It's the latest in the ''blame, don't blame'' game of health-care, finger-pointing -- with at least one worthwhile takeaway. The Public Policy Institute of California has a new report, ''Emergency Department Care in California; Who Uses It and Why?'' Key findings: Fresno, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties have the highest per-capita ED ...

When cages are rattled, who yells loudest and who gets attention? The perennial debate over shriveling California resources -- worse this year because of a $17 billion-plus budget deficit -- may boil down to a food fight pitting health care vs. education vs. prisons. And the courts may play a key role. Last week, I was ...