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.
Big Changes in California’s Spending
A review of California’s 2016–17 state budget yields a new pattern as spending surges on retirement and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) costs. Budget shares have changed dramatically since 2010–11:
Much has been written about the spending surge on pensions and OPEB (retiree healthcare) but little has been written about the surge in spending on Medi-Cal, a voucher-style system under which health care is paid for by a combination of federal and state governments. (more…)
Betting on the Presidential Debates
(Editor’s note: The first presidential debate is upon us and the website SportsBettingDime.com produced some odds on issues and actions that could come out of the debate. For your amusement, we reproduce the odds revealed in a press release here.)
If you’re a betting man, put your money down on Lester Holt fact checking Donald Trump more than Hilary Clinton during the debate. According to the odds-makers at SportsBettingDime.com, at 1/4 Trump is the prohibitive favorite to get fact checked the most. If that’s not enough of a sure thing, the odds-maker also offer 1/7 odds that Trump refers to Clinton’s health or stamina during the event and 1/3 odds that Clinton references Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. (more…)
What Would Legislative Democrats Do With Two Thirds?
Improbably, I find myself living in the midst of the most interesting State Senate race in California. The Pasadena contest between Democrat Anthony Portantino and Republican Mike Antonovich.
It’s not an easy choice. I know, like and respect both men. Portantino has been a reform-minded legislator, a good local mayor, and a very friendly accessible presence in the district. I’ve literally seen him dozens of times in my own community in recent years.
And Antonovich is a giant. As a kid growing up in the Pasadena area, it felt like half of our parks and trails had been put there by Antonovich (and that was back in the 1980s and early 90s). Antonovich for decades was a strong effective member of L.A. County’s Board of Supervisors, a bipartisan group that has long done a very good job of managing the county and its budget. (more…)
May I Have Your Autograph: Celebrity Culture & Consumer Protection
As someone who needed an explanation for the word “Brangelina” this week, I’m not sure I’m the most qualified to comment on a new law meant to protect against fake celebrity autographs. While we live in a society that seems overexposed to celebrity culture, we also live in a state in which entertainment and celebrity is big business. The legislature did the right thing to stop dealers from selling forged celebrity autographs because the law is more about protecting consumers than a special sop to celebrities.
Assemblymember Ling Ling Chang authored AB 1570, passed unanimously by both houses of the legislature and signed into law by the governor, requiring certificates of authenticity to prove celebrity signatures on memorabilia are real. Fake signatures subject the sellers to a heavy fine. (more…)
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 emergency has passed, public employee unions, hospitals and other beneficiaries of increased government spending want to extend the higher rates.
According to a recent Los Angeles Times story: “The tax extension is being pushed by some of the state’s most powerful organizations, including the California Teachers Assn., the California Medical Assn., the Democratic Party and the Service Employees International Union.” (more…)
Can Hillary Clinton Rescue her Candidacy?
This is turning out to be the presidential race many wish had not occurred. The most talked about issue seems to be the unfavorable ratings of the two principal candidates rather than which one can do the most to better the human condition.
Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump can take much comfort from the non-stop reportage of the unhappiness with their candidacies that has become its own story line notwithstanding efforts in both camps to move the needle.
Since Trump began his quixotic venture having been largely dismissed as a viable threat his staying power has only magnified the impression that we are witnessing a transformative election. (more…)