California’s Black Gold
Shale oil reserves in California may not only set the state on the path to a strong economic recovery and lower unemployment, but also could have the effect of solving the state’s “Wall of Debt” crisis and bring peace between labor and business interests. That is a lot to ask from a natural resource that […]
Rainy Day Fund Measure a Test of “Fiscal Restraint”
Let’s take the governor’s prediction on the budget at face value ignoring the what-ifs and skullduggery in Washington and conclude that the state of California will have a $1 billion surplus at the end of 2013–14. How do you make sure that the surplus is around for a rainy day and not spent by a […]
When a Tax is Levied ON Schools, They Protest
Members of the school establishment generally support tax increases – unless a tax hits the schools. School officials, school boards and teachers’ associations eagerly support local tax increases and statewide ballot measures that raise taxes, which will increase revenue to schools. When a tax increase is leveled against schools and the revenue collected won’t come […]
Prop 30 Promises and the State Budget
Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal lifts state funding for K-14 education $2.7 billion – not exactly what proponents of Proposition 30 promised during the election campaign. I know it was months ago—Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and New Year’s Day all in between – but does anyone remember how much Proposition 30 was supposed to bring […]
Goodbye, Columbus (Day)
They say if you keep something around long enough it will come back in use. I’m still holding out hope for my Nehru jacket (a 1960s fashion statement for those who don’t know). But apparently it can be true with political issues and related commentaries – even ones that seem a bit bizarre. Assemblyman Roger […]
Brown on Prisons: the Right Policy and Good Politics
While Governor Jerry Brown’s tough stand with the federal court over who runs the state prisons will not endear him to the federal judges or to attorneys representing prisoners, California citizens will support the governor’s stand. Brown stood up to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel that oversees the prisoner reduction ordered by […]
Gun Control Efforts Hit Homes
California plays a major role in the gun debate with legislators submitting a number of new bills and the state’s senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, leading the charge in Congress for a renewed assault gun ban. In Oakland yesterday, Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner announced another bill, AB 48, dealing with ammunition sales. The Oakland Tribune declared the […]
Cigarette Tax or Tax Restructuring: California’s Crooked Tax System
Over the holiday period, a short piece appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle tying some big names to a new effort to raise taxes on cigarettes. According to the Chronicle, a one-dollar a pack tax would be levied with the money to help pay for the University of California and Cal State systems. Terrible tax […]
2013 May not be the Year of the Supermajority
Despite all the chatter about the Democrats’ supermajority control of the legislature, it very well could be 2014 that is the year of the supermajority, not 2013. The unexpected success of the Democrats to capture two-thirds of both houses of the legislature during the November election led many pundits to conjecture that the Democratic legislators […]
The Black Bart Award Winner for 2012
Fox and Hounds Daily’s Black Bart Award as Californian of the Year in Politics goes to: Molly Munger and Charles Munger, Jr. Both John Wildermuth and I considered writing about the Mungers influence on this year’s election before we considered any others and Joe Mathews also gave them the nod. Not much bickering this year, […]