GOP fails to block plan to upgrade courthouses

* The Senate voted 25 to 13 to allow Los Angeles County to put a half-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax increase on the Nov. 4 ballot to fund transit and highway projects. The Assembly had approved the bill, AB 2321 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), and is expected to sign off on minor amendments before sending it to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is unclear when bills might be sent to him, because he has said he will veto legislation until a budget is passed.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted in July to seek the sales tax hike from 8.25 to 8.75 cents on the dollar. The increase could raise up to $40 billion over 30 years, according to MTA officials.

* Making a foray into public campaign financing, the Senate approved a "fair elections" bill that would -- with voter approval -- give state funding to candidates for secretary of state in 2014 if they agree not to accept donations greater than $5 per person from the public. Voters would have to approve the pilot program in 2010. Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said the measure was a response to the role of special interests in campaigns.

"We talk a lot about campaign finance reform and try to come up with a system that is fair," Steinberg said. "This is a very modest proposal to try a different way."

Sen. Jim Battin (R-La Quinta), who voted against the proposal, complained that money for the candidates would come from a $350 annual fee on lobbyists, lobbying firms and their employers.

"They don't think it's fair that you are going to put a tax on them, because they have nothing to do with the secretary of state," Battin said.

The bill, AB 583 by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), was approved 21 to 18 and will go to the governor if the Assembly agrees to minor changes made by the Senate.

* In a decision that favored one of Sacramento's most influential interest groups, the Senate voted 24 to 9 to outlaw electronic bingo machines that compete with slot machines owned by Indian tribes, which contribute heavily to lawmakers' campaigns. Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), the author of SB 1369, likened the bingo machines to slots, which in California may be operated only by tribes.

"We must honor agreements we have entered into," Cedillo said. Opponents objected that the bill would hurt small charities that make money from electronic bingo machines.

* The Assembly defeated a measure that would have made it easier for consumers to comparison-shop for health insurance plans. It would have banned plans that cover only hospitalization.

"Most people don't realize how much care they need may come outside of a hospital," said Anthony Wright, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Health Access California, which supported the bill.

Insurance companies and health maintenance organizations opposed the bill, SB 1522 by Steinberg. It failed 36 to 35.

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nancy.vogel@latimes.com

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Times staff writer Michael Rothfeld contributed to this report.