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 […]
Dems Aplenty Running for Gov. What about the Reps?
So many Democrats running for governor, you’ll soon near a scorecard to keep them straight. Is there room for a Republican in the governor’s race in Deep Blue California? This weekend’s state Democratic convention saw what might be called a thickening of the field for governor with speculation that rich environmentalist Tom Steyer might jump […]
After Jerry Brown: Disaster?
In politics, it’s better to be lucky than good. That sure fits Jerry Brown. Taking office in 1975, he proclaimed an “era of limits,” cutting investments in roads, dams and other infrastructure. Californians weren’t listening, as the population since then doubled, to 40 million. Yet despite the bumpy roads and droughts (from lack of reservoirs), […]
Single Payer Health Cost Pegged at $400 Billion
(Editor’s note: The following statement was issued by Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, regarding the report that SB 562 (Lara / Atkins), the single-payer healthcare bill, will cost $400 billion per year to implement.) Let’s look at the facts: California’s 2017-18 budget is estimated at $180 billion. We are the highest tax […]
Gov. Brown: Get Out of California Unless You Can Afford It
California’s epic drought is officially over. As drought-related mandatory water conservation orders end, ordinary citizens’ water, sewer, utility rates and other water-related costs continue to rise. East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) recently announced two water rate hikes, one of 9.5 percent in July and another next year of 9 percent. Marin Municipal Water District […]