Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
Employers Must be Alert to Section 1512 of Affordable Care Act
Although several provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been in effect since 2010, the majority of the regulations that affect employers will take effect in the fall of 2013 and 2014. One new requirement that may have slipped past you and where the clock is quickly ticking down in order to comply is Section 1512. This requirement applies whether your business is large or small, already provides health benefits to employees or not, or falls under the employer mandate or not.
The ACA, per section 1512, amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requiring employers to provide a written notice describing certain elements of the Health Insurance Exchange and subsidy eligibility to all current and future employees, and do so no later than October 1, 2013 (a date moved back from the original of March 1, 2013). The deadline is intended to correspond to the open enrollment period beginning October 1 for coverage through the marketplace beginning January 1, 2014. (more…)
Improve the Voting Experience through Competition
For those of us interested in improving civic engagement here in California, the latest news from the state auditor that the Secretary of State has mismanaged $131 million in federal funds for California meant to improve our voting access is cause for weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The monies were allocated by the feds under the HAVA (Help America Vote Act), which was signed — somewhat ironically — in 2002 by President George W. Bush in order to avoid more “dangling chad” scenarios in future elections. (more…)
Could Fires Influence Tax Decision?
Firefighters are battling the Rim Fire near Yosemite, one of the largest fires in California history — but that’s not all. According to Cal Fire, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection site that monitors fires in the state, as I write this column, 8300 firefighters are battling a dozen California wildfires.
The tongues of these fires lick against some policy and legal concerns the state faces. While the fires raise alarms about natural resources, the potential lose of life and property, and in the case of the Rim Fire, the water and power sources for the city of San Francisco, the fires will once again put a focus on the controversial fire tax. (more…)
Let’s Not Pick and Choose Which Seniors Have Access to Quality Health Care
Protecting our seniors is the right thing to do from both a health care and economic perspective. That is why Republicans and Democrats are working together to reverse Medi-Cal cuts to hospital-based skilled-nursing facilities.
Here’s some background and history demonstrating why we must act. Skilled-nursing care tied to hospitals is different from that of a traditional nursing home. Treatment options are more specialized and patients, depending on their condition, can receive targeted care that can lead to their discharge and an independent life at home once again. These facilities are tremendous assets, and because they’re so specialized, hospital-based skilled-nursing services are in great demand, far beyond current capacity. (more…)
What Would Cesar Chavez Think?
For many years Cesar Chavez traveled the dusty farm roads of California organizing migrant farm workers into what was to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. It was a long hard struggle between the growers and the workers, but eventually they came to an agreement that benefited both sides. And California is the better for it.
But I wonder what Cesar Chavez would think if he was to come back and see what his life’s work, the UFW, has become.
I don’t think he would be pleased. (more…)
California’s Clean Energy Drive will Increase Prices
California is a national leader in pushing renewable energy, lower greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency. State manufacturers have contributed to the effort by installing cost-effective technologies and instituting lean manufacturing processes to reduce their demand for electricity, natural gas and transportation fuels.
No other state’s manufacturers have done as much. But with more climate and energy policies being proposed every day, it’s time to take stock of where we are and where we are headed.
If California wants to be a model for others to follow, energy supplies must be both affordable and reliable to support a massive state economy that includes manufacturing and exporting products. (more…)