California’s Propaganda Warriors Have Work To Do
If California really is the heart of the Trump Resistance, our state’s propaganda warriors have some work to do. While showdowns over climate policy and sanctuary cities mark the political skirmishes of the day, there is a broader battle to be waged. It falls to all of us — across the political spectrum — who […]
The Vatican and Jerry Brown
Gov. Jerry Brown is at the Vatican this week, where he will join Pope Francis and leaders around the globe for a climate-change conference. The gathering weaves together threads throughout the governor’s life which have all shaped him in profound ways. And it brings into focus the quest for legacy in a politician who, more […]
Is Proposition 30 Reducing Inequality in California?
A recent item in the New York Times pointed out an important fact: for all the talk of economic inequality as a growing problem, it is also true that inequality has not risen since the Great Recession. That is not to say we should be crying for the very rich. Only to point out that, […]
The Rise of Health Care Nation
To see a vivid illustration of how our employment base has changed, take a look at this map from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The static image above tells the story, but to see the evolution of the national economy, you really should click on the animated version at the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web […]
How Do We Quantify Victory for Neel Kashkari?
Despite his advancing to a November runoff against Gov. Jerry Brown, it’s hard to find anyone who thinks Republican Neel Kashkari will be California’s next governor. So, how do we quantify victory for Kashkari come November? Would it be progress only if he gets a higher percentage of the vote than the 42% Meg Whitman […]
Direction of CA Depends on Which Democrats Prevail
Forget all the talk of Neel Kashkari vs. Tim Donnelly and the fight for the soul of the GOP. The more interesting, and arguably more important, political battle in California is the one for the future of the Democratic Party. This week, California billionaire Tom Steyer promised to pump millions into Democratic contests to push […]
Troubling Signs Amid the Budget Recovery
By most measures, the release of Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget was a snoozefest. Without the dramatic revenue dips or spikes of years past, and with scant new policy proposals, this year’s May Revision was about as exciting as a jar of pudding. But one number jumped out. By next year, the state expects 11 […]
Rainy Day Fund Deal Signals Shift in Capitol Culture
The announcement of a swift bipartisan deal on Gov. Jerry Brown’s rainy-day fund proposal is a clear sign that there has been a cultural shift in the Capitol. In the bad old days, marked by sharp partisanship, the fight over the rainy day fund would have been more about leverage than policy. We saw this […]