Secession Makes Sense In Rural California
Siskiyou County supervisors voted Tuesday to move toward seceding from California and looking to form a new state with neighboring counties in California and Oregon. Crazy as it sounds, it makes a kind of sense in rural California. Not that it’s time to start thinking about hiring a new Betsy Ross to sew a 51st […]
Heath Care Industry will be Transformed into Something Resembling a Public Utility
For millions of Californians who buy health insurance on their own – and even for many who get it through work – the Affordable Care Act will change almost everything about the experience. The federal health reform law completely upends the business model of private insurance companies, changing their incentives and, very likely, the way […]
Is Medicaid Better than no Coverage at All?
Most credible sources agree that health care requires some statutory and regulatory framework to protect the public. Supporters of the President’s health care law believe we need an extraordinary amount of oversight, while those opposed to federal further expansion into health care remain skeptical at best. But at the end of the day, there should […]
AB 109: A Rare Opportunity for Thoughtful Criminal Justice
As a 33 year veteran of California law enforcement, I watch the evolving statewide implementation, and the associated debate around AB 109 (Parole Realignment), with great interest and fascination. My career spanned 30 years in municipal law enforcement, serving in both southern and northern California. In July 2006, I was appointed the Director of the […]
Sacramento Arena Bill Rushed through Last Days of Session
Strange bedfellows are camping out under the bleachers to oppose an arena in Sacramento for the Kings pro basketball team. They’re united in opposition because of the lack of public debate, the dubious numbers put out by the city and the growing public subsidy. Now they’re opposing legislation by Sen. President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, […]