An Attempt to Get Public Financing of Campaigns Through the Back Door
Sen. Ben Allen’s SB 1107 wants to allow public funding of campaigns, something voters prohibited years ago. A long time acquaintance of mine, David Keating who now runs the Center for Competitive Politics in Washington, D.C. had an opinion piece in yesterday’s Orange County Register blasting the attempt by Sen. Allen to overturn a vote of […]
California Has A Slow-Motion Housing Emergency
The state is under-building by tens of thousands of new houses and apartments each year that are needed to meet demand. As a result, home prices and rents are soaring and commutes are lengthening – especially in coastal metropolitan regions. If a fire or flood or earthquake had wiped out a thousand or five thousand homes and apartments, the […]
“Drug Transparency” Bill Hurts Patients, Drives Up Costs
Curbing the rising cost of prescription drugs is something every American supports. And, Senate Bill 1010 attempts to do just this. However, what Senator Hernandez’ legislation fails to do is tackle the real culprit: skyrocketing healthcare costs. Singling out pharmaceutical manufacturers is easy, convenient and politically expedient. It creates great sound bites in an election year, […]
California for Whom?
“Old in error,” writes historian Kevin Starr, “California remains an American hope.” Historically, our state has been a beacon to outsiders seeking a main chance: from gold miners and former Confederates to Midwesterners displaced by hardship, Jews seeking opportunity denied elsewhere, African Americans escaping southern apartheid, Asians fleeing communism and societal repression, Mexicans looking for […]
Business Rallying to Proposition 51
California’s housing crisis is a major reason members of the business community are supporting the state school construction bond, Proposition 51. Passing a statewide bond puts pressure on the General Fund because state general obligation bonds have first call on state funds, however dealing with housing costs is an issue that troubles advocates and analysts […]
De León as EPA Administrator?
The high likelihood of another Clinton presidency could scramble California politics. A new administration will need to be looking for new talent—Obama folks are tired, and many old Clinton hands are too old or retired for service. That ought to bring attention to many figures in California, where two generations of politicians – one group […]
Will Jerry Brown Remember the 1970s?
When Jerry Brown became governor in 1974, California was in a recession. But over the next five years, the state’s recovery produced 2.1 million jobs, and Brown’s fiscal restraint created a $4 billion reserve in a general fund of $12 billion. Unfortunately, the fiscal restraint was short-lived. Policymakers reverted to old habits, increasing spending while […]
Tax Breaks For Olympic Medalists? No Thanks!
Last week Democrats in Sacramento killed a bill by conservative Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) that would have exempted Olympic medal winners from paying state taxes on their winnings. The U.S. Olympic Committee gives out bonuses to medal winners — $25,000 for gold medals, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. Your first reaction might be frustration that […]
An Offer for the LAO’s 75th Anniversary It Won’t Want
Here’s my salute to celebrate the 75 years of the Legislative Analyst’s Office—I think it should be put in charge of ballot titles and summaries. Probably the last thing that office wants but its a sign of my respect for an office that does diligent, fair work and can avoid political questions as a non-partisan […]