California’s Descent to Socialism
California is widely celebrated as the fount of technical, cultural and political innovation. Now we seem primed to outdo even ourselves, creating a new kind of socialism that, in the end, more resembles feudalism than social democracy. The new consensus is being pushed by, among others, hedge-fund-billionaire-turned-green-patriarch Tom Steyer. The financier now insists that, to […]
The Budget’s Done. What Now?
The budget passed—no surprise—so what will the legislature focus on during the remaining session this year? First, a few factors to consider about 2018 that may frame what happens in the remainder of the 2017 legislative session. Next year is an election year, which rarely produces major policy changes as legislators are leery of defending […]
CA Budget & Fiscal Policy is Unsustainable
While the governor’s leadership has been the key to keeping California in the black and paying down debt, the Legislature continues to grow permanent spending based on an increasingly volatile revenue stream. The Legislature’s highest priority for environmental policy is sustainability. Yet today their highest priority for budget and fiscal policy is unsustainability. Since the […]
The Gas Tax. Who Cares?
Apparently, it’s time to choose up sides about the gas tax. What’s the point? There’s not much good to say about the legislative package that raised the gas tax to pay for a relatively small amount of road construction. After generations of neglect, California’s needs so far outpace the relatively small amount of money raised […]
Health Care for All? More Like How to Destroy California
The staggering price tag for the Democrats’ plan to provide “health care for all” would cost California $400 billion a year to create a state-funded universal health care system — more than double the $180 billion annual state budget. California residents will be required to pay significantly increased taxes — as much as 50 percent […]
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 […]