Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
A Preview of Six States Battle Running in Scotland, If – Big IF – Six States Qualifies
Governor Jerry Brown is proud of saying that California stands as the eighth largest economy in the world. It could move up dramatically if Scotland votes in a September 18th referendum to split away from the United Kingdom, currently the world’s sixth largest economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product. Then again, California would drop in the economic standings if voters agree to split the state into six separate states under a proposed initiative.
We should know tomorrow if the Six States initiative has enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. With the on-going random sample count of signatures, it certainly doesn’t look good for the initiative qualifying. A report on the Secretary of State’s website appears to indicate the signature count will fall short. However, as of this writing Los Angeles County has not yet reported. The largest number of signatures was turned in there and a strong validity rate of the L.A. random sample of signatures might push the sample signature count high enough to require a full count of every signature. (more…)
What Explains the Decline in Entrepreneurship in California
The decision last week by Tesla Motors to locate its battery factory in Nevada attracted the most media attention among economics stories, and generated a new wave of articles about California’s economic competitiveness. But our real concern should be not Tesla (California government did everything possible) but the decline in entrepreneurship in California as elsewhere, and missed opportunities for future Teslas.
Data on the decline of entrepreneurship in California comes from several sources over the past six months. The most prominent have been the Brookings Institution studies by economists Robert Litan and Ian Hathaway: “Declining Business Dynamism in the United States”, and “The Other Aging of America: The Increasing Dominance of Older Firms”. Another major study on declining business start-ups, “The Role of Entrepreneurship in US Job Creation and Economic Dynamism”, published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, reinforces the narrative. (more…)
9/11: Our Nation’s Darkest Moment Galvanized Its People and Its Values
Having been in Washington, D.C. on that fateful September day, I personally witnessed the destruction of our Pentagon and the devastating impact that these brutal attacks had on our nation’s capital.
This was an unprovoked act of war designed and carried out by terrorists to weaken our nation and divide our people — they failed. In the wake of the tragedy, the American people came together with resolve to strengthen their conviction to our core American values — family, faith and country.
On September 12, Congress led the nation in unity by singing “God Bless America” on the steps of the Capitol. Here in Los Angeles County, a multi-faith crowd of more than 2,500 gathered for an ecumenical prayer service held at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. (more…)
California’s Next Governor
Neel Kashkari, a self-styled Republican with some impressive credentials, is not going to be elected California’s next governor, but give him credit for trying.
His recent debate with Governor Jerry Brown made for good theater even though neither scored any knockout punches. In the end, however, Kashkari will be looking back on a race that was Brown’s to lose from start to finish.
The last authentic GOP governor of California was Pete Wilson who served two terms in the 1990s.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the next to win carrying the Republican banner—sort of!
In what amounted to a run-up to the open non-partisan blanket primary now in place, after a majority voted for Gray Davis’s recall, all candidates appeared on the ballot under the rules of the special recall election. (more…)
All Eyes on the Quest for a Two-Thirds Majority
Many commentators look at the coming California elections with a yawn expecting little drama in most of the constitutional officer contests and little excitement amongst the public on the ballot measures. But, one thing insiders are watching with great interest is whether the Democrats once again can secure a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature.
The two-thirds standard for the Democrats may be more important in this election than when they gained two-thirds majorities unexpectedly in the 2012 contests.
Legislative leaders were quick to announce they would use the power of the two-thirds majority in the legislature judiciously: No rushing off to raise taxes, propose constitutional amendments or override gubernatorial vetoes. Flush with their big win, they mostly kept to the pledge while the two-thirds majority was wiped away by scandals that sidelined three Democratic state senators. (more…)
Jarvis Assoc. Asks Supreme Court to Block Sale of High Speed Rail Bonds
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) has petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the high speed rail bond validation case.
After radically changing the bullet train plan promised to voters who approved $10 billion in bonds in 2008, the State asked the court to approve sale of the bonds anyway. HJTA responded on behalf of all Californians saying the rail plan no longer matches what was promised voters and the State’s request should be denied. The trial court agreed and denied the State’s request for validation of the bond sale. The Court of Appeals has reversed this decision and HJTA is now asking for intervention by the Supreme Court.
The current plan for high speed rail is nearly twice as expensive as promised and the projected travel times and fairs have nearly doubled. (more…)