Democrats gripe about secrecy in Washington but practice it in Sacramento

Knowledge, it’s been said, is power. And that explains, in a nutshell, why those in public office fundamentally dislike, and often resist, revealing information to the voting and taxpaying public. That’s especially evident in Washington, where information is a commodity to be acquired, hoarded and traded – and only reluctantly shared with the larger public. […]

State’s ‘balanced and progressive’ budget carries big risks for taxpayers

Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders are patting themselves on the back for what Brown describes as a “balanced and progressive budget” for the 2017-18 fiscal year that begins July 1. The “progressive” description of the $185 billion budget alludes to expanding benefits for the very large number of impoverished Californians – at least a quarter, […]

Migration and Blue State California

Editor’s Note: Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters responded to Joel Fox’s piece yesterday on migration affecting the political orientation of California. Theory is correct but it happened in 90s, not in last decade. As I pointed out in chapter of “The New Political Geography of California,” big exodus from LA County occurred after collapse of […]