By Aubrey Bettencourt In the regulatory realm, responsible due process follows a simple path: Legislation creates a statute granting authority; that authority sets regulation and conforming orders; violations of orders result in a notice; notice leads to demonstration of wrongdoing; and wrongdoing leads to punishment. Within this framework, courts interpret how the players conduct themselves.... Read More

By Craig Powell In some sense, the city’s fire department is a 20th century relic operating in a 21st century world. And with its entrenched practices staunchly protected against change by what’s acknowledged to be the city’s most powerful union, Fire Fighters Local 522, the fire department has been essentially immune to efforts by city... Read More

By Kathy Robertson, Senior Staff Writer Sacramento Business Journal Workers’ compensation costs have dropped for employers since reforms took effect in 2013 — and payments to injured workers have increased, a new report by state regulators concludes. In May, the Department of Insurance adopted advisory premium rates that are 10.2 percent less than the average approved... Read More

By Allen Young A pending initiative that would require voter approval of financing for large public works projects is drawing fire. Some California businesses view it as a potential roadblock to improving infrastructure. The No Blank Checks initiative, which is now gathering signatures for the 2016 ballot, would require any state revenue bond costing $2... Read More

By Jon Fleischman Last week, after a minor kabuki dance between Governor Jerry Brown and his fellow Democrats in the state legislature, a deal was struck: California has a new state budget that weighs in at a record-setting $115.4 billion. Or, put another way, California taxpayers this year are providing more funds for state government... Read More

By David Crane Everyone knows about the pharmaceutical companies, defense contractors and other financial interests that dominate political spending in Washington, D.C. Because federal spending provides a big share of those businesses’ revenues, it’s not surprising they spend heavily for a Congress sympathetic to their interests. But fewer know about the financial interests that dominate... Read More