Early Picks for November
With the June Primary now behind us, it’s time to focus on the November General Election, and to suggest where serious congressional and state legislative races will be fought. This is the second election cycle that California voters went through what some like to call the “Jungle Primary,” with the top two vote getters, regardless […]
Soda Labeling Bill: Why It’s a Dumb Move for Democrats
Legislation that would require California to put warning labels on soda — equivalent to the Surgeon General’s warning on a pack of cigarettes — was stalled in an Assembly yesterday. That’s a good thing. Why? Because Democrats just passed another balanced, on-time budget. They’ve done a remarkable job of restraining themselves from passing boatloads of […]
California’s Choice – Growth or Decline
I’ve been friends with Charlie Sena for almost two decades. Charlie, a longtime entrepreneur, Democratic political operative and fundraiser for former Gov. Gray Davis, recently chided me about what he sees as my “negativity” about California and its future. My response was that, given its natural advantages, this region should not be in such a […]
Progress Report on California’s Efforts to Restore Trust in Government
Restoring public trust in California’s Legislature is critical. We’ve watched as three State Senators have been indicted (one convicted). The case that grabbed the most headlines was the one involving Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco who is under federal indictment for gun running. While all three were eventually suspended with pay, the feeling was […]