http://inbox.berkeley.edu Selected highlights of what's new in California public policy and politics Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:21:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en California's Fiscal Outlook: The 2010-11 Budget [Legislative Analyst's Office]The state's budget watchdog agency has issued its forecast of the state's General Fund shortfall for the next budget year, estimating the state faces a shortfall of nearly $21 billion. The Legislative Analyst's Office says the budget gap consists of a $6.3 ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=727 Field Poll: GOP Primary Voters [Field Research Corporation]The two Republicans most likely to challenge Barbara Boxer in her bid for a fourth Senate term received lukewarm support in the most recent Field Poll of Republican voters. State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) is favored by 20%, while businesswoman Carly Fiorina, who ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=711 Database: See every gift given to state leaders [Sacramento Bee]From an analysis of thousands of lobbyist disclosure reports, the Sacramento Bee has developed a database that tracks gifts to state lawmakers between January 2008 and June 2009. During those 18 months, lobbyists gave legislators, their staffs, and relatives about $610,000 ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=682 Hidden Casualties: Trade, Employment Loss & Women Workers [Dēmos] Over the past several decades, international trade and increased foreign competition has led to widespread job losses in American manufacturing. The general perception is that these losses have primarily affected jobs and industries that are traditionally male, such as auto manufacturing. Researchers ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=667 Mexican Immigrants: How Many Come? How Many Leave? [Pew Hispanic Center]The Pew Research Center examines data from several sources to determine if (and how) recent immigration patterns between Mexico and the United States have changed. Statistics from several sources point to a substantial decline in the number of immigrants entering the ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=659 To Have and Have Not [California Budget Project]While the September 2008 and February 2009 state budget agreements cut billions of dollars from state public services, they also included changes to corporate tax rules that will net millions of dollars in tax breaks for some California businesses. A report from the ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=654 A Time to Build Up: Analysis of the No on Prop. 8 Campaign and Its Implications for Future Pro-LGBTQQIA Religious Organizing [National Gay and Lesbian Task Force] After California voters approved Proposition 8 in November 2008, restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples, a group of secular and religious leaders gathered in Pasadena ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=647 Individual Mandate: A Background Report [California Research Bureau]Many recent health care reform proposals have included some form of "individual mandate" -- a legal requirement that every citizen obtain adequate health insurance coverage. People who don’t receive coverage through their employer or some other group would be required to purchase their ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=633 No Recovery In Sight: Health Coverage for Working-Age Adults in the United States and California [UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education] As the Obama administration continues its push for health-care reform, many have voiced concern over the economic cost of enacting health-care reform during a time of economic crisis. ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=626 Sanctions and Time Limits in California’s Welfare Program [Public Policy Institute of California] Federal welfare funding in California is dependent on a percentage of adult welfare recipients being employed at least part-time or engaged in "work-related activities." A work participation rate under 50% can result in a loss of federal funding. Recent ... http://inbox.berkeley.edu/?p=621