Will Protests and Riots Bring Change?
For the third time in a span of 55 years, major confrontations with the police have turned violent and ruinous in Los Angeles. In the previous instances, state and city governments created commissions to get to the riots’ root causes and to offer recommendations for change so that similar instances would never happen again. But […]
State Can Continue Stopping Tax Fraud Without Deputizing Private Lawyers
California tax agencies are known for aggressive enforcement of tax laws, so it was surprising when two state officials recently claimed government tax collectors aren’t up to the job, and more profit-seeking private lawyers should be allowed to jump into the tax-enforcement business. That was the message in an event by Attorney General Xavier Becerra […]
Now Is Time for State to Be Flexible
I don’t think any of us truly believed we would be living through this unimaginable time. As the weeks and months continue to pass us by, we are given time to reflect and time to think about how we will move forward. The business community has been hit incredibly hard by the economic impacts of […]
It’s time for California to follow Mexico and pull the plug on Renewables
The only things ‘inevitable’ about the ‘transition’ to wind and solar are rocketing electricity prices and unstable power grids. Recognizing that industrial wind and solar electricity bring little to no value to electrical grids, Mexico is moving to avoid the higher electrical prices experienced by Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, South Australia, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and […]
Bridging the Gap Between Police and Minority Communities
Demonstrators closed a Los Angeles freeway in protest over yet another high-profile death of an African American man, George Floyd, in police custody, this time in Minneapolis. In that city, protests exploded into violence the last two days. Police chiefs from across the country criticized the Minneapolis police action saying it pushes back progress made […]
Remote Voting by the Legislature should be Narrowly Framed
Most of us have logged onto a Zoom call or Teams meeting or Facebook happy hour. But what about remote voting – by the Legislature, anyway? What would have seemed absurd in January is now under serious consideration: a proposal to enshrine in the State Constitution protocols for Senators and Assembly Members to vote on […]
California Lawmakers have Clashing Views Regarding Proxy Voting
California lawmakers participated in history-making the other day as a majority of House members voted by proxy for the first time safely ensconced in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic that is changing all the rules of normal life. The legislation to add millions to the “paycheck protection” program especially for small businesses that have […]
The EPA Should Retain the Existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Energy efficiency, the cost of delivering reliable electricity, and respiratory health have taken on an even greater importance for California with the recent turmoil brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. In mid-April the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would “retain without changes,” the existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for […]
Disruption
Bill and Sherry explore President Donald Trump’s potent weapon, disruption, throwing the bright shiny object into the national debate to take attention away from the rising coronavirus toll and a distressed economy. His targets include vote by mail and Joe Scarborough. We also reach into California history for reasons why some Californians are resistant to […]