Thursday, May 29, 2014

Minimum Wage Hike, Eviction Protections Pass State Senate

The State Senate has approved a bill to hike California’s minimum wage, and to tie future increases to the rate of inflation. Another bill to limit Ellis Act evictions in San Francisco also won a narrow victory in a last-minute vote late Thursday afternoon. The actions come as lawmakers rush toward a legislative deadline that has seen other controversial measures fall by the way-side, including failed measures to label genetically engineered foods and sugary beverages, and to block fracking by oil drillers in California. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.