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.
GO-Biz Committee Approves $70 Million in Tax Credits for 103 Companies Adding Over 9,300 Jobs in California
(Editor’s Note: The following is a release from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Go-Biz)
Building upon California’s nation leading job creation, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) today announced that the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) committee approved $70 million in tax credits for 103 companies expanding and creating jobs in California. The awards will help these companies create a projected 9,369 jobs and generate over $1.3 billion in investment across California. The complete list of approved companies and award amounts can be found here.
“The California Competes tax credit continues to improve California’s business climate by helping both new and established companies expand and add jobs in the state,” said GO-Biz director and committee chair Panorea Avdis. “California led the nation in job creation the past two years and this program is helping make California a highly sought after location for company expansions.” (more…)
Three Million New Voters And A $58 Billiion Tax Increase; Donald Trump’s Impact On California
Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy has the potential to totally remake California politics by costing a third to a half of all Republican incumbents their seats this fall, thus bringing to an end the two party system in California.
Polling data and political trends support this conclusion. Californians no longer split their tickets to the extent they once did. In 2012, the GOP Senate candidate against Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Elizabeth Emken, ran even with Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, both received 37 percent statewide.
The California Target Book provides a handy comparison of the Romney and Emken numbers in each district along with the Republican candidates for Congress and the legislature. These figures show that most down ballot Republicans ran slightly better than Romney and Emken. Of the 25 successful Assembly Republicans and five successful Senators in 2012, most outpolled Romney and Emken by around five to eight points – some did better; a few did worse. The same is true for the 14 successful GOP members of congress. (more…)
Undemocratic Reapportionment: A Tale Of Two L. A. Assembly Districts
The recent U. S. Supreme Court decision in Evenwel v Abbott upheld the misguided and undemocratic practice of apportioning legislative districts based on equal numbers of residents, regardless of citizenship. That method is generally, but erroneously, summed up in the slogan, “one person, one vote.” The goal really should be, “one citizen, one vote.”
Before dismissing this commentary from some right wing group, be assured that it comes from a life-long leftist.
Half a century ago the court became concerned about the unacceptable imbalance in the number of people living within legislative districts. This was especially true in those states where the upper house of the legislature was based on counties, with a single representative for each county, regardless of the size of population. By mid-twentieth century some urban counties had a population many times that of rural ones, yet each had a single vote in the state senate. A relatively few farmers could elect a state senator, while hundreds of thousands of city dwellers were limited to a single one as well. (more…)
Why Kids Need Delightfully Dangerous Playgrounds
California doesn’t make playgrounds like it used to.
The trend has its advantages. Fifteen years after the state legislated compliance with national safety standards for new and renovated public playgrounds, I can take the Three Stooges—my three impish and ever-brawling sons under age 8—to parks around California confident that I’ll see the same reassuringly safe equipment: low swings, low slides, plastic bridges rather than wood or metal, ubiquitous guardrails, and either super-soft rubbery mats or at least 12 inches of sand or woodchips to cushion falls.
But all that safe sameness is boring. Today, the fun and distinctive playground pieces that once held the attention of children—merry-go-rounds, teeter-totters, Tarzan-style ropes, high monkey bars, and flat swings—are nearly impossible to find. And playground safety, while producing declines in litigation over injuries at our local parks (data on actual injuries are less clear), carries its own risks. (more…)
Californians’ Views on Taxes
As Tax Day approaches, how are Californians feeling about their state and local tax system? In our March PPIC Statewide Survey, most Californians see the system as fair. But when asked about their personal state and local tax burden, a majority of residents (56%) said they pay more than they should. A little over one-third of Californians (37%) said they pay the right amount in state and local taxes, while only 4% said they pay less than they should.
Opinions about taxes differ across political and demographic groups. Republicans are more likely than independents, and far more likely than Democrats, to feel they pay more than they should in taxes. Across racial/ethnic groups, blacks are the most likely to feel they pay more than they should in state and local taxes. (more…)
A Bid for Transparency Turns Murky
In an age when the quest for transparency in government is treated akin to securing the holy grail, Sen. John Moorlach’s “Financial Transparency Act” (SB 1251) has been frustrated by legislative hurdles. On Tuesday, the bill was turned aside on a party line vote although all members of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee did vote to reconsider the bill. The measure is designed to give voters a better understanding of the state government’s fiscal health.
Moorlach’s goal is to have “a citizen’s guide to numbers.” His proposal would have the Secretary of State publish in the state’s official voter guide and on the Internet figures showing the state’s fiscal situation. He even created a website to show what it might look like. (more…)