Bluto’s Ghost: Reform — Dead!
Watching the antics of the legislature in the penultimate week before end of session, the image that came to mind was that of John Belushi’s character Bluto from the movie, Animal House, when he went on a vengeful rant after learning the Dean closed his college fraternity. You might recall, in an angry voice, he […]
Poll Finds Arguments Sway Voters on Prop 30 and Prop 13 (Yes, they’re still polling on Prop 13)
A poll sponsored by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) and USC’s Rossier School of Education contained more than just a glimpse on how the governor’s Prop 30 was doing, although most media reports centered on that measure. The poll also targeted views on a familiar target, the one initiative measure that, no doubt, has […]
Keep an Eye Out for a Referendum if Pension Reform Passes
With pension reform a hot topic in the capitol and less than two weeks to go in the legislative session, the thought occurs – how would the public employee unions respond if a pension reform is passed by the legislature? Sacramento politicians know that reform, or perhaps even the appearance of reform, is necessary to […]
Is CEQA Reform Possible?
Will California’s business environment finally get a shot in the arm by updating the 42-year-old California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)? The business community is hopeful and indications are that powerful legislative leaders want to see this through. But there are potential roadblocks to the reforms that are desperately needed. The environmental community is digging in […]
CTA Like Railroads of Yesteryear
The long, front page spread in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times examining the California Teachers Association did not surprise followers of the shenanigans that pass for deliberative government in Sacramento. Like the railroads of the late 19th and early 20th century, the teachers union is influential to the point of being controlling in Sacramento. The Times […]
School Initiatives’ Poll Numbers Improve Setting off a Squabble
The third bi-monthly California Business Roundtable-Pepperdine University School of Public Policy poll shows Proposition 38’s personal income tax increase for schools jumping to a lead for the first time. Admittedly, there is still rough waters for the measure, which polls below 50-percent, but the most recent poll has Prop 38 ahead 45.3% to 41.9%. A […]
No Fair Bringing the Dog
They say politics is a rough and tumble business, no quarter given, but I think Governor Brown stepped over the line at his Proposition 30 kickoff press conference yesterday when he brought his dog, Sutter. Dressed in a sweater marked with Yes on Prop 30 stickers, Sutter, was the highlight of the event. He even […]
Gov. Brown Says Prop 30 Taxes Are All About Schools—Not So
Governor Jerry Brown will kick off his campaign to pass Proposition 30 today showcasing what Dan Schnur, Director of the USC Jesse Unruh Institute of Politics called “the most expensive ransom note in California political history” – pass the tax increase or the schools get it. The problem is that this tax increase proposal comes […]
The Ryan Pick and California’s Policy Debate
A day after the Washington Post’s Morning Fix column headlined The Lamest Week of the 2012 Campaign, Mitt Romney selected a running mate that should, at least for a time, turn the presidential contest into a discussion about substance and policy. What a refreshing change. Over the last week or so, the presidential election had […]
No on Prop 30 Video Reveals — How Sacramento Politicians Spent Their Summer Vacation
The No on Prop 30 campaign (in which I am involved) issued its first campaign video pointing out how legislators spent the summer — giving reasons for the voters to oppose Prop 30’s sales and income tax increase on November’s ballot. Some might remember the Yes on 30’s first video, which I discussed on this […]