Gov. Brown Calls for Redistribution of School Funding
Citing a lack of civil rights and social inequities as what is wrong with California public schools, Gov. Jerry Brown vowed Wednesday at a Capitol press conference to give more money to the K-12 school districts that serve poorer students and English-language learners. Brown said state funding needs to balance social equity and restore school funding […]
700,000 CA School Suspensions Spark Legislative Hearing
At the California Democratic Party Convention this past weekend, Democrats killed efforts led by other Democrats to call for much needed public school reforms. Convention delegates even passed a resolution slamming education reform groups like Students First and Democrats for Education Reform, claiming they are merely front groups for Republicans and Wall Street money. The stark […]
GOP Lawmakers Push for More State Budget Transparency
In 2012, the state Legislature passed 80 budget “spot” bills — empty bills with no details. Such measures just sit on a shelf and await last-minute bill language, then are put forward for late-night passage on the last day of the budget session. These are often the most controversial bills of each session. When lawmakers use […]
Neighborhood Legislature could Restore Accountability
Big spending on California politics has become one of the state’s largest industries. But the return on investment is lousy. California’s political system has become so heavily manipulated by labor unions and other big money interests that the system is broken. Legislators have become professional fundraisers instead of managing public policy. And the individual voter […]
CA Leaders Still Attacking Businesses, Jobs
While I am an eternal optimist, it is impossible to ignore that California is bleeding jobs. I am also a realist. Unfortunately for the Golden State, California’s leaders and lawmakers continue to ignore the facts, and instead continue to push through the same failed policies of higher taxes, more fees, and more regulations — continually […]
Business Faces State Government Ineptitude
The State of California has a serious backlog of new business filings, so says Secretary of State Debra Bowen. “Secretary of State Debra Bowen is concerned about the backlog, said spokeswoman Shannan Velayas, and intends to replace the current paper filing system with an online process akin to that used by the California DMV for vehicle registrations […]
Small Biz Jobs Up, but not in CA
While small businesses across the nation created 20,000 new jobs this month, California lost small business jobs, according to Intuit Payroll’s Small Business Index. The Intuit Small Business Employment Index is a measure of employment for businesses with fewer than 20 employees. This month, eleven states showed job gains, two remained flat, and 20 showed declines. […]
LAO Whitewashes Gov. Brown’s Rosy Budget
SACRAMENTO — “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” from the Broadway musical Gypsy, should be Gov. Jerry Brown’s new theme song. His 2013-14 budget proposal, released last Thursday, was full of happy news, good times a projected balanced budget and an upcoming surplus. Clear the decks! Clear the tracks! You’ve got nothing to do but relax. Blow a […]
Gov. Brown’s New Budget Seeks to Equalize the Unequal
SACRAMENTO — Many in the state refer to the annual California governor’s January budget proposal as fantasy. Gov. Jerry Brown did not disappoint today as he presented his budget — “balanced and fair,” according to Brown, and a way to equalize the unequal. “I want to advance the progressive agenda, but with the amount of […]
Bill would Streamline Getting a College Degree
SACRAMENTO — The cost of attending California’s public universities and colleges has skyrocketed in the last 25 years. “Whereas nationwide tuition and fees at public universities over the last five years have risen on average by 28 percent, the average increase at UC campuses is an astounding 73.1 percent and, at Cal State campuses a […]