New Power to Pull an Initiative Off the Ballot–Will it be Used?
Against the background of a likely long November ballot full of initiatives, a new power controlled by initiative proponents may come into play for the first time — perhaps shortening the ballot by a measure or two. Two years ago, then Senate President Pro Tem, Darrell Steinberg, shepherded a bill through the legislature that made changes […]
The Death of Political Parties in California?
Are both political parties collapsing in California? Over the past few years the release of Secretary of State data showing a drop in Republican registration has become a routine news story in California. The trend line for the Grand Ol’ Party certainly isn’t a good one, but it’s not as singularly bad as overly simplistic […]
Who Is Our Bernie?
You look at the growing list of contenders for the California governorship in 2018. And then you look at presidential race, and it feels like there’s something missing here. Where is our Bernie? There are plenty of Democrats who look like contenders. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is already running. Former L.A. Mayor and Assembly Speaker […]
We Now Join the U.S. Class War Already in Progress
Neither Trump nor Sanders started the nation’s current class war—the biggest fight over class since the New Deal—but both candidates, as different as they are, have benefited. Class is back. Arguably, for the first time since the New Deal, class is the dominant political issue. Virtually every candidate has tried appealing to class concerns, particularly […]