Business Should Imitate CTA Advocacy Effort
The California business community should take a page from the game plan of the state’s most powerful public employee union to build an argument for a healthy business climate. The California Teachers Association recently released a series of radio and television commercials promoting the profession. The ads do not advocate for a ballot measure or […]
R.I.P. Pete Schaafsma
Pete Schaafsma and I crossed paths quite a few times over the last 30-odd years. When you work on tax, budget and economic issues you want to learn from someone who knows the ins and outs — the minutia and details. Pete Schaafsma was a go-to guy on that score. The news of his passing […]
San Diego Minimum Wage Referendum in for Tough Fight
The San Diego Small Business Coalition said they have enough signatures to freeze the new San Diego minimum wage law and force a vote on the issue in 2016. The business coalition better put away whatever savings they gain from the wage freeze because history shows they will have a tough fight ahead of them. […]
Wright Is Wrong But So Is The Application Of The Law
Sen. Roderick Wright should resign from office now that he has been convicted and sentenced for fraudulently claiming that he lived in his district – then he should appeal his conviction. I can’t say that he has legal grounds for an appeal on the facts of the case but common sense, often lost when laws […]
A Preview of Six States Battle Running in Scotland, If – Big IF – Six States Qualifies
Governor Jerry Brown is proud of saying that California stands as the eighth largest economy in the world. It could move up dramatically if Scotland votes in a September 18th referendum to split away from the United Kingdom, currently the world’s sixth largest economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product. Then again, California would drop […]
All Eyes on the Quest for a Two-Thirds Majority
Many commentators look at the coming California elections with a yawn expecting little drama in most of the constitutional officer contests and little excitement amongst the public on the ballot measures. But, one thing insiders are watching with great interest is whether the Democrats once again can secure a two-thirds majority in both houses of […]
The Follow Up Question That Wasn’t Asked
In the fast paced debate between an often smiling Neel Kashkari and a resolute Jerry Brown, the governor emphasized his record over the last four years, which polls indicate voters believe in. But, as the governor said at least three times, the success he was touting was, in part, a product of Proposition 30, the […]
CA Could Use a Border Fence to Keep Business In
Maybe we should build a fence around California not to keep people out but to keep businesses in now that the Tesla decided that the battery gigafactory would set up shop across the border in Nevada. There were declarations of disappointment from government officials after the decision leaked out. Along with disappointment were reassurances from […]
Appeal of Teacher Tenure Decision May be a Good Thing – But Not for the Reason Critics Think
No Profile in Courage Award for Governor Jerry Brown and state School Superintendent Tom Torlakson who refused to stand up to their allies in the teacher’s unions and asked for an appeal of a Superior Court decision on the perverse effects of teacher tenure in California schools. Yet, the appeal in the Vergara case may […]
Tesla Incentives Debate: Hit the Brakes or Step on the Accelerator?
Tesla Motors’ desire to build a “gigafactory” that would employee 6500 people has set off a competition among a handful of states, including California, with state officials considering incentives to benefit the electric car producer and convince Tesla to choose their state. This week two Open Letters were produced that took different positions on addressing […]