PolitiCal Roundup: Pensions cost 4% of state budget; cuts to high-speed-rail funds

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The Times’ George Skelton does some math: Public-employee pensions eat only about 4% of the state’s general fund. The deficit represents 18%. So legislators must look elsewhere for cuts.

The federal budget deal struck over the weekend could dampen California’s high-speed-rail ambitions.

Prison officials are seeking technology to block cellphone use by inmates. Civil-rights advocates smell a scheme to solidify phone companies’ prison pay-phone monopoly.