Termed “The Conscience of the American Revolution” and called a genius by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, Mercy Warren was a leading force behind our freedom. Sister of […]
Some Old Wisdom on Politics
America’s so-called public servants have supported ethically questionable policies, picked our pockets and eroded our rights. Yet they simply pretend that fact away, tar opponents for everything and pitch themselves as America’s unifiers. That is breathtakingly mendacious. In sharp contrast to their rhetoric, the competition to control government to help friends out of others’ pockets […]
Publisher’s Corner
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan is the Wiz!
In what major city in America can the Mayor run a redlight, slam into a fellow citizen’s car, fail to offer proof of insurance, and get away with it? Oakland of course! Our nation’s third most dangerous city according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s violent crime statistics. Yes in early June, according to her […]
Cali-Culture
Bordeaux ain’t bad, even for a Californian
My eyes were opened on French wine labels and tastes during my recent summer trip to Paris. I have enjoyed the well-known French wines, but I have considered them impractical as too expensive, and the labels too confusing, to really try to enjoy them much. But even as a boorish booster of California wines, I […]
Trending News
House approves $16.3-billion Veterans Affairs overhaul bill
From The L.A. Times: By a 420-5 vote, the House on Wednesday approved a $16.3-billion compromise bill to overhaul the Veterans Affairs Department and speed up veterans’ access to healthcare. The reform measure still needs to be approved by the Senate before it can be sent to the president’s desk. Lawmakers have been racing to […]
Obama Announces New Sanctions On Russia
From NPR: President Obama announced a new round of economic sanctions against Russia’s banking, energy and defense sectors on Tuesday. “Because we’re closely coordinating our actions with Europe, the sanctions we’re announcing today will have an even bigger bite,” Obama said on the South Lawn of the White House. Obama said that intelligence indicates that […]
Gamesmanship on border fight
From The Hill: Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) played political chess Tuesday, seeking leverage in the battle to respond to the border crisis. Days before the House and Senate are to adjourn for a five-week recess, there is little chance that legislation dealing with the wave of immigrants crossing […]
Democrats ask: Where’s FLOTUS?
From Politico: First lady Michelle Obama is the most popular member of the Obama administration, and Democrats say she’s the one they want to see more of in the midterms. She’s a woman and an African-American, with a direct appeal to two groups that the Democrats need to turn out in major numbers in November. […]
4 teens charged with capital murder in beating death of USC student
From the L.A. Times: Four teenagers, including two juveniles, were charged Tuesday with capital murder in connection with beating a USC graduate student to death with a bat as he walked near campus. Jonathan DelCarmen, 19; Andrew Garcia, 18; Alberto Ochoa, 17; and Alejandra Guerrero, 16; each face one count of murder in connection with the […]
