End Run Around Spending Limit Likely Headed for the Courts
The state’s nearly 40-year-old spending limit law is on the fast track to a date in court. While the state senate budget committee yesterday agreed with the governor’s framework for the budget, which excludes $22 billion from the spending limit, a number of lawyers have concerns or outright disagree. I expect the courts will be […]
Lack of Transparency in Public Contract Negotiations Would Lead to Higher Taxpayer Costs
No state needs to reform the relationship that governments have with public-employee unions more than California. Yet lawmakers keep going in the wrong direction. Contract negotiations between government and the labor unions who represent the public employees should be transparent. Too often, both sides are working toward a common goal – a generous deal for […]
The Best Politicians in California Aren’t In Politics
“It is all wrong,” wrote Aristotle, “that a person who is going to be deemed worthy of the office should himself solicit it.” That little blast as politicians resonates in California today. When you look around the state, our most effective politicians are those who haven’t sought elective office, at least yet. For my money, […]
Californians Rely on Our Judiciary to Ensure and Protect Access to Justice
“Separation of powers,” “judicial independence” and “rule of law” are abstract concepts with important implications. At an abstract level, most Americans cannot identify with these concepts. Nearly two-thirds cannot name the three branches of government; a third cannot name a single First Amendment right; three out of four don’t know the role of the judicial […]
The Real Reason Behind The CA Single Payer Proposal
Hint: It’s not about health This past weekend the California Democratic Party of which I am a member held a state convention riven by the election of a new chairman. Behind that was a battle over a proposal to enact “Single Payer” (SP) health care financing in California. Behind that is a power play about money. […]
California’s priority challenges
It’s hard to understand the time and efforts being extended on the subject of “sanctuary” and the use of public monies to fund protection of illegals when California has many other challenges on its plate such as our growing population of the financially challenged that includes: 1) nearly 25% of Californians 38 million live below […]