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.

Public Pensions Become Issue in Labor Strikes

As retirement costs grow, traditional labor disputes over wages and health coverage have a newcomer. Pensions are one of the issues in recent strikes by UC hospital workers and San Francisco Bay Area transit workers.

The dispute is not over the amount of pensions promised current workers, widely believed to be protected by court rulings. The sticking point is how the cost of the pensions is split between employers and employees.

UC patient care workers balked at increasing their pension contributions from 5 percent of pay to 6.5 percent. Bay Area Rapid Transit workers make no pension contribution because the employer pays their CalPERS share, 7 percent of pay. (more…)

GOP State Senate Win Is Good for California

When Hanford Republican Andy Vidak was elected last month in a heavily Democratic Central Valley state Senate district, it was good news for Republicans but even better news for Californians in general.

For California, and especially for the state’s Democratic legislators, it was a much-needed reminder that partisanship isn’t always destiny when it comes to elections. Regardless of the registration numbers, you’ve still got to run – and win – the race. (more…)

Riordan’s Federal Pension Bailout

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, who has been a prescient critic of current state and local pension plans, published a piece earlier this week in the New York Times with former journalist Tim Rutten proposing a federal bailout of state and local pension plans. No doubt the Times was happy to get a prominent Republican former mayor to sign on to its campaign for bailouts of fiscally irresponsible cities and states, but before other Republicans (and Democrats in states and cities that don’t have these pension problems) sign on to the Riordan plan, they should think carefully about the path we seem to be heading down.  (more…)

The Power of Partnerships

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group led 20 CEOs and senior officers to Washington, D.C. last week for three full days of advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform. The numbers only tell part of the story: 58 one-on-one visits with key members of the House of Representatives, including 33 Republicans who we believe are open to meaningful reform.

What made the visit unique – what continues to make our efforts unique – is the power of partnerships, often rather unlikely alliances, to advance our goal. (more…)

On the Passing of GOP Activist Jane Barnett

I was saddened to hear that my friend of a quarter-century, Jane Barnett, passed away this morning after a very long battle with cancer.  Jane was a leader of conservatives.  There is no way to really walk you through all the many roles that she played over the years in advancing the conservative and Republican causes.  I will say this — if there were Academy Awards for politics, she would have won so many, and in so many categories.  Best Actress for her role as Chairman of the Los Angeles County GOP, and as a candidate, herself, for State Assembly.  And many Best Supporting Actress nods for so many roles with so many causes, going back to her role(s) helping with the campaigns of Ronald Reagan, working for great politicians like Pat Nolan, Jim Rogan, Oliver North and others, working with the Boy Scouts, and so much more.  Of course she is survived by her soul-mate and fellow conservative warrior Louis Wm. Barnett, seven children and at least eight grandchildren. (more…)

And While We’re Eliminating Elections for Lt. Governor …

Recently, L.A. Times columnist George Skelton asked the question, “Why have lieutenant governors?” In the piece, the current Lt. Governor, Gavin Newsom, defended the position but suggested the Lt. Governor should run on a ticket with the governor thus eliminating the need for a LG election. That reminded me of the recommendations from the 1996 Constitutional Revision Commission on which I served briefly.

The Commission not only recommended creating a governor-lieutenant governor ticket, it also suggested having the elected offices of superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner and treasurer appointed by the governor. (more…)