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 State of the State Speech Ripped from the Archives
Given Gov. Jerry Brown’s concern for excessive spending on new programs and his instance on maintaining budget reserves, here is a likely way he might begin his State of the State speech today:
“Fortunately we began the year with a sufficient surplus to weather the decline in state revenues…But we cannot easily disregard the lessons of other states where government actions far exceeded the available funds. Toward that end, I will work to maintain a prudent surplus as a hedge against an uncertain economy.
It is simply not responsible to spend down to the last dollar in hopes the economy will simply grow and grow. That would be to ignore the cyclical nature of our system and do a disservice to those who would come to depend on programs that would have to be cut back in learner periods.
Why Don’t Angelenos Trust Homegrown Talent?
Last week, Michelle King was appointed superintendent of L.A. Unified, California’s largest school district. But can we really trust her to lead the Los Angeles schools? After all, she’s from Los Angeles.
Actually, that understates how suspiciously local King is. As a child, she attended L.A. Unified schools. Then she got degrees from UCLA and Pepperdine (and is even now working on a doctorate at USC). She has spent her 30-year career in the L.A. school system, as a science teacher, principal, and top deputy to the last two superintendents. Heck, she even sent three children to L.A. schools.
If she were any good, wouldn’t she have lived or worked someplace else? (more…)
Audit the California High Speed Rail Authority
The California High Speed Rail Authority (CSHRA) once again opposes oversight of its actions. On Tuesday the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) held a hearing on the request by State Senator Andy Vidak to have the State Auditor conduct an audit of the Authority’s activities.
The Committee on a strictly party line vote denied the request. The request was triggered by the explosive Sunday, Oct 25th LA Times article, which disclosed a previously un-disclosed report by the Authority’s contractor, Parson Brinkerhoff (PB). The report projected a $9 billion increase in construction costs of the initial Merced to Burbank segment. (The article also disclosed from interviews with experts, that time lines, and budget targets would not be met) (more…)
Golden Blues: 2015 Saw Regressive Blue Regulations
California legislators love to regulate stuff, and 2015 was a particularly juicy year for them. A recent San Francisco Chronicle article demonstrates as much.
The state legislature, over the course of the last year, passed “about three dozen employment laws” regulating various workplace issues. A litany of the most prominent:
“…SB358, the widely publicized Fair Pay Act.
… SB579 gives employees more reasons to take protected, unpaid time off for school activities or child care… (more…)
What if the Supreme Court Sides with Friedrichs?
I suppose its never too early in the punditry business to conjecture how an action might affect future political efforts—even if that action hasn’t occurred yet—but considering the busy ballot likely facing California voters in November, one wonders what happens if the U.S. Supreme Court decides in June to release public employees from paying mandated union agency fees in the Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association case?
Many experts say that a June decision will have little effect on what the California Teachers Association and other public unions decide to fund in November. Certainly, much of the political kitties will be in place by then. (more…)
Immigration Executive Order Court Test Will Influence Latino Vote
President Obama was clear and on the record throughout his presidency. He told the American people in over 20 speeches that as a Lawyer and as a Constitutional Professor he was not legally able to extend an Executive Order to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation proceedings. That was right up until the November 4th 2014 election that decimated any power he had in Congress.
When the tally was counted it was evident that Republicans had swept the country, winning with a resounding victory to strengthen control of the House of Representatives and overtaking Democrats in control of the Senate. (more…)