Gas Tax Repeal Vote Will be Close
A month before the primary election I wrote a column asking if the recall election of Sen. Josh Newman would be a harbinger for the gas tax repeal in November. His constituents kicked Newman out of office with the gas tax being the main focus of the campaign. Does that prove the issue will play […]
Why a Trailer Bill Calling for No Taxes on Groceries?
I wrote last week about the proposal to prohibit the marketing, including menu display, of children’s meals that include beverages other than water, sparkling water, flavored water, or milk. I noted that the large beverage companies and their trade association, the American Beverage Association were neutral on the bill. Now, we have an interesting budget […]
Split the State Democratically, Not Geographically
All the many dozens of proposals to split California into multiple states share the same basic defect: a foolish fixation with geography. The new “Cal 3” ballot initiative, which would create three states, has roots in pre-Civil War days, when the proposal was to split us into a pro-Union north and pro-slavery south. In these […]
Schools Have More Money So Why the Financial Distress?
Spending on California schools is nearing $100 billion per year, more than $16,000 per student. School revenues have never been higher. Yet some school districts are making cuts. Imagine you are the parent of a child in the Oakland Unified School District, which serves nearly 50,000 children. Your child is attending a school: On a state list […]