California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Torres Won’t Join Senators for Tour

State Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) took his name off the list of six senators who are scheduled to tour the Philippines and Hong Kong March 19-29 at taxpayer expense. He said he “didn’t know” the circumstances of the visit when he agreed to go, but now considers it “not appropriate.” The state Senate fact-finding mission into problems of Filipino and Hong Kong immigrants occurs as Californians face the prospect of deep program cuts and higher taxes to overcome an unprecedented shortfall in revenue.