Voters More Optimistic About Lawmakers, State’s Future

Californians are feeling more optimistic about the future, with 44% of adults saying the state is heading in the right direction, up 30 percentage points from July 2009, according to a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) approval rating stands at 48% among all respondents, while the Legislature received a 34% approval rating.

• "Optimism up About Jerry Brown, Legislature, California's Future" (Sanders, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 12/5).