Would Two-Thirds Democratic Control of the Legislature Even Matter Now?
Once again, we’re confronted with the possibility of Democrats grabbing two-thirds control of both houses of the California Legislature. As with the U.S. Senate at the national level, because of higher voter turnout Democrats in California generally do better in presidential election years (2008, 2012) than in the non-presidential years (2010, Tea Party time, and […]
“No Organized Opposition” Is A Bad Argument for a Ballot Initiative
Prop 52’s TV ads push the fact that there’s no organized opposition to the measure (which locks in a hospital fee and Medi-Cal funding) as a virtue. Backers of Prop 54 (a legislative “reform” measure) and Prop 55 have made a version of the same argument. It’s another example of how rotten our system of […]
Prop 54: Too Good to be True?
Too good to be true? Probably is. Proposition 54 is another example of the adage. Pledging to bring more transparency to the legislative process, this proposition simply provides another tool for moneyed interests to stop progressive policies in California. Sponsored by billionaire Charles Munger and wealth manager (and former legislator) Sam Blakeslee, this Constitutional Amendment would […]
California, Focus on What Matters: Legislative Races
With 17 initiatives on the cluttered November ballot and so much attention on the Presidential race, California Republicans cannot forget about the consequential elections for congressional and legislative seats. Since Republicans aren’t positioned to determine the outcome of the Presidential election in California, and there isn’t a strong conservative voice to support in the Senate […]
Clinton Follows CA Bad Plan for Business
Do more people find Hillary Clinton unreliable, calculating, deceiving, morally bankrupt and lacking in core beliefs or Donald Trump immature, petulant, unqualified, temperamental and egocentric? We will know the answer on election night. But when it comes to serious issues like job creation, it seems easier to have faith in Trump if he is elected […]