A Progressive Take on Public Pensions

While the public pension crisis has been an issue on the right for many years, left-wing thinkers show relatively little interest in the issue. When progressives do opine on pensions, they often reject the alarm expressed by conservatives, seeing it as a smokescreen for unneeded austerity or a way to attack the public sector. In […]

Prop 55, a Gamble the High Rollers will Do Well

Proposition 55 on this November’s ballot would extend income tax rate increases for twelve additional years.  In 2012, voters approved Proposition 30, which established marginal tax rates as high as 13.3% through 2018. At the time, the tax increase was presented as an emergency measure needed to address the state’s fiscal crisis. But now that this […]

Consequences from Smoking, Sure; But Consequences from Tobacco Tax, Too

Like the proponents of Proposition 56, I wish we could wave a magic wand and eliminate smoking. But our state government lacks a magic wand; all it can do is outlaw and tax our activities. So, from a public health standpoint, the $2 per pack cigarette tax increase mandated by Prop 56 is the next […]

Local Government Fiscal Early Warning Systems: A Good Idea Whose Time Has Come

Two years ago, Treasurer Bill Lockyer called for an early warning system to detect signs of financial trouble in California local governments before they faced bankruptcy. By proactively identifying at-risk cities, the system could create an opening for local experts and external advisors to intervene before any given situation spun out of control. As the […]