Pacific Research Institute | California Blog

California Triggered by Weak, Minor Greenhouse Gas

September 25, 2018

Just days after signing legislation committing the state to 100 percent renewable sources for electricity, Gov. Jerry Brown hosted a grandiose climate summit in San Francisco. Noticeably absent from the conference was even the smallest dose of healthy skepticism. Of course, the self-important nags were there,...

CAPITAL IDEAS: California Plays Fast and Loose with Food Stamp Work Requirements

September 20, 2018

California

Download the PDF California, not West Virginia, not Mississippi, has the highest poverty rate among the 50 states. Blame policymakers who, rather than solving the problem, have inflamed it. In fact, California officials have gone out of their way to keep hundreds of thousands dependent on...

Rent Control – Temporary or Not – Won’t Bring Down Sacramento’s Housing Costs

September 19, 2018

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg is trying to have his cake and eat it too. He announced in June that he opposed a local ballot measure being pushed by labor unions and activist groups to impose new rent control restrictions in Sacramento. That measure, according to the Sacramento...

California Supreme Court Ruling Takes Its First Scalp

September 18, 2018

It didn’t take long for a California Supreme Court decision to start claiming victims. Bottle & Barlow, a “get loose stay sharp” joint on trendy R Street in Sacramento, where a gentleman can sip whisky and also be stylishly shorn, has lost its entire staff...

The Wayfair decision and California

September 17, 2018

I used to tell my friends and colleagues to be sure to check out the Lord & Taylor website before they buy an outfit. Lord & Taylor doesn’t have operations in California, so the same Calvin Klein dress would be tax-free at Lord & Taylor,...

Advice for Global Climate Summit-goers: Don’t Do What We’re Doing!

September 11, 2018

Today, thousands are gathering in San Francisco for a so-called “Global Climate Action Summit.” Co-hosted by Gov. Jerry Brown, several UN organizations and other leaders, it is billed as a “launchpad for deeper worldwide commitments and accelerated action from countries.” The conference will explore “transformational changes”...

Would California Be Better Off With Part-Time Legislators Rather Than Professional Politicians?

September 10, 2018

California

California lawmakers have sent legislation to Gov. Jerry Brown that will allow them to live outside the districts they “represent.” To some, Senate Bill 1250 simply frees legislators to live and work in Sacramento while representing the folks back home. Others argue it lets lawmakers...

New PRI Chartbook Shows California’s Public Pension Monster Has Grown to Nearly $1 Trillion

September 05, 2018

New PRI-Open the Books Chartbook Shows California’s Public Pension Monster Has Grown to Nearly $1 Trillion More Realistic Market Estimate Show State Pension Funds are Just 28 Percent Funded...

Shutting Down California Energy Production Would Be Foolish

September 04, 2018

Of the 50 states, only Texas and North Dakota have more proved oil reserves than California. The state should be capitalizing on the riches, shouldn’t it? But, no. That’s not the plan. California politicians want to leave crude in the ground where it doesn’t do anyone...

CAPITAL IDEAS: Is Blue State California’s Agenda America’s Future?

August 30, 2018

California

Download PDF Originally published in PRI’s Impact magazine, Summer 2018 An article that posits California as the model for the country’s future recently picked up some traffic, thanks to an affirming tweet from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who called it a “great read.” We’d say it’s...