More California Employers Urging Legislative Action on Workforce Funding
California employers are urging the Legislature to fully fund two promising programs this year with $250 million to bolster the state’s workforce. A letter to key legislators from the Regional Economic Association Leaders of California (REAL Coalition), which represents more than 15,000 employers, makes the case succinctly to approve $200 million for the Strong Workforce […]
SB 1349 Cal-Access Bill Is Another Step Forward In California’s Political Reform Era
When key state leaders gathered Monday for a press conference to promote a bill (SB 1349) authorizing the Secretary of State to create a modern online campaign finance reporting and disclosure system, it represented another step forward in California’s era of reform. Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Senator Bob Hertzberg, Los Gatos software entrepreneur Jim Heerwagen, California Common Cause Executive […]
California’s New Assembly Speaker Sees Benefit Of Recent Democracy Reforms
When Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) is sworn in as Assembly Speaker next Monday, he will become what some Californians are describing as the “reform speaker.” The Speaker’s chair has been a bit of revolving door in recent years thanks in large part to the term limits that allowed an Assembly member to only serve a […]
California’s Prop 50—Another Step Toward Restoring Public Trust
When state Sen. Leland Yee was arrested in 2014 on charges he engaged in racketeering and gun-trafficking activities, Californians were outraged. A state senator who was campaigning for Secretary of State on a transparency platform was found to be a phony and ultimately a convicted criminal. Yee became the third sitting State Senator charged with […]
Say Yes to Legislative Transparency
California Forward has been in existence for nearly a decade and during that time we’ve talked with people around the state about how to improve and reform our state government. There have been a number of good ideas that have been expressed, but few of them have more support than what is called the 72-hour […]
California Economic Summit Sets Bold Goals
When California Forward and the California Stewardship Network conceived the California Economic Summit several years ago, it was hoped it could start a real conversation about job creation in California. Mission accomplished. The fourth annual meeting of the Summit concluded last week in Ontario, attracting 400 private, public and civic leaders from diverse regions across California. “Hundreds […]
California Makes It Easier To Register To Vote—But Will More People Cast A Ballot?
Californians, including the estimated 6.6 million eligible Californians who aren’t registered, will soon have fewer excuses for not registering to vote. Governor Brown signed a landmark measure into law over the weekend that will allow eligible Californians to be automatically registered to vote when they go to the Department of Motor Vehicles office to obtain or renew […]
Help Wanted: More California Women Needed To Run For Public Office
It is hard to believe that the first state in the country’s history to have two women serving as U.S. Senators at the same time might have a problem attracting women to run for public office, but that’s the situation in California. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer were the first women ever to be U.S. […]
California Auditor Issues Report On “Improper Activities” Revealed By Whistleblowers
“For democracies to work, elected leaders need to be responsive and representative, and voters must be able to hold elected officials accountable for results. Democratic integrity requires an electoral process that empowers voters and gives candidates and incumbents the incentives to listen and lead. It requires transparency throughout the government so voters have an accurate […]
California Lawmakers Reflect On Effects Of Top-Two Primary At Upcoming Summit
The subject of California’s top-two primary is expected to draw up to 200 people on August 19 in Sacramento. That’s when the Independent Voter Project and California Forward are sponsoring a daylong discussion of the electoral reform, which is now five years old. “The goal was to elect candidates who would be reasonable, pragmatic and open […]