Free Republic

<p>SACRAMENTO – Dueling child-care bills that would have disclosed the criminal histories of workers in California's licensed child-care industry will die today as the legislative year comes to a close.</p> <p>Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Santa Ana, authored SB1335, which would have disclosed the details of criminal histories of felons and those with long and recent conviction records. But Gov. Gray Davis said last week the bill didn't go far enough and promised to veto it. That forced the bill onto the Senate's "inactive" file this week, meaning it will never make it to the Senate floor for a vote.</p>

<p>The new measure lessens need for reporting old criminal convictions.</p> <p>SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Gray Davis is vowing to veto a child-care bill that had broad support in the Legislature because it would allow parents to know the criminal backgrounds of caregivers only with violent, recent or extensive histories of crime.</p>

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A proposal to levy a 10-cent tax on espresso and espresso-based drinks in Seattle has drawn the wrath of the U.S. coffee industry's key trade group. Known formally as Seattle Initiative 77, the proposed special tax would go to pay for existing child-care programs. "It is a bad tax," said National Coffee Association President Robert Nelson in a telephone interview. "The coffee industry believes early child care is very important, but (members) are in opposition of this bad tax," he added.

It's a tax that could hit Seattleites where it really hurts: their coffee mugs. A group of child-care advocates, seeking more money for early education, filed an initiative Friday that would place a 10-cent city tax on Seattle's lifeblood -- espresso drinks. But in Seattle, where voters have already voted to tax their tobacco, their meals and their hotel rooms, among other things, initial word of the proposal caused barely a jolt among the area's latte lovers. "Coffee, in a way, it's kind of a luxury item," said Patty Grazini, who frequents the Diva Espresso Bar in Seattle's Greenwood district....

Child-care advocates push for 10-cent tax A proposed tax could hit Seattleites where it really hurts: their coffee mugs. A group of child-care advocates, seeking more money for early education, filed an initiative Friday that would place a 10-cent city tax on Seattle’s lifeblood - espresso drinks. BUT IN Seattle, where voters have already voted to tax tobacco, meals and hotel rooms, among other things, initial word of the proposal caused barely a jolt among the area’s latte lovers. “Coffee, in a way, it’s kind of a luxury item,” said Patty Grazini, who frequents the Diva Espresso Bar in Seattle’s...

<p>Orange County child-care providers have been slow to comply with Gov. Gray Davis' order two weeks ago to immediately notify parents if an employee or associate has a criminal record.</p> <p>Kindercare, one of California's largest providers, with 105 centers, said the company is still unsure what the state wants -- despite a letter sent by Davis on March 21 clearly ordering providers to make the notifications.</p>

<p>Parents leaving their children in the care of Mark and Dolores Mossberg are greeted by a lawn sign pronouncing that theirs is a Christian home. The yard is neat. The house is warm. Their record with Social Services is clean. All indications are that the children are in good hands.</p>

<p>Both houses want state officials to explain abuses revealed by the Register.</p> <p>Lawmakers called Thursday for broader investigative hearings into the state's child-care system - saying both houses of the Legislature need to move swiftly to reform programs that leave children vulnerable.</p>

<p>SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday ordered a six-month moratorium that would prohibit any convicted criminals who have applied to work in state-licensed child care from being granted a waiver - a process that allows them to work with children despite their pasts.</p>

<p>A state senator from Orange County said he will call today for a new audit of the California Department of Social Services in response to an Orange County Register investigation that showed more than 12,000 convicted criminals were allowed to work in state-licensed child care under a highly flawed screening process.</p>

<p>More than 630 people with criminal convictions – some felons with robbery, arson or drug dealing on their rap sheets – own or work in Orange County child-care homes and centers with the permission of a state agency that knows about their pasts.</p>