In the News

The Sacramento Bee

By Torey Van Oot

Assemblyman Jerry Hill was shocked when he read reports that a San Mateo man was arrested for drunken driving after officers grabbing a cup of coffee watched him drive the wrong direction into the parking lot and stumble into the shop.

But Hill was even more shocked to learn that the man had been allowed back behind the wheel after eight previous DUI convictions.

San Mateo County Times

By Mike Rosenberg
San Mateo County Times

Condemning a legal system that allowed two Peninsula residents to rack up nine DUIs each, a Bay Area legislator today will announce a bill that would give California judges the power to permanently revoke licenses of drunken drivers after three convictions.

The Daily Journal

By Michelle Durand

Thousands of San Mateo County children — and hundreds of thousands statewide — had their health insurance saved yesterday by bipartisan legislation raising revenue by taxing companies that manage Medi-Cal plans.

Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, a nonprofit that advocates for California children, praised politicians’ ability to set aside partisanship in favor of children’s best interest.

Matthew Yi, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

(12-04) 04:00 PST Sacramento --

Democratic lawmakers, who hold a majority in the state Legislature, introduced a bill Wednesday to change the two-thirds requirement for approving state budgets to a simple majority vote.

The move, which would allow Democrats to approve a spending plan without Republicans' support, came as members of both parties were locked in battle in a special session to solve the state's growing budget deficit.