By Miriam Raftery

September 28, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has announced he will resign from Congress at the end of October.  With a September 30^th deadline looming to pass a spending bill or force a government shutdown, Boehner has stated on Face the Nation that he expects a continuing resolution to pass for funding at least through the end of the year, averting a shutdown.  But after that, all bets are off, since the likely successor to Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of California, is backed by conservative Tea Party forces.

Congressional leadership’s refusal to take a vote to continue a critical parks fund means 50 year conservation program could disintegrate, despite support to pass in both chambers

East County News Service

Photo: Saguaro National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service

September 26, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--The Land and Waer Conservation Act Fund is set to expire on September 30th if Congress fails to act.  The Republican leadership is blocking a floor vote, despite enough support in both houses to renew the landmark measure.

“Leadership is dithering and deliberately stalling, because if put to a vote, the House would  have the 218 votes needed for  reauthorization of this core conservation program,” said Alan Rowsome with The Wilderness Society, which co-chairs the national Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition. “On top of that, the Senate secured 60 votes for reauthorization back in January. So House  and Senate leadership are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory by holding America’s parks, trails, soccer fields and historic sites hostage —when  more than 75% of America disagrees with them.”

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2015 (Sacramento)—Governor Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 53 into law. It requires drivers to secure children in rear-facing car seats until at least age 2, unless the child weighs over 40 pounds or is more than 40 inches tall.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supported the bill,  citing a study that found children younger than 2 are 75 percent less likely to be killed or injured in a car crash if they're in a rear-facing car seat.

By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - In the second Republican presidential debate, Ex-Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina scored high approvals from voters for standing up to Donald Trump over his disparaging “look at that face” remark. But when it comes to standing up for women’s rights, just how does Fiorina compare to the leading contenders in either party?

September 16, 2015 (Anaheim)--The California Republican Party announced that former Ambassador John Bolton would headline the CRP 2015 Fall Convention Saturday Dinner Banquet on September 19 at the Anaheim Marriott. Ambassador Bolton was chosen to replace Scott Walker at the Saturday Dinner Banquet when the Governor withdrew to focus his efforts on the early primary states.

Roberts issues response to settlement decision

East County News Service

File photo by Nadin Abbott

September 15, 2015 (San Diego) – Today, the majority of County Supervisors voted to pay $310,000 to settle claims filed by three ex-staff members against Supervisor Dave Roberts. 

In a prepared statement, Supervisors indicated they determined the settlement to be “in the best interest of taxpayers” and said Roberts “at a minimum, showed poor judgment.” The statement added that “although not conclusive, the investigative material surrounding the inappropriate use of County funds, promoting a hostile work environment, an alleged bribe, campaigning on County time, improper use of a County vehicle and retaliation against District 3 staff members is significant and a matter of concern for the Board of Supervisors.”

Asked his response, Roberts, who has consistently denied the staffers' allegations, provided East County Magazine with the following statement:

Senator Joel Anderson urges Governor to veto spending for preschool and protecting Monarch butterflies, calls for money to be used on services for disabled,Medi-Cal providers and in-home support services

By Miriam Raftery

September 14, 2015 (Sacramento)—The state Legislature adjourned without approving a change required by the federal government to avoid losing $1.1 billion in Medi-Cal funding.  Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers, with each blaming the other.

September 11, 2015 (Sacramento)--Assembly Bill 1461, also known as the California New Motor Voter Act, was approved today by the California Assembly on a 44-21 concurrence vote. The bill will now be sent to the Governor for his consideration.

Part IV: Rick Perry and Scott Walker

Miriam Raftery, Devoreo Bell, and Juwan Armostrong contributed to this series.

Update Sept. 11, 2015:  Rick Perry announced he has suspended his presidential campaign.

September 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – In part IV of our series on the 2015 presidential race, we profile Texas Governor Rick Perry and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, both Republicans who are among the most controversial contenders in this race. One is indicted on criminal charges of political favoritism,  the other survived a recall election over his anti-labor actions.

East County News Service

Photo: People with developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers rally outside Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins’ office in San Diego on September 1st.

September 6, 2015 (San Diego)—Over 24,000 people with developmental disabilities in San Diego and Imperial Counties rely on state services to survive.  Yet California’s funding levels have fallen to the lowest in the nation, according to the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA).

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2015 (Sacramento) - An estimated 700,000 drones are expected to be sold in the U.S. this year to hobbyists –a 63% increase over last year, the Consumer Electronics Association reports.   Now the California Legislature is scrambling to enact laws to restrict some uses of those drones after numerous complaints of safety and privacy concerns.

East County News Service

August 24, 2015 (San Diego) – At the California Democratic Party’s e-board meeting last weekend in Burlingame, Chairman John Burton welcomed Tom Steyer, co-founder of NextGen Climate, who gave a riveting speech on the work of the California environmental movement driving change nationwide.  “The world looks to California to see what the future will bring,” Steyer said at the Saturday luncheon. View  video of speech.

Part III:  Latino contenders Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz

A series by Miriam Raftery, Devoreo Bell and Juwan Armstrong

August 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –Winning the general election would be a daunting task for Republicans without support from the growing number of Latino voters across the U.S.  Two of the Republican contenders have Hispanic roots that could be a draw among Latinos, though their stances on immigration and deportation issues are largely at odds with the views of the major immigrant rights groups.  But there are key differences in their positions on core Latino issues, as well as a wide range of other topics. 

By Buck Shott

August 19, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—As the presidential candidates court voters in America’s heartland in Iowa this week, it almost seems as if the current crop of presidential wannabes are competing to see who can be the most outrageous, extreme, or scandal-prone.

By Miriam Raftery

August 18, 2015 (San Diego)--State Senator Ben Hueso, a Democrat from the San Diego region, announced this week that Senate Bill 415, a measure that will dramatically increase voter turnout in local elections, passed the State Senate on a 26-12 vote and is now headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature.   Local governments with voter turnout 25% less than the average turnout in that city will be required to consolidate their elections with state elections.