Bill Lockyer

California Treasurer Bill Lockyer is embarked on a little-noticed, nerdy but noble crusade. He's trying to stop Wall Streeters from gouging state and local governments. That means state and local taxpayers. They're the ones getting fleeced when their governments issue bonds -- borrow -- to build roads, schools, water facilities and other public works.

The company that built the first mass-produced, all-electric car will keep its manufacturing plant in California, thanks to a new tax break. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Treasurer Bill Lockyer worked out the deal for Tesla Motors Inc. after learning that the Silicon Valley company intended to build its second-generation vehicle in New Mexico. The financial break, announced Monday, allows Tesla to avoid paying state sales tax on equipment it buys to build its Model S.

A new federal program designed to ease credit by purchasing short-term business debt probably won't be available to California and other beleaguered state and local governments, Treasurer Bill Lockyer said Wednesday.

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer is about to launch the first campaign urging people to Buy California. No, the state's top money man isn't referring to locally grown corn or nectarines at state-sponsored farmers markets but to $5,000 lots of tax-free California municipal bonds that will finance the construction of highways, bridges, schools and other public works for decades to come.

Sacramento Whether or not state Treasurer Bill Lockyer runs for governor, he doesn't intend to make the same fatal political mistake that his predecessor did: become the Democrats' loudest advocate for a tax increase. A state treasurer doesn't have an ounce of power to raise taxes, Lockyer notes. That's a function of the dysfunctional Legislature and governor. So why should a treasurer try to lead a crusade for higher taxes?

California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer sued H&R Block Inc. on Wednesday, seeking to stop a widely used loan program that entitles the nation's largest tax preparer to a chunk of its customers' tax refunds. The San Francisco Superior Court complaint joins a long list of lawsuits that have targeted H&R Block's refund anticipation loans -- cash advances the company arranges for customers so they won't have to wait for a check from the government.

Magazine publisher Time Inc. has reached a settlement with California and 22 other states after a probe of its subscription renewal practices. Under the agreement announced Tuesday, Time Inc., owned by media conglomerate Time Warner Inc., will pay $4.5 million for the states' costs for investigation and establish a fund for consumers' restitution. The Pennsylvania and California attorneys general said Time Inc.'s payout would amount to $4.3 million if all affected consumers responded. Time Inc.

Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer filed a lawsuit Thursday to block a proposed six-lane tollway through San Onofre State Beach, a popular coastal park he described as "a state treasure." The suit alleges that the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency in Orange County failed to adequately explore more sensible alternatives or assess what environmental harm the 16-mile toll road might cause, in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act.

An Orange County woman who launched a foundation to protect children from sexual predators, after her 5-year-old daughter was abducted and murdered, on Tuesday honored 15 men and women who have helped carry out her cause. Erin Runnion, the keynote speaker at the inaugural Samantha's Pride fundraiser and awards ceremony in Newport Beach, also paid tribute to state Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer and Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona as supporters of the Joyful Child Foundation.

Exxon Mobil Corp. brought home huge barrels of money in the first three months of the year -- more than any first quarter in company history, the oil giant said Thursday -- but it was less than Wall Street expected. The Irvine, Texas-based company's $8.4-billion net income for the quarter added fuel to accusations from politicians, state officials and consumer groups that the oil industry is pocketing hefty profits while motorists grapple with $3-per-gallon gasoline.