Federal Money for State and Local Governments Could Stop Tax Increases
Governor Gavin Newsom is hoping for federal funds to avoid about $14 billion in budget cuts. Political tensions over a federal subsidy to state and local governments—some Republicans label it a bailout—have held up Washington assistance to the states, but the odds are some form of federal help eventually will come. The federal funds could […]
The Coronavirus’ Impact on Bills in the California Legislature
As you may recall, there were 2,203 bills introduced by the February 21 deadline for the 2020 California Legislative Session. Since that time, there were 20 more bills introduced (committee bills, for example, are not subject to the February deadline), 14 additional bills in the Assembly and 6 additional bills in the Senate. Out of […]
Here are 6 things the Legislature can do to help California recover from economic devastation
The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the California economy, especially public-facing businesses. Entertainment – including motion pictures, television, live shows and theme parks – restaurants, accommodations and retail sectors have been laid waste, evaporating thousands of jobs. Few states depend on this sector as does California. Tourism, hospitality and retail also are the very sectors that […]
The Grand Inquisitor’s Story Comes To California’s Job Devastation
(Part of a series on the impacts of the coronavirus on employment and the workplace. The previous ones are here.) A number of issues arising during the pandemic—issues of faith, certainty, freedom— lead us back to The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel published in 1880. It is not too grandiose to say that at a […]