In the News

Read news articles about legislation, state government reform, issues and events in the community and my activities while representing you in the State Legislature.

High-speed spending: Bullet train may need $3.5 million a day

May 14, 2012

California would have to pay $6 billion to complete a 130-mile segment by September 2017, a plan that requires 120 permits and buying 1,100 parcels of land.

By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times
 

If California starts building a 130-mile segment of high-speed rail late this year as planned, it will enter into a risky race against a deadline set up under federal law.

Senate Approves Halt to Spending on MTC Headquarters Relocation

May 12, 2012

SFGATE.COM -- Contra Costa Blog

 

This week, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1545 (DeSaulnier) with a strong bipartisan vote of 30-2. SB 1545 would prohibit the expenditure of any additional public funds on the relocation of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission headquarters until after an audit is completed by the State Auditor and all issues raised in that audit (if any) are resolved.

Senate votes to stop spending on MTC regional headquarters project

May 11, 2012

By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Contra Costa Times

The California Senate has ordered the Bay Area's transportation planning agency to stop spending bridge toll money on renovations to the San Francisco building where it hopes to open a new regional governance center.

A bill authored by Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, passed overwhelmingly late Thursday on a 30-2 vote. It heads next to the Assembly and must be signed by the governor to go into effect.

State's lawyers call MTC's building purchase improper; opinion fuels regionalism reform

May 08, 2012

By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Contra Costa Times

The same week legislative lawyers declared improper the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's use of bridge tolls to purchase of an eight-story San Francisco building, state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier introduced a bill to put the agency underneath a new, directly-elected regional board.

MTC real estate deal questioned

May 06, 2012

In the latest twist in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s surprisingly tangled attempt to move to San Francisco and cohabitate with other regional government agencies, the state Legislative Counsel is questioning the legality of using bridge toll money to buy the building at 390 Main St.

MTC erred by using toll funds for S.F. building, state legislative counsel says

May 05, 2012

Staff reports
Oakland Tribune

mercurynews.com

OAKLAND -- The Bay Area Toll Authority did not have the power to use bridge tolls to pay for a San Francisco office building that was more than twice the size it needed and more than half of which the agency planned to lease to other non-transportation related public agencies, according to an opinion by the state Legislative Counsel.

Lobbyists spent nearly $70M at Capitol so far in 2012

May 03, 2012

SACRAMENTO, CA - It's easy to tell when important votes are coming up in the State Capitol, the hallways are packed with lobbyists.

A new Common Cause report found lobbyists spent $67 million, just in the first quarter of 2012 alone; if that rate holds up, influence spending in Sacramento could set a record for a two-year session.