Mental health care found wanting at North Carolina VA hospital

 Andrew Danecki, a Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan, suffers from sleep apnea that left him nodding off on the sofa and behind the wheel of his car. He said he waited eight months to get a sleep study performed at the Durham VA Medical Center.

Dennis Hunter, a Vietnam-era Army veteran, waited several months for an orthopedic appointment for knee and back injuries that require him to use a wheelchair.

The Durham VA Medical Center had the longest average wait time for new patient mental health appointments — 104 days — in a nationwide auditof veterans' healthcare facilities released this month. The hospital also had the nation's seventh worst average wait times for new patient specialist care appointments: 69 days.

"I feel like they just don't know what they're doing, and don't really care," said Danecki, 27. "It's like vets get healthcare for free, so why should they do their best work?"

North Carolina's four main VA hospitals struggle under demands from one of the largest veteran communities in the nation — about 770,000, many living near large military bases such as Ft. Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The Durham VA served 64,000 patients last year, and to many veterans, the facility seems impenetrable when it comes to getting specialty care.

"They have so many problems here, I don't know where to start," said Hunter, 68, perched on his wheelchair in a crowded waiting room inside the red-brick hospital in downtown Durham.

Officials at Durham have challenged the national audit's methodology, saying that more than half of new mental health patients were actually seen within 14 days this fiscal year, with new patients waiting an average of 25 days for their first appointment.

"We are heading in the right direction and have already made significant improvements," said DeAnne Seekins, the Durham VA director.

The hospital said it has added dozens of mental health staffers in the last two years, and is recruiting 18 additional mental health providers. The hospital opened a Mental Health Access Center last year, which provides emergency psychiatrist services, in an effort to reduce wait times.

"We have made great progress in wait times, but are not where we want to be yet," said Dr. Richard Weiner, chief of mental health services at the Durham VA.

Pete Tillman, a spokesman at the facility, said growing patient demand and a lack of hospital space had contributed to problems. He said the hospital had expanded its hours, opened weekend clinics and planned to open a third mental health access clinic.

Two employees, a doctor and an administrative staffer were placed on administrative leave last month after an internal review found irregularities in appointment scheduling.

The VA audit found that none of the 141 medical facilities examined across the country met the agency's goal of seeing all new mental health patients within 14 days. At 30 facilities, the average mental health wait was more than 40 days.

The Durham VA, affiliated with top-ranked health systems at Duke University and the University of North Carolina, has enjoyed a reputation for quality care — once it's delivered. And even veterans who complain of long waits and poor follow-up care say specialty treatment there has been good once they finally receive it.

But experts in mental health say follow-up care is often inadequate at VA hospitals, in part because the agency is unable to attract enough psychiatrists and other specialists to meet new demands.

The VA's lengthy hiring procedures — up to six months — discourage promising young interns from working there, said Lizbet Boroughs of the American Psychiatric Assn. Unlike private hospitals and many other government hospitals, she said, the VA doesn't offer medical loan forgiveness to job applicants, who are often up to $100,000 in debt.

"The VA needs a more level playing field" to compete for mental health providers, Boroughs said.

The problem with mental health care goes beyond wait times for appointments and stretches far more widely than the hospitals in North Carolina, say many who have worked with VA facilities.

Internal VA reports and federal investigations dating back nearly 14 years have documented long wait times, inadequate care and mental health shortcomings.

In 2011, a federal appeals court in San Francisco declared the VA's mental health treatment so inadequate that it was unconstitutional. "The VA's unchecked incompetence has gone on long enough," the court majority wrote in a 2 to 1 ruling that was later overturned. "No more veterans should be compelled to agonize or perish."

Ralph Ibson, who studies mental health issues for the Wounded Warrior Project, said VA hospitals often cut costs by pushing veterans with mental health problems into group therapy when they need individual therapy. The VA has limited programs for follow-up mental health treatment, he said, often delaying such care "until the veteran's condition deteriorates to the point of crisis."

He said the agency tended to use a "dart throw" process that allocated precious mental health staff erratically, with the facilities that need the most help often not getting it.

Danecki, the Afghanistan veteran, said he was able to see a VA psychiatrist without an extended wait. But when the doctor prescribed a sleep study for his apnea and exhaustion, it took eight months to schedule it.

He ultimately received a machine to regulate his breathing, and now his apnea is under control. He also has been diagnosed with PTSD, he said, but will not be visiting the Durham VA for treatment. "After what I went through there, it wouldn't be worth my time."

david.zucchino@latimes.com

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mental health care found wanting at North Carolina VA hospital

 Andrew Danecki, a Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan, suffers from sleep apnea that left him nodding off on the sofa and behind the wheel of his car. He said he waited eight months to get a sleep study performed at the Durham VA Medical Center.

Dennis Hunter, a Vietnam-era Army veteran, waited several months for an orthopedic appointment for knee and back injuries that require him to use a wheelchair.

The Durham VA Medical Center had the longest average wait time for new patient mental health appointments — 104 days — in a nationwide auditof veterans' healthcare facilities released this month. The hospital also had the nation's seventh worst average wait times for new patient specialist care appointments: 69 days.

"I feel like they just don't know what they're doing, and don't really care," said Danecki, 27. "It's like vets get healthcare for free, so why should they do their best work?"

North Carolina's four main VA hospitals struggle under demands from one of the largest veteran communities in the nation — about 770,000, many living near large military bases such as Ft. Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The Durham VA served 64,000 patients last year, and to many veterans, the facility seems impenetrable when it comes to getting specialty care.

"They have so many problems here, I don't know where to start," said Hunter, 68, perched on his wheelchair in a crowded waiting room inside the red-brick hospital in downtown Durham.

Officials at Durham have challenged the national audit's methodology, saying that more than half of new mental health patients were actually seen within 14 days this fiscal year, with new patients waiting an average of 25 days for their first appointment.

"We are heading in the right direction and have already made significant improvements," said DeAnne Seekins, the Durham VA director.

The hospital said it has added dozens of mental health staffers in the last two years, and is recruiting 18 additional mental health providers. The hospital opened a Mental Health Access Center last year, which provides emergency psychiatrist services, in an effort to reduce wait times.

"We have made great progress in wait times, but are not where we want to be yet," said Dr. Richard Weiner, chief of mental health services at the Durham VA.

Pete Tillman, a spokesman at the facility, said growing patient demand and a lack of hospital space had contributed to problems. He said the hospital had expanded its hours, opened weekend clinics and planned to open a third mental health access clinic.

Two employees, a doctor and an administrative staffer were placed on administrative leave last month after an internal review found irregularities in appointment scheduling.

The VA audit found that none of the 141 medical facilities examined across the country met the agency's goal of seeing all new mental health patients within 14 days. At 30 facilities, the average mental health wait was more than 40 days.

The Durham VA, affiliated with top-ranked health systems at Duke University and the University of North Carolina, has enjoyed a reputation for quality care — once it's delivered. And even veterans who complain of long waits and poor follow-up care say specialty treatment there has been good once they finally receive it.

But experts in mental health say follow-up care is often inadequate at VA hospitals, in part because the agency is unable to attract enough psychiatrists and other specialists to meet new demands.

The VA's lengthy hiring procedures — up to six months — discourage promising young interns from working there, said Lizbet Boroughs of the American Psychiatric Assn. Unlike private hospitals and many other government hospitals, she said, the VA doesn't offer medical loan forgiveness to job applicants, who are often up to $100,000 in debt.

"The VA needs a more level playing field" to compete for mental health providers, Boroughs said.

The problem with mental health care goes beyond wait times for appointments and stretches far more widely than the hospitals in North Carolina, say many who have worked with VA facilities.

Internal VA reports and federal investigations dating back nearly 14 years have documented long wait times, inadequate care and mental health shortcomings.

In 2011, a federal appeals court in San Francisco declared the VA's mental health treatment so inadequate that it was unconstitutional. "The VA's unchecked incompetence has gone on long enough," the court majority wrote in a 2 to 1 ruling that was later overturned. "No more veterans should be compelled to agonize or perish."

Ralph Ibson, who studies mental health issues for the Wounded Warrior Project, said VA hospitals often cut costs by pushing veterans with mental health problems into group therapy when they need individual therapy. The VA has limited programs for follow-up mental health treatment, he said, often delaying such care "until the veteran's condition deteriorates to the point of crisis."

He said the agency tended to use a "dart throw" process that allocated precious mental health staff erratically, with the facilities that need the most help often not getting it.

Danecki, the Afghanistan veteran, said he was able to see a VA psychiatrist without an extended wait. But when the doctor prescribed a sleep study for his apnea and exhaustion, it took eight months to schedule it.

He ultimately received a machine to regulate his breathing, and now his apnea is under control. He also has been diagnosed with PTSD, he said, but will not be visiting the Durham VA for treatment. "After what I went through there, it wouldn't be worth my time."

david.zucchino@latimes.com

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kevin de León of Los Angeles elected leader of California Senate

Democratic state Sen. Kevin de León of Los Angeles was elected by his peers Monday to become the next president pro tem of the Senate. He said his priorities as leader will include restoring public trust in the Legislature after a series of scandals.

De León, the son of a single housekeeper who traveled by bus daily from her poor Logan Heights neighborhood to jobs in San Diego's richest enclaves, is scheduled to formally take over from the current leader, Sen. Darrell Steinberg, on Oct. 15, just before Steinberg leaves office.

However, De León is stepping in immediately as the chief strategist over Democratic Senate campaigns for the November election in hopes of regaining a supermajority.

De León, 47, will be the first Los Angeles resident to lead the state Senate in two decades and the first Latino to hold the position since 1883.

Steinberg called it a "watershed moment" in California's modern history. He praised De León for his ability to build consensus on issues including a bill last year that provides driver's licenses to immigrants in the country illegally.

"Kevin is smart. He is seasoned. He is hungry to get big things done," Steinberg said in his nominating speech. "He is unafraid to lead."

The vote Monday was unanimous by voice, and no one else was nominated. De León takes over a Senate in turmoil, with three Democratic members facing criminal charges.

"I think what happened was an amazing anomaly when you have three individuals [charged] in a short window of time; but we have moved forward with new Senate rules, with a blackout period, with an important, objective ombudsman," De León said after the unanimous, bipartisan vote.

De León supported Steinberg's policy of resisting Republican demands to expel lawmakers facing criminal charges, including Sen. Roderick Wright of the Inglewood area, whom a jury found guilty of eight felonies, including perjury and voter fraud for lying about living in his district.

Wright's fate may be known next month when a judge decides whether to uphold the verdict. Sens. Ronald S. Calderon of Montebello and Leland Yee of San Francisco have been indicted by federal authorities in separate cases alleging that they offered official actions in exchange for payments.

De León has been part of a group of senators who have proposed tougher ethics rules. He sponsored a resolution that creates a blackout on campaign fundraising by senators during the last month of the session.

On Monday, the Senate also approved legislation that would put the blackout period into law for both the Senate and Assembly during 60 days at the end of session.

The criminal cases have left Senate Democrats two votes short of a supermajority since March, and they hope to regain the advantage in this year's elections despite a primary in which Republican candidates in some key races had big vote leads over Democratic candidates.

"It was a much larger spread than I think a lot of folks anticipated," De León acknowledged to reporters. "There is no doubt about it: We have our work cut out for us. We are going to do everything humanly possible to get the supermajority back."

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Optimistic on economy, California lawmakers OK $156.4-billion budget

Flush with optimism from California's resurgent economy, lawmakers approved a $156.4-billion state budget that expands preschool for children from poor families, increases welfare payments and provides critical funding for building the nation's first bullet train.

The state's financial turnaround has allowed the Democratic-led Legislature, with the blessing of Gov. Jerry Brown, to spend more freely just a few years after the recession prompted deep cuts to government services. And if tax receipts outpace expectations, the budget could send even more money to schools, public universities and local governments.

Lawmakers also are addressing more of California's lingering financial problems, stockpiling cash in a rainy-day fund and chipping away at pension costs.

"This is a much brighter day than what we've seen in years past," Senate Budget Chairman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said.

The spending plan — which includes a $108-billion general fund, $7.3 billion larger than last year's — now goes to Brown, who has until the end of the month to sign it. He can still veto items he dislikes.

The budget marks lawmakers' first major effort to combat global warming with revenue from the state cap-and-trade program, which charges fees on polluters when their carbon emissions exceed set limits.

Over the next several years, billions of dollars from those funds could flow to affordable housing, mass transit and environmental programs in a broad effort to get Californians to drive less and consume less energy.

A quarter of the money will be used for building the $68-billion bullet train, a decision that may draw legal challenges from groups that oppose the project and view it as an improper use of cap-and-trade revenue.

Republicans criticized the money for high-speed rail, and Senate Republican leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) called the budget a "missed opportunity."

"You're enacting policies to make California unnecessarily expensive, drive people into poverty and then propose new government programs to subsidize their life in poverty," Huff said.

Long-term costs for public employee retirements and overdue maintenance continue to weigh on state finances, and the budget starts tackling the $74-billion shortfall in the teacher pension fund. Under the plan, schools, teachers and the state will contribute more money to the fund in an attempt to close the gap over the next three decades.

The budget also deposits $1.6 billion into a reserve fund, a down payment on the state's effort to create a cushion for future economic downturns. Voters will have an opportunity in November to approve a constitutional amendment that would set aside money in the fund every year and help pay off the state's debt and long-term costs.

Despite the budget's increasing size, some cuts remain in place. Most notably, doctors who participate in Medi-Cal will continue receiving reduced payments even as hundreds of thousands of new patients enroll in the state's public healthcare program. Brown's resistance to increasing the payments disappointed lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, who fear fewer doctors will agree to care for Medi-Cal patients.

"The Senate wants to do this, the Assembly wants to do this and the governor understands we need to," Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said. "So we are working as of tomorrow to figure out how soon we can do this. But we have to make sure we can pay for it."

Other programs for California's poor are being boosted. Beginning next April, welfare payments for a family of three in such high-cost counties as Los Angeles would increase to $704 per month, up from $670.

Over the next few years, preschool enrollment is expected to increase by 43,000 4-year-olds from low-income families. There's also more money for subsidized child care.

The budget already had been negotiated among Brown and top Democratic lawmakers before Sunday's vote, tamping down the drama in the Capitol. Still, controversy bubbled over a series of new policy proposals that were included in budget-related bills, sometimes after little public vetting.

For example, Brown has pushed new limits on how much money school districts can keep in their reserve accounts. Administration officials say the schools won't need to stockpile as much cash because the state will have its own rainy-day fund, but angry district officials called the proposal a ploy by the powerful teachers union to make more money available while negotiating contracts.

The California Teachers Assn. spent $4.7 million to help elect Brown in 2010 and donated nearly $290,000 to lawmakers, mostly Democrats, for this year's campaigns.

Lawmakers from both parties criticized the governor for inserting the proposal late in the budget process, but Democrats ensured the bill passed.

Another measure approved by the Legislature would modify California's new rules for granting driver's licenses to immigrants here without documentation, eliminating the requirement for applicants to submit affidavits saying they cannot prove legal residency.

Ronald Coleman, a lobbyist for the California Immigrant Policy Center, said the change would provide "peace of mind" that applying for a license won't increase the risk of deportation for immigrants who are here without those papers.

A separate budget-related bill, also approved Sunday, would remove the ban on drug felons receiving food stamps and welfare payments. Democrats say the measure would help former inmates reintegrate into society, but Republicans were critical.

"In what universe does it make sense to give cash benefit cards to drug users?" Huff said.

More budget bills have yet to be considered by the Legislature. Democrats are angling to pass two new taxes, on fireworks and insurance. The levy on fireworks — 10 cents per pound, to be paid by distributors — is intended to finance the safe destruction of illegal pyrotechnics. The other tax — 15 cents per insurance policy for residential and commercial renters — would fund earthquake research.

chris.megerian@latimes.com

Twitter: @chrismegerian

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Twitter: @melmason

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Optimistic on economy, California lawmakers OK $156.4-billion budget

Flush with optimism from California's resurgent economy, lawmakers approved a $156.4-billion state budget that expands preschool for children from poor families, increases welfare payments and provides critical funding for building the nation's first bullet train.

The state's financial turnaround has allowed the Democratic-led Legislature, with the blessing of Gov. Jerry Brown, to spend more freely just a few years after the recession prompted deep cuts to government services. And if tax receipts outpace expectations, the budget could send even more money to schools, public universities and local governments.

Lawmakers also are addressing more of California's lingering financial problems, stockpiling cash in a rainy-day fund and chipping away at pension costs.

"This is a much brighter day than what we've seen in years past," Senate Budget Chairman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said.

The spending plan — which includes a $108-billion general fund, $7.3 billion larger than last year's — now goes to Brown, who has until the end of the month to sign it. He can still veto items he dislikes.

The budget marks lawmakers' first major effort to combat global warming with revenue from the state cap-and-trade program, which charges fees on polluters when their carbon emissions exceed set limits.

Over the next several years, billions of dollars from those funds could flow to affordable housing, mass transit and environmental programs in a broad effort to get Californians to drive less and consume less energy.

A quarter of the money will be used for building the $68-billion bullet train, a decision that may draw legal challenges from groups that oppose the project and view it as an improper use of cap-and-trade revenue.

Republicans criticized the money for high-speed rail, and Senate Republican leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) called the budget a "missed opportunity."

"You're enacting policies to make California unnecessarily expensive, drive people into poverty and then propose new government programs to subsidize their life in poverty," Huff said.

Long-term costs for public employee retirements and overdue maintenance continue to weigh on state finances, and the budget starts tackling the $74-billion shortfall in the teacher pension fund. Under the plan, schools, teachers and the state will contribute more money to the fund in an attempt to close the gap over the next three decades.

The budget also deposits $1.6 billion into a reserve fund, a down payment on the state's effort to create a cushion for future economic downturns. Voters will have an opportunity in November to approve a constitutional amendment that would set aside money in the fund every year and help pay off the state's debt and long-term costs.

Despite the budget's increasing size, some cuts remain in place. Most notably, doctors who participate in Medi-Cal will continue receiving reduced payments even as hundreds of thousands of new patients enroll in the state's public healthcare program. Brown's resistance to increasing the payments disappointed lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, who fear fewer doctors will agree to care for Medi-Cal patients.

"The Senate wants to do this, the Assembly wants to do this and the governor understands we need to," Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said. "So we are working as of tomorrow to figure out how soon we can do this. But we have to make sure we can pay for it."

Other programs for California's poor are being boosted. Beginning next April, welfare payments for a family of three in such high-cost counties as Los Angeles would increase to $704 per month, up from $670.

Over the next few years, preschool enrollment is expected to increase by 43,000 4-year-olds from low-income families. There's also more money for subsidized child care.

The budget already had been negotiated among Brown and top Democratic lawmakers before Sunday's vote, tamping down the drama in the Capitol. Still, controversy bubbled over a series of new policy proposals that were included in budget-related bills, sometimes after little public vetting.

For example, Brown has pushed new limits on how much money school districts can keep in their reserve accounts. Administration officials say the schools won't need to stockpile as much cash because the state will have its own rainy-day fund, but angry district officials called the proposal a ploy by the powerful teachers union to make more money available while negotiating contracts.

The California Teachers Assn. spent $4.7 million to help elect Brown in 2010 and donated nearly $290,000 to lawmakers, mostly Democrats, for this year's campaigns.

Lawmakers from both parties criticized the governor for inserting the proposal late in the budget process, but Democrats ensured the bill passed.

Another measure approved by the Legislature would modify California's new rules for granting driver's licenses to immigrants here without documentation, eliminating the requirement for applicants to submit affidavits saying they cannot prove legal residency.

Ronald Coleman, a lobbyist for the California Immigrant Policy Center, said the change would provide "peace of mind" that applying for a license won't increase the risk of deportation for immigrants who are here without those papers.

A separate budget-related bill, also approved Sunday, would remove the ban on drug felons receiving food stamps and welfare payments. Democrats say the measure would help former inmates reintegrate into society, but Republicans were critical.

"In what universe does it make sense to give cash benefit cards to drug users?" Huff said.

More budget bills have yet to be considered by the Legislature. Democrats are angling to pass two new taxes, on fireworks and insurance. The levy on fireworks — 10 cents per pound, to be paid by distributors — is intended to finance the safe destruction of illegal pyrotechnics. The other tax — 15 cents per insurance policy for residential and commercial renters — would fund earthquake research.

chris.megerian@latimes.com

Twitter: @chrismegerian

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Twitter: @melmason

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Optimistic on economy, California lawmakers OK $156.4-billion budget

Flush with optimism from California's resurgent economy, lawmakers approved a $156.4-billion state budget that expands preschool for children from poor families, increases welfare payments and provides critical funding for building the nation's first bullet train.

The state's financial turnaround has allowed the Democratic-led Legislature, with the blessing of Gov. Jerry Brown, to spend more freely just a few years after the recession prompted deep cuts to government services. And if tax receipts outpace expectations, the budget could send even more money to schools, public universities and local governments.

Lawmakers also are addressing more of California's lingering financial problems, stockpiling cash in a rainy-day fund and chipping away at pension costs.

"This is a much brighter day than what we've seen in years past," Senate Budget Chairman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said.

The spending plan — which includes a $108-billion general fund, $7.3 billion larger than last year's — now goes to Brown, who has until the end of the month to sign it. He can still veto items he dislikes.

The budget marks lawmakers' first major effort to combat global warming with revenue from the state cap-and-trade program, which charges fees on polluters when their carbon emissions exceed set limits.

Over the next several years, billions of dollars from those funds could flow to affordable housing, mass transit and environmental programs in a broad effort to get Californians to drive less and consume less energy.

A quarter of the money will be used for building the $68-billion bullet train, a decision that may draw legal challenges from groups that oppose the project and view it as an improper use of cap-and-trade revenue.

Republicans criticized the money for high-speed rail, and Senate Republican leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) called the budget a "missed opportunity."

"You're enacting policies to make California unnecessarily expensive, drive people into poverty and then propose new government programs to subsidize their life in poverty," Huff said.

Long-term costs for public employee retirements and overdue maintenance continue to weigh on state finances, and the budget starts tackling the $74-billion shortfall in the teacher pension fund. Under the plan, schools, teachers and the state will contribute more money to the fund in an attempt to close the gap over the next three decades.

The budget also deposits $1.6 billion into a reserve fund, a down payment on the state's effort to create a cushion for future economic downturns. Voters will have an opportunity in November to approve a constitutional amendment that would set aside money in the fund every year and help pay off the state's debt and long-term costs.

Despite the budget's increasing size, some cuts remain in place. Most notably, doctors who participate in Medi-Cal will continue receiving reduced payments even as hundreds of thousands of new patients enroll in the state's public healthcare program. Brown's resistance to increasing the payments disappointed lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, who fear fewer doctors will agree to care for Medi-Cal patients.

"The Senate wants to do this, the Assembly wants to do this and the governor understands we need to," Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said. "So we are working as of tomorrow to figure out how soon we can do this. But we have to make sure we can pay for it."

Other programs for California's poor are being boosted. Beginning next April, welfare payments for a family of three in such high-cost counties as Los Angeles would increase to $704 per month, up from $670.

Over the next few years, preschool enrollment is expected to increase by 43,000 4-year-olds from low-income families. There's also more money for subsidized child care.

The budget already had been negotiated among Brown and top Democratic lawmakers before Sunday's vote, tamping down the drama in the Capitol. Still, controversy bubbled over a series of new policy proposals that were included in budget-related bills, sometimes after little public vetting.

For example, Brown has pushed new limits on how much money school districts can keep in their reserve accounts. Administration officials say the schools won't need to stockpile as much cash because the state will have its own rainy-day fund, but angry district officials called the proposal a ploy by the powerful teachers union to make more money available while negotiating contracts.

The California Teachers Assn. spent $4.7 million to help elect Brown in 2010 and donated nearly $290,000 to lawmakers, mostly Democrats, for this year's campaigns.

Lawmakers from both parties criticized the governor for inserting the proposal late in the budget process, but Democrats ensured the bill passed.

Another measure approved by the Legislature would modify California's new rules for granting driver's licenses to immigrants here without documentation, eliminating the requirement for applicants to submit affidavits saying they cannot prove legal residency.

Ronald Coleman, a lobbyist for the California Immigrant Policy Center, said the change would provide "peace of mind" that applying for a license won't increase the risk of deportation for immigrants who are here without those papers.

A separate budget-related bill, also approved Sunday, would remove the ban on drug felons receiving food stamps and welfare payments. Democrats say the measure would help former inmates reintegrate into society, but Republicans were critical.

"In what universe does it make sense to give cash benefit cards to drug users?" Huff said.

More budget bills have yet to be considered by the Legislature. Democrats are angling to pass two new taxes, on fireworks and insurance. The levy on fireworks — 10 cents per pound, to be paid by distributors — is intended to finance the safe destruction of illegal pyrotechnics. The other tax — 15 cents per insurance policy for residential and commercial renters — would fund earthquake research.

chris.megerian@latimes.com

Twitter: @chrismegerian

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Twitter: @melmason

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Angels come up big in extra innings over Atlanta Braves, 11-6

KEY MOMENT: Erick Aybar drew a walk to open the 13th inning, and with pitcher C.J. Wilson squaring to bunt, took second on Gerald Laird's passed ball. Wilson drew a walk, and Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Angels then unloaded on what was left of the Braves bullpen, as Kole Calhoun hit an RBI single to center, Mike Trout hit a two-run double to left, and Albert Pujols hit a two-run single to center for an 11-6 lead.

AT THE PLATE: Pujols drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and he followed Trout's solo homer in the sixth with a homer to left-center, his 16th of the season and 508th of his career. The four RBIs gave Pujols 1,539 for his career, moving him ahead of Joe DiMaggio for 45th place on baseball's all-time list. Trout also had four RBIs, including a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, and Aybar had three singles, including an RBI single that gave the Angels a 5-1 lead in the eighth.

ON THE MOUND: Garrett Richards delivered his third straight superb start, holding the Braves to four hits in six scoreless innings, striking out 10, a career high, and walking three. Kevin Jepsen threw a scoreless seventh and has not allowed a run in 16 appearances, a span of 12 1/3 innings in which he has given up five hits, struck out 12 and walked five. Joe Smith gave up a solo homer to Evan Gattis in the eighth. Fernando Salas threw a scoreless 11th and 12th innings, and Cory Rasmus retired the side in order in the 13th.

IN THE FIELD: Aybar robbed his counterpart, slick-fielding Braves shortstop Aldrelton Simmons, of two hits, leaping to grab a line drive that appeared headed to left field for the last out in the second and sprawling toward the hole to make a back-hand, diving stop of Simmon's one-hop smash and throwing to second for an inning-ending force out in the fourth.

EXTRA BASES: Tyler Skaggs, on the disabled list because of a right-hamstring straing, played long-toss Saturday and is scheduled to resume throwing on a mound Sunday. The left-hander said the hamstring "feels better," and he is confident he will be ready to return when his DL stint is up next Saturday.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Hector Santiago (0-6, 4.15 ERA) will oppose Atlanta left-hander Mike Minor (2-4, 4.31 ERA) at Turner Field on Sunday at 5 p.m. PDT. On the air: TV: ESPN. Radio: 830 AM.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Angels come up big in extra innings over Atlanta Braves, 11-6

KEY MOMENT: Erick Aybar drew a walk to open the 13th inning, and with pitcher C.J. Wilson squaring to bunt, took second on Gerald Laird's passed ball. Wilson drew a walk, and Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Angels then unloaded on what was left of the Braves bullpen, as Kole Calhoun hit an RBI single to center, Mike Trout hit a two-run double to left, and Albert Pujols hit a two-run single to center for an 11-6 lead.

AT THE PLATE: Pujols drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and he followed Trout's solo homer in the sixth with a homer to left-center, his 16th of the season and 508th of his career. The four RBIs gave Pujols 1,539 for his career, moving him ahead of Joe DiMaggio for 45th place on baseball's all-time list. Trout also had four RBIs, including a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, and Aybar had three singles, including an RBI single that gave the Angels a 5-1 lead in the eighth.

ON THE MOUND: Garrett Richards delivered his third straight superb start, holding the Braves to four hits in six scoreless innings, striking out 10, a career high, and walking three. Kevin Jepsen threw a scoreless seventh and has not allowed a run in 16 appearances, a span of 12 1/3 innings in which he has given up five hits, struck out 12 and walked five. Joe Smith gave up a solo homer to Evan Gattis in the eighth. Fernando Salas threw a scoreless 11th and 12th innings, and Cory Rasmus retired the side in order in the 13th.

IN THE FIELD: Aybar robbed his counterpart, slick-fielding Braves shortstop Aldrelton Simmons, of two hits, leaping to grab a line drive that appeared headed to left field for the last out in the second and sprawling toward the hole to make a back-hand, diving stop of Simmon's one-hop smash and throwing to second for an inning-ending force out in the fourth.

EXTRA BASES: Tyler Skaggs, on the disabled list because of a right-hamstring straing, played long-toss Saturday and is scheduled to resume throwing on a mound Sunday. The left-hander said the hamstring "feels better," and he is confident he will be ready to return when his DL stint is up next Saturday.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Hector Santiago (0-6, 4.15 ERA) will oppose Atlanta left-hander Mike Minor (2-4, 4.31 ERA) at Turner Field on Sunday at 5 p.m. PDT. On the air: TV: ESPN. Radio: 830 AM.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Angels come up big in extra innings over Atlanta Braves, 11-6

KEY MOMENT: Erick Aybar drew a walk to open the 13th inning, and with pitcher C.J. Wilson squaring to bunt, took second on Gerald Laird's passed ball. Wilson drew a walk, and Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Angels then unloaded on what was left of the Braves bullpen, as Kole Calhoun hit an RBI single to center, Mike Trout hit a two-run double to left, and Albert Pujols hit a two-run single to center for an 11-6 lead.

AT THE PLATE: Pujols drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and he followed Trout's solo homer in the sixth with a homer to left-center, his 16th of the season and 508th of his career. The four RBIs gave Pujols 1,539 for his career, moving him ahead of Joe DiMaggio for 45th place on baseball's all-time list. Trout also had four RBIs, including a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, and Aybar had three singles, including an RBI single that gave the Angels a 5-1 lead in the eighth.

ON THE MOUND: Garrett Richards delivered his third straight superb start, holding the Braves to four hits in six scoreless innings, striking out 10, a career high, and walking three. Kevin Jepsen threw a scoreless seventh and has not allowed a run in 16 appearances, a span of 12 1/3 innings in which he has given up five hits, struck out 12 and walked five. Joe Smith gave up a solo homer to Evan Gattis in the eighth. Fernando Salas threw a scoreless 11th and 12th innings, and Cory Rasmus retired the side in order in the 13th.

IN THE FIELD: Aybar robbed his counterpart, slick-fielding Braves shortstop Aldrelton Simmons, of two hits, leaping to grab a line drive that appeared headed to left field for the last out in the second and sprawling toward the hole to make a back-hand, diving stop of Simmon's one-hop smash and throwing to second for an inning-ending force out in the fourth.

EXTRA BASES: Tyler Skaggs, on the disabled list because of a right-hamstring straing, played long-toss Saturday and is scheduled to resume throwing on a mound Sunday. The left-hander said the hamstring "feels better," and he is confident he will be ready to return when his DL stint is up next Saturday.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Hector Santiago (0-6, 4.15 ERA) will oppose Atlanta left-hander Mike Minor (2-4, 4.31 ERA) at Turner Field on Sunday at 5 p.m. PDT. On the air: TV: ESPN. Radio: 830 AM.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Angels lose, 4-3, to Braves

KEY MOMENT: The Braves had two on with two outs in the first inning when Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson fell behind Braves catcher Evan Gattis with a three-ball count. Gattis got the green light and crushed a three-run homer to left-center field. Chris Johnson followed with a homer to center to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.

AT THE PLATE: The Angels took advantage of center fielder B.J. Upton's error to score twice in the eighth, Mike Trout putting runners on second and third with a bloop double to right and Albert Pujols stroking a two-run single to right to make it 4-3. Josh Hamilton walked to put two on, but Howie Kendrick struck out, and Erick Aybar grounded to first to end the inning. Hank Conger doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the third.

ON THE MOUND: Wilson rebounded from his rocky first to blank the Braves on three hits over the next five innings, but there was no moral victory. "I'm not satisfied at all," he said. "I gave up four runs and two homers in the first. There's no reward for a loss. Ever." Atlanta right-hander Aaron Harang, who entered with an 0-5 record and 7.59 earned-run average in seven starts against the Angels, allowed one run and four hits in six innings to improve to 5-5. Braves closer Craig Kimbrel struck out two of three in the ninth, including Raul Ibanez on a 99-mph game-ending fastball, for his 19th save.

EXTRA BASES: Manager Mike Scioscia will miss Saturday night's game to attend funeral services for former Dodgers teammate Bob Welch in Arizona. Bench coach Dino Ebel will manage the team, and Scioscia will return for Sunday night's game. … Braves right fielder Jason Heyward left the game in the second inning after getting hit in the right hand by a Wilson pitch in the first. X-rays of the hand were negative, and Heyward was listed as day to day.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Garrett Richards (6-2, 3.09 ERA) will oppose Atlanta right-hander Gavin Floyd (1-2, 2.57) at Turner Field on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. PDT. On the air: FS West. Radio: 830 AM.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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