By Miriam Raftery

July 17, 2012 (Alpine)—The Alpine Community Planning Group is seeking new applicants to fill a vacancy for seat 14.  All interested applicants are encouraged to come to the ACPG meeting on July 26 at 6 p.m. on the Alpine Community Center.

July 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Want to run for office?  There are many seats open for local candidates, from planning groups to school boards and city councils.

By Miriam Raftery

July 12, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – San Diego’s Republican representatives Duncan Hunter, Brian Bilbray and Darrell issue joined the Republican majority in the House of Representatives in voting to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act—taking health benefits away from their constituents as well as eliminating the mandate for coverage.

California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton sent an email blasting the vote.  “If ever anyone was looking for a reason to vote Congressional Republicans out of office in November, this has got to be it.”

Former Veterans Affairs Secretary who resigned amid scandal is named co-chair of Romney’s advisory team on veterans' policies

By Miriam Raftery

July 8, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – Award-winning Newsweek correspondent Jamie Reno, a founding member of East County Magazine’s editorial team, has published a report in Newsweek/Daily Beast that examines the track record of a top Mitt Romney advisor on veterans' affairs. He reveals a troubling history of failures to properly care for soldiers who served our nation honorably.

June 27, 2012 (Sacramento) -- Governor Brown has signed California's state budget, which aims to eliminate the state's deficit over the next three years.  The $16.2 budget relies on both spending cuts and projected revenues from the Governor's November ballot initiative. 

For details on the budget, and how it may impact you, see our previous article on the budget: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/10166.  

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2012 (La Mesa) –Helix Water Board director Chuck Muse sought to have the District prohibit fellow Board directors from speaking to  reporters, ECM has learned.  

Board President DeAna Verbeke stopped short of such drastic measures, but  did chastise directors to refrain from “negative personal comments” about board members or the District,” admonishing that during past rate hike considerations, “discussing the District’s business did not reflect well on the individual of the District.”

Budget aims to eliminate deficit, cuts key services

Deeper cuts ahead if Governor’s tax initiative on Nov. ballot is not approved by voters

By Miriam Raftery

June 25, 2012 (Sacramento) – California's Legislature has approved a budget bill, AB 1464, on time by the constitutional June 15 deadline.  The budget deal aims to eliminate the state’s $20 billion structural deficit and result in a balanced budget for each of the next several years, resulting in a $2 billion reserve by the 2015/16 fiscal year.

Bill also jeopardizes national parks along U.S.-Mexico and Canadian borders;

2 local Congressmen vote to kill environmental protections for all federal lands within 100 miles of borders--encompassing vast swaths in San Diego

June 7, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Proposition D, which declares El Cajon to be a charter city independent of many state requirements, has been approved by voters. 

The measure passed by a 57%-43% margin.