Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposes to deal with the poverty issue in part by doubling the size of the Earned Income Tax Credit designed to put extra money in the pockets of low income workers. It’s a good idea and a worthy goal if the funding needs of the proposal can be met. Newsom has […]
PG&E’s bankruptcy declaration, liabilities, stock plunge, wrathful legislators, and possible criminal charges put the utility in a life and death situation. Many alternatives face lawmakers and regulators on how to work through the crisis for the company while at the same time attempting to spare ratepayers and to compensate, to the extent possible, victims of […]
It is an old adage that California is a bellwether for the nation. Policy changes that happen here often flow eastward from tax revolts to climate strategies. Newly elected governor Gavin Newsom boldly predicted that recent California policies are the future for the rest of the country. Time will tell, but the idea that California […]
In looking at Governor Gavin Newsom’s first budget and the reaction to it, it appears that former Gov. Jerry Brown’s famous canoe has not been retired. There was a little paddling on the left (more money for education, homelessness, and health issues) and paddling on the right (boosting the rainy day fund and one-time funds […]
Barring a last minute deal or court decision, there will be a teacher’s strike tomorrow in Los Angeles. Each side has their own view of the school district’s fiscal health and its ability to raise salaries and hire new teachers, nurses and counselors. But the teachers have the upper hand in an effort to rally […]
In his inaugural address, Governor Gavin Newsom promised his administration would be “prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars.” But he raised challenges to that approach immediately not only in the speech, but also with his first post-inaugural pronouncements on expanding health care programs. In his address, Newsom promised to “launch a Marshall Plan for affordable housing […]
Today’s column is easy to write because I’m actually pulling up a column I think is worth repeating when welcoming legislators back to the capital. Don’t drown us with so many new laws. In fact, spend some time getting rid of old ones. No one can possibly keep up with all the bills that actually […]
Like many Californians I came from someplace else. On my last stop before entering California in Las Vegas , I remember looking into a sidewalk newspaper box (remember those?) to read the headline that Jerry Brown was just elected to his first term as governor of California. As he prepares to leave the governor’s office […]
Elements of the hit 80s musical Little Shop of Horrors might serve as a parable for the way California governance is shaping up for the new year. With all the demands for new programs and more taxes can’t you hear an echo of the Shop’s devouring plant in the quest for an enlarged government: Feed […]
While the nominees for Fox and Hounds Daily’s annual Black Bart Award for the political person/event/organization of the year covered a wide range from politicians to a movie director, this year’s honoree is collectively the California Democrats who dominated the elections and will pursue an agenda fit for one-party rule. Gov. Jerry Brown was mentioned […]
