Here's your daily briefing...
Opponents Challenge Passed Measure To Speed Up Death Penalty: Today arguments will be heard by the California Supreme Court that could change the way courts deal with death penalty appeals. The Associated Press reports that opponents are challenging Proposition 66, which was passed in November, saying that it’s unconstitutional and that it would undermine the appeals process. If the measure takes effect, all state appeals would be completed in about a third of the time they are currently.
Do Clean Energy Jobs Surpass The Number Of Coal Mining Jobs Nationwide? That’s a statement recently made by State Senate Leader Kevin De Leon. Capital Public Radio’s Politifact Reporter, Chris Nichols, investigated the claim giving it a “mostly true” rating. Nichols found that while there is a survey that aligns with De Leon’s statement, it’s the only data available, so it’s not easy to pinpoint the exact number of clean air jobs.
Lawmakers Debate How To Spend Cigarette Tax Revenue: After voting on 700 bills last week, lawmakers now to move to budget negotiations. More than a billion dollars in cigarette tax revenue from Proposition 56 has been slated for health care. The legislature has proposed to use a large part of it for increasing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates to health care providers. Governor Jerry Brown wants the money to go toward overall Medi-Cal costs.
Governor Brown In China: Talks Bullet Train, Signs Climate Deal: Monday Brown called himself the “foremost promoter of high-speed rail in America” while taking a five-hour high-speed train ride from Nanjing to Beijing. He said while many in the Republic Party have adopted an anti-bullet train philosophy, California’s train is under construction. Tuesday Brown signed an agreement with China to work together to reduce gas emissions. He called President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord a temporary setback.
Highway 20 Could See Construction, Meeting Tonight: Caltrans plans to unveil proposed upgrades to State Route 20 this evening at 5:30 p.m. at Browns Valley Elementary School. According to press release from Caltrans, the $40 million construction project would span between Marysville and Grass Valley. It would widen shoulders, straighten curves, flatten hills and replace the short bridge over Dry Creek.