Simple Illustration of California’s Budget Dilemma
Here’s why California has a hard time getting out of its budget straits: The ratio of private sector workers in California to Medi-Cal recipients and government employees continues to fall. More non-wealth generators are being supported per wealth generator today than in the past. The same trend is evident nationally, but it’s worse in California. […]
Is Civility Overrated?
Sacramento is a remarkably civil place (at least by the standards of this Angeleno). The community of staffers and consultants and journalists and others who work in and around the Capitol treat each other pretty well. For all the politics, there are countless deep friendships and conversations across party lines. Incivility is so rare when […]
SoS: A Chance at Reform?
“The Secretary of State’s Office is comprised of nearly 500 people who are dedicated to making government more transparent and accessible in the areas of elections, business, political campaigns, legislative advocacy and historical treasures.” So reads the first sentence of the California Secretary of State’s “About the Agency” webpage. If this is the standard for […]
California Gamesmanship
Once again, we have seen the Legislature engage in what can only be called its particularly unique form of California gamesmanship – a word defined as “the use of methods that are dubious or seemingly improper but not strictly illegal.” Last week the Senate narrowly passed, and the Governor is expected to approve, the bonds […]
State Legislature Appropriates $8 billion, but it is Certainly not for High Speed Rail
On Friday, the State Senate passed by a 21:16 margin an appropriation bill for $8 billion. The leadership claims it is for High Speed Rail, but that certainly is not the case. Not a single Republican voted for the bill which needed 21 votes to pass. There are 25 Democrats in the State Senate. Four […]