The CA Supreme Court Considers: Can Legislature Put an “Advisory” Measure on the Ballot
Yesterday, the California Supreme Court heard the case of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc. v. Padilla, which involves the legality of the California Legislature’s attempt to place an “advisory” measure on the 2014 November ballot. The Supreme Court previously, at the request of HJTA, removed Prop 49 from the 2014 ballot. Today’s hearing is on the merits and will […]
Californians and Congress
The recent announcement of Speaker Boehner’s resignation comes at a time when national approval ratings of the US Congress are in the teens (14% in September Gallup Poll). With the early talk of majority leader Kevin McCarthy stepping into the Speaker position, what are Californians saying about the powerful federal institution that the congressman from […]
California Loses Two Political Mensches
The California political scene has lost two of the good guys—Ross Bates and Allan Hoffenblum. Ross was a long-time Democratic consultant and Alan was a Republican strategist who left partisan politics to establish the California Target Book, an indispensable compendium of facts and statistics on legislative and congressional races in the Golden State. The two […]
Conservatives Win with Kevin McCarthy as Speaker
No sooner had John Boehner announced his decision to resign as speaker than conservatives were lamenting the heir apparent. California Congressman Kevin McCarthy, who has a lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union of 89 percent, is under fire for not being conservative enough. The opportunistic Constitutional Rights PAC has even mounted a “Fire McCarthy” […]
Trans-Pacific Partnership: Job Creation in a Global Economy
It was exciting news yesterday that the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations among Pacific Rim nations have resulted in a final agreement. If ratified, this treaty would not only benefit the United States as a whole, but also uniquely and specifically the Los Angeles economy, which serves as the gateway to and from the U.S. for trade […]