Prop 98 in a Budget Tug-of-War
Predictions from the Legislative Analyst that the state will have more revenue than the governor projects in his May budget revision — with most of the money going to the schools under the provisions of Prop 98 — could set up a spending tug-of-war with Prop 98 in the middle. Passed in 1988, Prop 98 […]
The Economic and Criminal Consequences of Raising the Tobacco Tax
The legislature seems intent on fast tracking a cigarette tax increase, passing it through two senate committees on the same day last week despite economic and criminal consequences that could arise if the tax becomes law. Testifying against SB 768 authored by Senator Kevin De Leon, California Retailers Association president Bill Dombrowski warned passing the […]
The Backstop Governor
During his first term as governor, Jerry Brown famously became a self-proclaimed “born again tax cutter” after Proposition 13 passed. While he may have discarded that image, he has now taken on the role as the “backstop” to potential government big spenders and that’s a good thing for California taxpayers. Releasing the budget revision yesterday, […]
Advice for the Next LA Mayor
(Editor’s Note: David Abel’s Los Angeles newsletter, The Planning Report, this week featured short pieces of advice consisting of a To-Do list for the next Los Angeles Mayor from civic leaders and interested observers, including County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, SEIU leader Julie Butcher, business association executives Bill Allen and Billie Greer, conservationist Joe Edmiston, former […]
Fox & Hounds Daily Turns Five Years Old
We’re blowing out the candles on the cake celebrating our 5th anniversary at Fox & Hounds Daily. We want to thank our readers and our growing subscriber base for all the support they have shown Fox & Hounds over the years. We are proud of the recognition the site has garnered, not only named one of California’s […]
Hidden Fund Could be Key in L.A. Mayor’s Race
Last week, it was revealed that the Los Angeles city Department of Transportation was sitting on $42.6 million in hidden funds, which immediately became an issue in the mayor’s race. It could be a make-or-break issue for the candidates, City Controller Wendy Greuel and councilman Eric Garcetti, depending how well they articulate their arguments on […]
Brown’s Prison Appeal has a Fair Shot at US Supreme Court
Governor Jerry Brown’s effort to meet federal court orders to improve health care for prisoners and reduce the prison population has received a thumbs down from a federal court panel, so Brown said he would appeal to the Unites States Supreme Court. The thinking here is that the governor has a decent shot at the […]
Gov. Brown Enters the Field of Reform Again over Prop 65
Governor Jerry Brown has donned his white knight armor and ridden into another reform battle over lawsuit abuse on Proposition 65. The ballot measure passed by voters in 1986 requires businesses to post signs warning the public if goods or anything on the business’s premises contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause […]
LA Times Prop 13 Story Misses Important Piece
The Los Angeles Times’ weekend story implicating Proposition 13 as an accomplice in computer billionaire Michael Dell’s effort to avoid a property tax increase on a Santa Monica hotel he purchased curiously doesn’t carry any comments about the situation from Prop 13 supporters. I write ‘curiously,’ because the Times reporter interviewed a number of us […]
I’m Back, but CA Politics is Still the Same (Too Bad)
I was out of the state for a few weeks but from what I can gather not much has changed around here politically. Democrats want to raise taxes; unions and certain special interests continue their grip on the legislature; and legislators are concerned with transparency only when it doesn’t affect their business. Despite all the […]