Capitol and California

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By Matt Weiser - Updated: 9:30 am

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday began signing bills in the just-passed five-bill water package. Early next week, he's expected to sign the centerpiece, an $11.14 billion general obligation bond assailed by critics as a "Christmas tree" of spending. Here are the details.

California lawmakers pass historic water package

CSU stimulus numbers on jobs should have raised suspicion

By Phillip Reese - Published: 12:00 am

California State University officials may have followed federal guidelines in reporting that stimulus money saved an inordinate number of campus jobs, but someone in the university system should have objected to reporting the numbers because "they don't make sense," California's stimulus watchdog official said Friday.

Many California jobs 'saved' by stimulus funds weren't in jeopardy

Group again files proposed measure to reduce public pensions in California

By Jon Ortiz - Published: 12:00 am

A public pension group has refiled proposed ballot measures that would create a mandatory second-tier pension system for new public employees hired by the state, counties, cities and other non-federal government agencies in California.

The Buzz: California lawmakers' challenge is wrong-headed, pay panel chairman says

Published: 12:00 am

The head of the California Citizens Compensation Commission said Friday he's not bothered by the Legislature's legal challenge to his panel's spring decision to slash state lawmakers' pay and benefits by 18 percent. But Chairman Charles "Chuck" Murray said he still thinks the move is a bad idea, given the state's troubled finances. "It makes no sense whatsoever for them to be doing this," he said.

Legislation would rein in pension fund 'placement agents,' sources say

By Dale Kasler - Published: 12:54 pm

Top California officials, responding to media reports about possible outside influence on CalPERS' investment decisions, are formulating legislation to tighten controls on so-called placement agents and restrict their fees.

Group again files proposed measure to reduce public pensions in California

CAPITOL ALERT

Whitman won't accept salary if elected governor

Posted by Jack Chang at 2:49 PM

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman will follow in the footsteps of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and decline her salary if she's elected governor, press secretary Sarah Pompei said today. Whitman is ...