Topic: California Politics

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High gas prices: what presidential candidates say they'll do about it

Gas prices jumped 30 cents a gallon in February, and Republicans are blaming President Obama for not having a policy fix. Here's what Mr. Obama and the GOP presidential aspirants are saying on the campaign trail lately about their remedy for high gas prices.
Meg Whitman new HP CEO. What firm has more CEO change?

Fortune 500 companies are supposed to be stable, rock-solid institutions, where CEO change rarely happens. But it doesn't always happen that way. Just ask Hewlett-Packard, which announced Thursday that Meg Whitman would be the company's new chief executive officer, the fourth HP CEO in six years. In the past six years, only 16 companies on the Fortune 500 or S&P 500 have had three CEOs, according to executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates in Hinsdale, Ill. Besides HP, only two have had four or more. Can you guess who these CEO change champions are? [Editor's note: This story was updated 9/23/2011.]
Six major food recalls

Cargill has recalled roughly 36 million pounds of ground turkey products distributed nationwide. How does that compare with past food recalls?
In Pictures: Schwarzenegger and Shriver's marriage
In Pictures: The Dalai Lama's career

All Content

Will Californians trust Jerry Brown enough to vote for his tax increase?

After outlining drastic cuts Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown pleaded with California voters to approve a temporary sales-tax increase. Some experts, but not all, think he can get it through.
Jerry Brown proposes billions in cuts. Are Californians getting his message?

With California's budget shortfall soaring, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) proposes broad, painful cuts for state workers and programs. Without new taxes, he warns voters, the cuts will be even worse.
California facing higher $16 billion shortfall

California's budget deficit has swelled to $16 billion and will force severe cuts to schools and public safety if voters fail to approve tax increases in November, warns Gov. Jerry Brown.
High gas prices: what presidential candidates say they'll do about it

Gas prices jumped 30 cents a gallon in February, and Republicans are blaming President Obama for not having a policy fix. Here's what Mr. Obama and the GOP presidential aspirants are saying on the campaign trail lately about their remedy for high gas prices.
Cover Story
Does America need a CEO in the Oval Office?

Mitt Romney has been both vaunted and vilified for his business background. Here's how running a corporation really compares to running a country.
Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups

A federal court overturned Prop. 8, California's ban on gay marriage, but the ruling did not affirm a federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage, as gay-rights groups had hoped.
Prop. 8: California's same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional

California's same-sex marriage ban, also known as 'Prop. 8,' has been ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court.
Can Facebook IPO help solve a state budget crisis?

The Facebook IPO could bring California as much as $500 million in tax revenues from capital gains. Depending on whom you talk to, that's a significant help or a drop in the bucket.
Vox News
Stephen Colbert super PAC raises $1 million. How does that compare? (+video)

OK, other super PACs have a lot more money to spend. But the Stephen Colbert super PAC ranks in the middle class of super-PACdom, and with it the comedian can keep ridiculing the US campaign finance system.
Why Jerry Brown is standing firm on shaky California high-speed rail plan

Another report critical of California's $100-billion high-speed rail project – the second this month – has not shaken Gov. Jerry Brown's faith in the plan. He has his eyes on his legacy, some say.
Jerry Brown's defiant State of the State: California is still golden

With chronic budget woes engulfing California, many analysts had expected a 'gloom and doom' State of the State address from Gov. Jerry Brown. They got nothing of the sort.
Is California Gov. Jerry Brown's 'ransom' budget an empty threat?

California Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a state budget Thursday that would cut $4.8 billion from education – but only if a ballot initiative to raise taxes fails. Problem is, legislators are balking.
Gov. Jerry Brown implores California voters: Please raise taxes on yourself

Republicans blocked the efforts of California Gov. Jerry Brown to fix a budget crisis through more tax revenues. So his new plan is to go straight to voters in 2012.
Super committee and California: Can they each break through dysfunction?

The nation's capital and the capital of the nation's most populous state both seem dysfunctional. But even as the congressional super committee looks set to fail, a bipartisan group of high-profile Californians is readying ballot initiatives to reengineer state government, including tax reform.
Ruling: Gay marriage foes can fight for Prop. 8 in federal court

California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that backers of Prop. 8 – which banned gay marriage in the state – can defend the measure in federal court, in lieu of state officials who declined to do so. The ruling means a major federal lawsuit proceeds.
California court says defense of gay marriage ban can proceed

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that proponents of the state's ban on gay marriage will be able to defend their stance in federal court.
Latin America Monitor
Arizona's Brewer misses second straight US-Mexico Border Governors Conference

Gov. Jan Brewer (R) of Arizona will miss a chance to soothe tensions over last year's conference, which her Mexican counterparts boycotted in protest of her signing a tough immigration law.
HP and Meg Whitman: signs of a Silicon Valley in transition

HP, as Silicon Valley's biggest and most mature corporation, is more big business now than Silicon Valley startup. Meg Whitman has to help HP figure out which way to go from here.
Meg Whitman new HP CEO. What firm has more CEO change?

Fortune 500 companies are supposed to be stable, rock-solid institutions, where CEO change rarely happens. But it doesn't always happen that way. Just ask Hewlett-Packard, which announced Thursday that Meg Whitman would be the company's new chief executive officer, the fourth HP CEO in six years. In the past six years, only 16 companies on the Fortune 500 or S&P 500 have had three CEOs, according to executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates in Hinsdale, Ill. Besides HP, only two have had four or more. Can you guess who these CEO change champions are? [Editor's note: This story was updated 9/23/2011.]
Meg Whitman as the HP CEO? She'd have a tough job.

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman reportedly is the choice of the troubled company's board to replace the current HP CEO, Leo Apotheker. Despite her past achievements, some question whether she is up for the daunting task.
The Vote
Why Obama and Warren Buffett are suddenly best pals

First, President Obama seized upon populist comments by multibillionaire investor Warren Buffett to make his tax-the-rich proposal more palatable. Now, Buffett says he will attend an Obama fundraiser. He's becoming the poster boy for Obama's plans.
Africa Monitor
California becomes first state to pass conflict mineral legislation

The California state assembly has passed a bill banning state agencies from signing contracts with companies that don't follow regulations intended to remove Congo's conflict minerals from the supply chain.
Tax VOX
California accepts a deal. Maybe.

Agreement between the state's legislative leaders and Amazon would delay internet tax collection until Sept. 2012
Same-sex marriage: Can Prop. 8 sponsor appeal ruling ban is unconstitutional?

In a hearing Tuesday, California Supreme Court justices grilled attorneys for both sides in the Prop. 8 case. Their ruling on legal 'standing' may affect more than the ban on same-sex marriage.
Tax VOX
Amazon vs. sales tax

Despite Amazon's best efforts for a delay, California governor Jerry Brown holds firm on a new state law requiring online retailers to collect sales tax