By JIM SANDERS, Sacramento Bee
Parties split over teen voting bill in Calif.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Voting is as American as mom and apple pie -- the more votes cast, the better for democracy, right?Not necessarily.Efforts to gradually increase California's pool of voters by targeting young teenagers are splitting the Capitol along party lines. Democrats support, Republicans oppose.
Job security debated for medicinal pot users
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- For west Californians gave Gary Ross the legal right to smoke medicinal marijuana at home.But that didn't keep the Carmichael resident from being fired for doing so.Ross is at the epicenter of a fight pitting the rights of more than 250,000 medicinal marijuana users against those of business owners.
California considers bill banning pets from drivers' laps
No more dogs behind the steering wheel.Canines don't have to be back-seat drivers, but they'd better stay away from the gas pedal under legislation passed Monday by the California State Assembly.Lambasted by radio's Rush Limbaugh and ridiculed as the "Paris Hilton Bill" in honor of the celebrity dog lover, the measure now goes to the state Senate.
Lawmakers can get raises, but can their pay be cut?
A push to cut the salaries of California's statewide elected officials shines a light on an obscure fact in the state constitution: Pay was not meant to be tied to performance.Nor were the salaries of legislators or other top elected officials designed to be swayed by state budget crises, such as this year's projected $10 billion deficit.
Evangelical chaplain criticizes California legislators
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- God is disgusted with California legislators -- at least some of them, according to an evangelical chaplain who ruffled feathers this week in the same Capitol where he leads Bible studies for lawmakers.
Calif. bill would provide instant background check for daters
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Here's a new twist to the dating game -- instant background checks.Asked out? Not so fast.

