A One-Two Punch Against the Initiative Process at the Supreme Court
An Arizona case before the U.S. Supreme Court that challenges the state’s ballot initiative created redistricting commission could have such an effect on California politics that three former California governors, noted California political scientists, and a California state commission have all filed briefs in the case. California voters also approved ballot measures that took the […]
Here’s Hoping “Clear the Field” Doesn’t Prevail in Senate Race
The buzz created by Los Angeles City Council president Herb Wesson’s endorsement of AG Kamala Harris for U. S. Senate was a big “get” because Wesson was known as an ally of former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who is considering jumping into the Senate race. Astute political observer, Dan Schnur of USC’s Jesse Unruh Institute […]
R.I.P. Dan Wall
Dan Wall was an expert on local government finances who advocated for counties and readily engaged in debates over tax philosophy in a straightforward, congenial way. Our paths crossed many times serving on panels or discussing tax questions when he worked for both the California State Association of Counties (called the County Supervisors Association of […]
The Cop Whisperer
Over the weekend, Congresswoman Karen Bass held a forum on the issue of policing in the African-American community featuring Los Angeles Civil Rights attorney Connie Rice, an appointee to President Obama’s 21st Century Community Policing Task Force. During the forum a number of community members expressed anger at the lack of progress on dealing with […]
Taking on the Minimum Wage Debate in L.A.
The national debate over minimum wage increases will take center stage in Los Angeles because two efforts to raise the minimum wage face staunch opposition from the business community. The Los Angeles Business Federation, known as BizFed, went on the offensive last week coming out strongly against both minimum wage proposals and the way the […]
Where Will Business Turn in All-Dem Senate Final?
Anthony York’s conjecture in his Grizzly Bear Project column that the 2016 U.S. Senate primary could deliver two Democrats in the general election begs the question, in such a circumstance, which Democrat would most likely pick up Republican and business support? As York notes, two Democrats dueling for the senate seat in the November election […]
A Committee of Two
Here’s a state committee that might actually produce recommendations that would bring change. The fact that Governor Jerry Brown and University of California president Janet Napolitano will form a Committee of Two to take a look at the costs that drive the University of California system is an excellent idea. Here you have two leaders […]
History of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
This space has annually honored the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. on his designated holiday and we do so again with a holiday related brief collection of articles. In the past we have discussed King’s legacy or simply reproduced his famous speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. This piece will relate a […]
The Hertzberg Plan: Tax Reform at a Cost?
One goal Senator Robert Hertzberg hopes to accomplish with his major tax reform legislation, SB 8, is to improve business conditions in the state. The obvious question: Does that objective have to come with a $10 billion price tag? Hertzberg calls for reviewing the corporate income tax to see whether it is meeting its intended […]
Head Scratchers in the State Political Scene
Suspicious or odd reasoning is behind some political moves that came out of three news items over the last week. The first deals with the cap-and-trade bill and its influence on consumer gas prices. The second involves a minimum wage study in the City of Los Angeles. The third, a demand from a consumer group […]