More Supply, Less Regulation Is Path Through Housing Crisis
The California political establishment has passed the Fitzgerald Intelligence Test – that’s the author F. Scott Fitzgerald, who in 1936 had this observation: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” In California, that would be […]
Air Board Asks Courts to Create New Tax
In a landmark case before the Third District Court of Appeal, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) recently argued for creation of an unprecedented tax doctrine that could raise billions of dollars in new revenues. The ARB described the new revenue not as a tax or a fee (or any other recognized revenue-raising mechanism), but as […]
State Revenues Are Up, So Is Rainy Day Fund And Debt Repayment
Warning that a recession is inevitable, Governor Brown dampened spending expectations even as higher revenues have poured into state coffers. Overall, the Administration’s latest revision to the proposed state spending plan envisions $6.7 billion in new General Fund revenues compared to the January budget. Most of the additional spending will reflect priorities enshrined by the […]
When Even The Dominant Culture Shouldn’t Prevail
An honest-to-God civics lesson is playing out in the State Capitol. Members of the Assembly should take a moment to refresh their understanding of the Bill of Rights. During the debate over the Constitution, James Madison wrote to Thomas Jefferson: Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression. In our Governments […]
Calling The ACLU: Stop The Legislature From Establishing A Religion
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez is troubled that many low-paid employees work on certain holidays instead of being home with their families. As a professional lawmaker, she proposes to address this problem by making a law: requiring double pay for holiday duty. The Assemblywoman figures higher pay justly compensates workers for being separated from their families on […]
John Mockler, Education Guru
(John Mockler, the legendary Sacramento education policy maven, died on Tuesday. State Librarian Greg Lucas captured John’s life and spirit in the following obituary, which ran in Capitol Weekly. – Loren Kaye) John Mockler, one of the most influential voices on California education policy for more than 40 years, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer. He was […]
Two Weird Tricks To Improve Regulatory Transparency And Accountability
Yesterday I wrote about progress the Administration is making to implement useful economic analysis of major regulations. The goal is to determine the most cost-effective approach to regulation, achieving the goals mandated by the Legislature while burdening businesses and consumers the least. But this small step forward should not be the end of the march. […]
Improving Business Regulation in California
An obscure but significant improvement in business regulation is taking shape deep inside the Brown Administration. Following up legislation adopted in 2011, the state’s Department of Finance has begun reviewing major regulations to determine whether agencies have properly analyzed the economic and competitiveness effects of their rule makings. While this may seem a small step […]
Don’t Measure Energy Policy By “Green Jobs” Created
Do energy mandates kill jobs or create jobs? Does government subsidy of energy projects create jobs? According to Severin Borenstein, E.T. Grether Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy, and former director of the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley Haas School, the pursuit of “green jobs” misses the point. Environmental and energy regulations should rise […]
A Commanding Approach to Climate Change
One cheer for Senator Kevin De León. The leader of the State Senate introduced legislation yesterday adding comprehensive new regulations to control California greenhouse gas emissions. No, I’m not endorsing the substance of his legislation. More on that below. But the Senator deserves credit, along with other Senate and Assembly leaders, for insisting the Legislature […]