Property Taxes and Pensions
As pension obligations faced by local governments continue to put the squeeze on budgets in California a cautionary tale is playing out in Illinois –
Joel Fox
October 31, 2013
Taxpayers: Beware of the Sting
For anyone who saw the Academy Award winning movie the Sting, in which two con artists scheme to trick a gangster out of his money,
Joel Fox
October 29, 2013
FPPC Decision on SBAC-PAC is Wrong
The Fair Political Practices Commission thinks the Small Business Action Committee PAC should disgorge (pay back) $11 million dollars that came our way during last
Joel Fox
October 25, 2013
Better to Live in a Red State or Blue State? The Debate
California was the subject of both admiration and derision in the Intelligence Squared sponsored Oxford-style debate on the topic: For a Better Future, Live in
Joel Fox
October 23, 2013
BART Strike and Fiscal Issues Test Unions’ Relationship with Democrats
A weekend article by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Andrew Ross suggests that the Bay Area BART strike could weaken the ties between unions and Democratic
Joel Fox
October 21, 2013
A Pension Initiative Could Affect Other Election Issues
Few would disagree with public employee union leaders when they declare their coalition would be out in force to defeat the new pension reform initiative
Joel Fox
October 17, 2013
Legacy of Prop 8 Court Case Pops up in Pension Reform Initiative
Most ballot initiatives end with a severability clause declaring that if a portion of the new law is invalidated the remainder will remain in effect.
Joel Fox
October 16, 2013
Charles Munger Jr. Speaks on the Art of Political Reform
In a session dedicated to reforming California politics, one of the chief movers behind recent reforms told an audience at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Joel Fox
October 15, 2013
Gov. Brown Spikes Faulty Initiative Change
Governor Jerry Brown refused to go along with a labor unions’ scheme to swing the initiative process in their favor. Brown vetoed AB 857, a
Joel Fox
October 14, 2013