Speaking at the annual Air Force Association conference on September 20, Defense Secretary James Mattis engaged in the time-honored tradition of complaining about the defense budget. While many would say that with defense making up the largest expenditure in the federal budget there couldn’t possibly be a problem, Mattis may actually have been correct in his comments, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection San Diego, showed off eight wall prototypes near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.

https://twitter.com/CBPSanDiego/status/918137332880019456

The prototypes, four made of concrete and four made of other materials, began construction last month and were expected to be completed within 30 days. The prototypes are expected to cost nearly $4 million.  Six companies are taking part in the construction of their prototypes.

Republican US Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) responded to a tweet from President Donald Trump over the weekend, in which the president called out the "one-sided coverage" in the media:

https://twitter.com/BenSasse/status/916721683800629248

Sasse raises an important point. It is not just a one-sided narrative, as the president suggests. The current national narrative is dominated by two private political corporations that only speak to less than a quarter of the voting population.

With the stroke of a pen, Governor Jerry Brown has reformed the power structure at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

For many, including organized labor, it was a huge victory that now begins a massive change at the agency that's seen huge turmoil the last 12 months.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR LABOR

SANDAG will now be required to hire from state-approved groups for large construction projects, unless it signs union-friendly PLA's or project labor agreements.

Update 10/12/17: US Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) says there are "hundreds of potential federal charges" in the Awan scandal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFDs22s3DUY

In August, Covered California announced that 2018 premiums would rise 12.5 percent statewide.  But the exchange also warned that additional hikes could be in store if President Trump failed to commit to continued funding for the cost-sharing subsidies that educe some consumers’ out-of-pocket expenses.

Sure enough, the subsidies appear to be ending, and so to is Obamacare's affordability for many Californian's.

At long last, Colorado became the most recent state to open its primaries to independent and unaffiliated voters. This is a huge milestone, made even more momentous by the party obstruction that voters ultimately overcame. In the end, Colorado’s success was more than a triumph of democracy -- it was one of the people over the parties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdH7x0Npag8

Video Source: NBC News

Hospitals and health care companies make their living by being prepared for unfortunate events, but when a natural disaster strikes, it can push health care companies to their limits.

A woman I know sent me a note the other day. I was surprised, but happy to hear from her as we don’t know each other well.

In the note, she explained that she had woken up last Monday morning to the news of the Las Vegas shootings. While preparing lunches for her boys to take to school, she wondered whether to tell them what had happened before they started their day. She decided to tell them — better to hear it from her than in the school hallways.

Maine ranked choice voting (Question 5) was approved in November with the second-largest referendum victory in state history. Voters sent a clear message to their legislators and Maine officials: they wanted a new, better way to conduct elections.