Don’t violate the Constitution when reforming the Board of Equalization
California legislators may vote as soon as today on a proposal to shake up the State Board of Equalization. Reforming the Board is long overdue. The structure to accomplish this as outlined in budget trailer bills may be sound or faulty, but for now, only three things are clear: Rushing a major reorganization through the budget gauntlet is fraught: it […]
On the Budget
Medi-Cal providers justly get a pay boost (for now), Earned Income Tax Credit expansion hopefully will incentivize work, but taxpayer protections at the Board of Equalization and electoral fairness take a hit under the budget proposal the legislature will vote on today. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal health providers deserved a boost in pay so sending some tobacco […]
One Last Plea to Stop the Pension Loan
Dear Legislators: In my essay the other day I provided an alternative to Governor Brown’s pension loan — actually pay down pension debt. You could do that by offering to redeem future pension payments for cash today. Provided the amount you pay is no greater than the present value of those future pension payments using the discount rate CalPERS […]
Foam Fight: As California Balks at State Ban, Activists Target Local Level
Foam burger boxes and ice cream cups could eventually go the way of the flimsy plastic shopping bag—banned throughout California. It’s not likely to happen this year. Environmentalists who push for the bans lost a big fight last month when the Legislature voted down a bill that would have banned foam takeout containers statewide. But growing pressure […]