On Friday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker joined fourteen other Republican governors from across the country refusing to set up a state-run health care exchange. The federal government will instead be in charge of setting up an online insurance marketplace as part of the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act.

Newly drawn odd-numbered state senatorial districts seats were up for election this year. Many electees have never previously held office as a California state senator, but have robust track records serving their communities and/or as a state assemblymember.

Since the launch of the Operation Pillar of Defense on Wednesday, the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza has been escalating.

We hear a lot of discussion of the fiscal cliff, taxes, energy policy, and other broad issues that are important to our prosperity. But, we hear less about the people who are crafting the legislation and have to make the critical votes in shaping our future.

We hear a lot of discussion of the fiscal cliff, taxes, energy policy, and other broad issues that are important to our prosperity. But, we hear less about the people who are crafting the legislation and have to make the critical votes in shaping our future.

In a report released last week, California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office found that the state is facing budget gap of $1.9 billion for the fiscal year 2013-2014, but will likely see a budget surplus in California after 2014.