Jerry Brown’s Veto Rate is Actually Quite Low (and What that Could Mean)
September 30th was the deadline for Governor Brown to sign or veto the 1,074 bills sent to his desk by the legislature, officially ending the 2013-2014 legislative session. And most of them he signed; vetoing 13.3% of the bills. But how does Jerry Brown 2.0’s veto rate compare to past Governors and what does it […]
Why Making Policy from Polls Can Be Troublesome
It is a constant criticism of politicians; they poll test or focus group everything before making a decision. If you are one to follow politics, you’ll know that new polls on everything from election horse-races to how the public feels about minute details of policy ideas come out daily. But policy-makers should be wary of […]
The Week’s Other Political Earthquake – In California, Naturally
Tuesday brought two major political earthquakes, one on either side of the country. While Majority Leader Eric Cantor will forever be known as the first House Majority Leader to fall to a primary challenge, on the West Coast, the all-powerful California teachers’ unions were defeated by judicial review. In deciding the Vergara v. California case, […]
California’s Primary Dilemma
Next Tuesday, Californians go to the polls to vote in the gubernatorial primary elections. Although the system was in effect in 2012, this year marks the first time that new rules also apply to California’s seven partisan statewide offices. The principal rationale behind 2010’s Proposition 14 was to increase ideological moderation in California politics, hence […]
Proceed with Caution – Beware of Early Polls
Early polls might generate buzz, but reporters, voters, and politicians should view these polls skeptically. They are unlikely to predict the June primary results very well for three cascading reasons. Few people are paying attention to the election at this point in the cycle. In the last five Field and PPIC polls that have asked […]
Hoover Institution Issues Report on California Public Pensions Solutions
In October 2013, the Hoover Institution’s “California Public Pension Solutions” conference, co-hosted by Hoover senior fellow Josh Rauh and SIEPR’s David Crane and Joe Nation, engaged Hoover Institution fellows, pension scholars from across the country, current and former California and out-of-state policy leaders, and pension reform specialists to discuss, in-depth, solutions to California’s public pension […]
Hoover’s Golden State Poll: California’s Economic Dissonance
Between December 6 and December 16, the Hoover Institution’s Golden State Poll – a partnership between Hoover and the online polling firm YouGov – surveyed 1,000 Californians on economic and political issues, the second in a series of looks at California’s well-being. Two more surveys will be conducted over the course of 2014. Pick up […]
Sacramento Spotlight: Comprehensive Good Governance Reform Part 3 – Structural Consolidation
California has eight statewide elected officials, which is almost 1 ½ times the national average. The Golden State’s FY 2014 budget allots over $2.7 billion to cover the costs of those offices, plus the two state tax boards. However, not all statewide positions are created equal. Nor is there much evidence that Californians get more […]
Sacramento Spotlight: Comprehensive Good Governance Reform Part 2 – Eliminating Term Limits
In November 1990, California voters imposed term limits on their state-level elected officials in the form of Proposition 140, which received 52% support. In June 2012, 61% of voters opted in favor of Proposition 28, a ballot sleight-of-hand sold as “punishing” lawmakers – reducing their Sacramento tenure from 14 to 12 years – when it […]
Hoover’s Golden State Poll: What California Comeback?
Between Aug. 27 and Sept. 27, the Hoover Institution’s Golden State Poll – a partnership between Hoover and the online polling firm YouGov – surveyed 1,000 Californians on economic and energy/environmental issues. Three similar polls will be conducted over next year, checking the Golden State’s pulse on leading economic, policy and political topics. This is […]