California Will Play a Prominent Role In Washington Developments
As President Trump continues his first extensive trip to foreign countries, the news he has been making non-stop back home is not for the moment taking up the entire front page. Still, the headlines have to be unsettling. The center still holds if only barely, and it is starting to implode. If impeachment proceedings become ever […]
CA’s twisted budget theology
We have reached the high holy days of California’s budget season, as our governor and legislative leaders decide which programs will gain new life, and which will be sacrificed. And so our state government’s ministers have begun their ritual sermons on the dangers of overspending. They are preaching nonsense. California’s real problem is underspending. Go […]
It’s All Over…But the Shouting: Democratic Convention Wrap-Up
The California Democratic Party Convention came to a raucous close Sunday afternoon following a convention with an energy brought forth by new delegates elected largely as Bernie Sanders supporters. The divide between new and returning delegates extended from caucus meetings to the state party chair’s race. In the end, the establishment largely won. The hottest issue was […]
The “Mighty” California Nurses Association/National Nurses Union? Not So Much
Rack up another high-profile loss for the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, as the union’s backed candidate for California Democratic Party chair, Kimberly Ellis, was defeated by party stalwart Eric Bauman on Saturday night. (Most of the state’s unions with electoral success, including the California Professional Firefighters, California Faculty Association and the Building Trades were […]
The Governor’s Race Doesn’t Need Steyer
The billionaire Tom Steyer is widely reported to be exploring a campaign for governor of California. Here’s hoping he doesn’t get in. The race doesn’t need him. The 2018 gubernatorial field, as it currently looks, is an exceptionally strong one. I’d suggest that any of the five leading candidates would be an improvement on the […]
Eliminating Bail in California Will Be An Economic Disaster
Nothing in California comes cheap. It doesn’t matter if you try to build a bridge, link communities together via rail, upgrade a computer system, or fix the state’s payroll system. In California, most state projects seem to run over budget and are rarely completed on time. Currently in California, over 300,000 defendants choose to bail […]
Pension Loan would Cover Up Wealth Transfers to Employees
California proposes to issue a pension obligation bond to finance extra contributions to the state pension fund, CalPERS. It would also cover up wealth transfers from citizens to state employees. Here’s how it works: When pension promises are made by the state to its employees, both the state and employees incur costs (“Normal Costs”) in the form of contributions […]
Measuring the Gas Tax Increase Backlash
How hot is the anger over the gas tax increase? It may be a bit early to measure in full the backlash on the gas tax increase since the tax won’t be collected until November. Even then the size of the increase may be muted some since in California gas prices tend to drop a […]
Job Killer Proposes Multiple Tax Hikes on California Employers
SB 567 (Lara; D-Bell Gardens) was identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as a job killer because it will significantly increase taxes on California businesses, who already have one of the highest tax burdens in the country. Family-Owned Businesses Hurt Specifically, SB 567 targets family-owned businesses that transfer the business upon death to other family […]