Is A Mileage Fee In California Drivers’ Future?
Seeking a creative and long-term solution for financing highway and road construction and upkeep, a new commission kicked off its investigation of a “Road User Charge” as a possible replacement for the well-traveled gasoline tax. Created by 2014 legislation and given the nod by Governor Brown, the ponderously-named Road User Charge Pilot Program Technical Advisory […]
Governor Unveils Ambitious Transportation and Energy Plans
Governor Brown’s two-for-one speech yesterday was short on a policy agenda but long on economic implications. Combining his fourth inaugural address with his 2015 state-of-the-state speech, the Governor reeled off the expected catalog of accomplishments and challenges. Of the few new initiatives proffered, two would profoundly affect the California economy. The Governor spoke of the […]
Debunking Myths about Proposition 2
With the election heading to the home stretch, this is the last chance to debunk some of the myths about Proposition 2. “Proposition 2 will hurt local school districts.” School business officials and a parents organization claim that Proposition 2 will trigger a statute passed this year that would unreasonably limit school district reserves. First, […]
CEQA Juggernaut Rolls Through The High Desert
When it comes to organized labor, California is a friendly state. We long ago eschewed right-to-work status. Labor unions enjoy a web of laws that ease organizing workers, like farmworkers, refinery employees, teachers, and state and local government workers. Other laws give union contracts special status unavailable to nonunion employees, such as the ability to […]
Next Steps for a Climate Change Policy for California
Governor Brown spoke to the United Nations Climate Summit last month. He made a strong pitch for state and local government activism to fight climate change. The Governor also promised to set an ambitious goal for carbon reduction for 2030 that “will also require heightened political will.” The Governor’s timing is perfect because California’s climate change […]
Answering Your Questions About Proposition 2, the Rainy Day Reserve, on the November Ballot
What is Proposition 2? Proposition 2 amends the State Constitution to strengthen the requirement for a budget reserve and to pay down budget-related debt. Proposition 2 would increase the size of the state’s “Rainy Day” reserve from $8 billion to $11 billion, and would require minimum annual contributions into that reserve of $800 million – […]
More Labels For Fish = More Confused Consumers
Before Hollywood, before biotech, before container shipping, before international tourism, even before the Navy – the economy of coastal harbors was tied to fishing. Sardines, tuna, swordfish and seabass were caught and processed by the ton, supporting thousands of jobs. Now fishing and seafood processing is a global enterprise, but San Diego, San Pedro, Monterey, […]
Science Panel: Environmental Impacts of Fracking in California are Relatively Limited
Big news on the hydraulic fracturing front. An independent science panel has found that the direct environmental impact of well stimulation technologies for oil production in California “appear to be relatively limited.” That is, the primary environmental impacts from increased production will be caused by any increase in production generally – not by the well […]
The Supreme Court Eyes CEQA
The best prospect for reform of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is no longer with the Legislature or the Governor, but at the California Supreme Court. Over the past several years, hopes were high that the political branches would dig in to drain the CEQA litigation swamp. Governor Brown famously called CEQA reform the “Lord’s […]
An Unhealthy Dependence on the Rich
Upper-income taxpayers are paying the highest share ever of the California personal income tax. This is good news in good times, but underscores the need for Proposition 2, the rainy day reserve measure placed on the November ballot by the Legislature at the Governor’s request. Data recently released by the Franchise Tax Board – with […]