Business & Economics

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San Diego Banned Digital-Only Coupons. Then The Deals Went Away.

Last week, another “first in the nation” law took effect in the City of San Diego. There’s usually a reason no one decides to jump in front of California to grab “first in the nation” honors for themselves – it is a bad idea. Such is the case with San ...
Blog

Government Shutdown Threatens Billions in IPO Funding

The federal government has been shut down since October 1 because of a funding disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Though a deal could theoretically be struck at any moment, there does not appear to be any end in sight. Only services deemed essential are permitted through the shutdown, which means ...
Blog

Learn about the impact of the latest refinery fire

How Much Will Gas Prices Rise After So Cal Refinery Fire?

Producing 269,000 barrels a day of useful fossil fuels, the El Segundo facility is second in the state only to Marathon’s Los Angeles refinery, which puts out 365,000 barrels a day, good for 22.5% of state’s capacity. The Chevron site provides 20% of motor vehicle fuel in California and 40% of the ...
Blog

Spending Watch

California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks

California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks Wayne Winegarden October 2025 Politicians too often assume that California’s fiscal health is synonymous with the state of its annual budget. When revenue growth is strong, the state is allegedly in a sound fiscal position. It is only when ...
Blog

Read the latest from PRI's Free Cities Center

It’s not just AI: California city minimum wages also kill jobs

As if it didn’t kill enough jobs, 39 cities have imposed their own, even higher minimums. A dozen of the cities did so on July 1. The highest general minimum is Emeryville’s, at $19.90. Some cities also mandate higher minimums for certain jobs. For the city of Los Angeles, the ...
Blog

On Young Americans and their Growing Acceptance of Socialism

Their survey found that 53% of Americans aged 18-39 would like to see a democratic socialist candidate win the 2028 presidential election, while 76% of respondents agree that ‘major industries like health care, energy, and big tech should be nationalized to give more control and equity to the people.’ Among ...
California

Assembly Republican Leader Emeritus James Gallagher – The Exit Interview

Our special guest this week is outgoing Assembly Republican Leader – and the very first guest on Next Round podcast – James Gallagher. He looks back on his time as GOP leader, reflecting on his biggest accomplishments, what surprised him the most during his leadership, his partisan battles with Speaker ...
Blog

Spending Watch

Legislators Did Not Relieve California’s Energy Poverty Problem

Legislators Did Not Relieve California’s Energy Poverty Problem Wayne Winegarden September 2025 The legislative year is over and there is lots to be concerned about. Paramount among these concerns, the legislature passed several bills that will worsen the state’s energy affordability problems. Perhaps most disappointing, though not unexpected, legislators passed ...
Blog

Fact Checking The Governor on Manufacturing

While announcing last month the state’s Regional Investment Initiative “to fund ready-to-go projects,” Newsom’s office declared that “California is the nation’s top state for” a number of economic sectors, including manufacturing. It’s a recurring message from the governor’s press team. It is true that California has the most manufacturing jobs in the country. Federal data ...
Business & Economics

Penalizing Mergers And Acquisitions Won’t Accelerate Economic Growth

The U.S. is mired in a growth slowdown… The growth slowdown is not preordained; it is a policy driven outcome that can be reversed by implementing the right reforms. Toward this goal, a ruling by the U.S. Tax Court this past summer made small but significant progress. Read the op-ed ...
Blog

San Diego Banned Digital-Only Coupons. Then The Deals Went Away.

Last week, another “first in the nation” law took effect in the City of San Diego. There’s usually a reason no one decides to jump in front of California to grab “first in the nation” honors for themselves – it is a bad idea. Such is the case with San ...
Blog

Government Shutdown Threatens Billions in IPO Funding

The federal government has been shut down since October 1 because of a funding disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Though a deal could theoretically be struck at any moment, there does not appear to be any end in sight. Only services deemed essential are permitted through the shutdown, which means ...
Blog

Learn about the impact of the latest refinery fire

How Much Will Gas Prices Rise After So Cal Refinery Fire?

Producing 269,000 barrels a day of useful fossil fuels, the El Segundo facility is second in the state only to Marathon’s Los Angeles refinery, which puts out 365,000 barrels a day, good for 22.5% of state’s capacity. The Chevron site provides 20% of motor vehicle fuel in California and 40% of the ...
Blog

Spending Watch

California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks

California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks Wayne Winegarden October 2025 Politicians too often assume that California’s fiscal health is synonymous with the state of its annual budget. When revenue growth is strong, the state is allegedly in a sound fiscal position. It is only when ...
Blog

Read the latest from PRI's Free Cities Center

It’s not just AI: California city minimum wages also kill jobs

As if it didn’t kill enough jobs, 39 cities have imposed their own, even higher minimums. A dozen of the cities did so on July 1. The highest general minimum is Emeryville’s, at $19.90. Some cities also mandate higher minimums for certain jobs. For the city of Los Angeles, the ...
Blog

On Young Americans and their Growing Acceptance of Socialism

Their survey found that 53% of Americans aged 18-39 would like to see a democratic socialist candidate win the 2028 presidential election, while 76% of respondents agree that ‘major industries like health care, energy, and big tech should be nationalized to give more control and equity to the people.’ Among ...
California

Assembly Republican Leader Emeritus James Gallagher – The Exit Interview

Our special guest this week is outgoing Assembly Republican Leader – and the very first guest on Next Round podcast – James Gallagher. He looks back on his time as GOP leader, reflecting on his biggest accomplishments, what surprised him the most during his leadership, his partisan battles with Speaker ...
Blog

Spending Watch

Legislators Did Not Relieve California’s Energy Poverty Problem

Legislators Did Not Relieve California’s Energy Poverty Problem Wayne Winegarden September 2025 The legislative year is over and there is lots to be concerned about. Paramount among these concerns, the legislature passed several bills that will worsen the state’s energy affordability problems. Perhaps most disappointing, though not unexpected, legislators passed ...
Blog

Fact Checking The Governor on Manufacturing

While announcing last month the state’s Regional Investment Initiative “to fund ready-to-go projects,” Newsom’s office declared that “California is the nation’s top state for” a number of economic sectors, including manufacturing. It’s a recurring message from the governor’s press team. It is true that California has the most manufacturing jobs in the country. Federal data ...
Business & Economics

Penalizing Mergers And Acquisitions Won’t Accelerate Economic Growth

The U.S. is mired in a growth slowdown… The growth slowdown is not preordained; it is a policy driven outcome that can be reversed by implementing the right reforms. Toward this goal, a ruling by the U.S. Tax Court this past summer made small but significant progress. Read the op-ed ...
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