Friday Pieces: Perez as Labor Sec.; the Cop Killer Manhunt; A Twist in the LA Mayor’s Debate
Rumors circulate that California Assembly Speaker, John Perez, is being considered for President Obama’s cabinet as Labor Secretary. As a Latino and gay, Perez’s appointment would satisfy two of the president’s strongest blocs of supporters. But the job deals with labor and Perez has strong ties there. I have a small anecdote on his concern […]
Unions Should Join Effort to Update CEQA Law
Yesterday, it was reported that environmentalists joined forces with labor unions to form a new coalition to defend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). By preventing needed changes to the CEQA laws, the unions are undercutting opportunities to improve economic conditions in the state, which can only benefit their members. Let’s be clear that no […]
Texas is Coming – For California Businesses
Texas Governor Rick Perry is making a push to recruit California companies. Competition for jobs and businesses should spur California to respond with positive actions to improve the state’s business climate. Yesterday, a press release issued by Perry’s office, announced a radio ad campaign aimed at California businesses, in which the governor says: “Building a […]
Tax Move May be at the Local Level
Despite talk in Sacramento that pro-tax advocates might want to push for more statewide tax increases, the move to raise revenue through tax increases well could focus on local governments. Governor Jerry Brown has been clear that he wants the state to live within its means. The state already secured two tax increases through Propositions […]
Tax Hike Support? Depends What You Ask
Chatter in the capitol has it that pro-tax advocates think their time is now to strike for more tax increases. Fresh off success in the November election, the pro-tax faction think voters are ready to support their cause as long as the tax is framed correctly – that is, putting the tax on someone else […]
Gov. Dukakis Bullish on California
Former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic Party presidential nominee, Michael Dukakis says the results of November’s election will turn the country and the state of California in a positive direction. Dukakis is teaching the winter quarter at UCLA, as he has for 18 years, and dropped by the offices of public affairs consulting firm, Cerrell […]
Transportation Funding Changes could be Coming
In his last Tuesday Sacramento Bee column, Dan Walters considered what could lead to major changes in highway and transportation funding as the Brown Administration considers its options. Pointing to a Tax Foundation report, Walters wrote, “California has the nation’s third-highest fuel tax, more than 50 cents a gallon, but is among the lowest states […]
State of the State: Fat Times While Waiting for the Thin Cows
Governor Jerry Brown did a bit of crowing over his political successes while laying out an aggressive agenda in his State of the State speech. The governor declared the state fixed – premature at best when you consider the unfunded liabilities and the state’s still high unemployment. While I leave it to others to analyze […]
The Jim Brulte/Garry South Show: Whither California Politics
Former Republican state senator Jim Brutle, likely soon to be chairman of the California Republican Party, and Democratic political consultant, Garry South, now both partners at California Strategies, often appear around the state together discussing the California political scene. They brought their road show to Malibu last week at a salon dedicated to public affairs […]
Inauguration Day on the Martin Luther King Holiday
I had the privilege of attending two presidential inaugurations—Ronald Reagan in 1981 and Bill Clinton in 1993. The excitement and festivity and patriotic fervor were truly uplifting. For the Reagan inaugural, I was way out at the edge of the crowd, the president and dignitaries barely larger than specks in the distance. For the Clinton […]