Janus Decision Reverberates in California
Potentially, the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Janus vs AFSCME may reduce the powerful political influence public unions have exhibited over California policy and politics for some time. “May reduce” being the operative pair of words because that might not come to pass. In a 5-4 decision, the court concluded that public employees were […]
Why Justice Kennedy Shouldn’t Retire to California
Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy shouldn’t think of retiring to Sacramento or anywhere else in his native California. If he does, he should be greeted rudely. Kennedy has long leaned on the story of his California upbringing and early career to define himself as a grounded jurist. But in one of his final opinions […]
Supreme Court Voids California Law, Upholds Free Speech
Californians of a liberal bent may not like it, but the U.S. Supreme Court this week struck an important blow for the constitutional right of free speech. It overturned a California law requiring clinics offering non-abortion alternative treatment to pregnant women to post notices telling them about the availability of abortions. “By compelling petitioners to […]
Congressional Democrats Want Millions More Homes
After a few years at the state Capitol, it became clear to me that Republicans, who philosophically see more eye-to-eye with those of us supporting free enterprise over more government, were not in my lifetime ever going to gain control of two let alone one house of the Legislature. It just wasn’t going to happen. […]