GOP alliances rip over gas tax repeal: Anti-taxers vs. business establishment
Business groups are threatening to wage a pricey campaign to stop California’s Republican officials from trying to repeal a new state gas tax—warning them not to “create new political adversaries.” But the politicians aren’t flinching. Eleven GOP members of the state’s congressional delegation, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, responded that they aren’t as worried […]
The cost of California’s public pensions is breaking the bank. Here’s one reason this problem is so hard to fix
More than 20 times in the last 15 years, political leaders looking to control California’s fast-growing public pension costs have tried to put reform initiatives before the voters. None of the proposals has made it onto the ballot. Often, advocates could not raise enough money for signature gathering, advertising and other costs of an initiative […]
On Schools, Villaraigosa Parts With Gov
As he eyes a run for governor, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is spotlighting the lagging academic performance of Latino and African-American students and saying the state should do more to hold schools accountable. The 63-year-old Democrat says parents have a right to know how their schools are doing and he doesn’t see a […]
The Price of Education
Vallejo High School teacher Lewis Brown starts his morning government class with a question of the day that takes advantage of newly assigned iPads. “Today is the one year anniversary of the French magazine terrorist assassination,” Brown says. “What was the name of the magazine?” The seniors type on their tablets. In seconds, 17-year-old SioFilisi […]
Is a Tax Extension Needed for California Schools?
Gov. Jerry Brown campaigned up and down the state in 2012 to pass a temporary measure known as Proposition 30, which raised the sales tax for four years and income taxes on high earners for seven years. It generated $8 billion a year to educate California’s 6.2 million elementary and secondary school students. This is […]