California
Blog
Read the latest about the LA ICE riots
The Challenge of Democratic Policing
News of the fairly small federal enforcement action spread quickly amongst opponents of immigration enforcement, and based on the flags and signs, a host of other political causes as well, resulting in days of riots, assaults on police officers, arson, and vandalism. The situation is made more confusing in California ...
Blog
Reparations Bill Back, Opposed by Everyone
Two important events recently happened on the “reparations” beat. First, the U.S. House, led by Representative Ayanna Pressley, re-introduced H.R. 40, “federal legislation to study reparations for slavery.” At the same time, 2024-25 data began to circulate widely – showing greatly increased opposition to reparations and support for President Donald ...
California
Rebekah Paxton – Would You Like a Higher Minimum Wage with Your Fries?
Rebekah Paxton of the Employment Policies Institute joins us to discuss EPI’s high-profile research on the impact of California’s $20 fast food minimum wage on jobs, workers, prices. They also discuss the Los Angeles’ plan for a $30 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers.
Blog
Spending Watch
Budget Gimmicks Will Not Solve The State’s Fiscal Crisis
Budget Gimmicks Will Not Solve The State’s Fiscal Crisis Wayne Winegarden June 2025 It’s budget crunch time for Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders. The immediate problem is closing the estimated $12 billion budget shortfall for the FY2025-26 budget. Despite this serious fiscal challenge, the Governor’s budget proposal demonstrates an unseriousness ...
California
Susan Crabtree – Fool’s Gold
This week, we talk with Susan Crabtree, award-winning investigative journalist and senior White House and national political correspondent for RealClearPolitics, author of the new book on Gavin Newsom, Fool’s Gold. We discuss the impact of the governor’s policy agenda on people’s ability to achieve the California dream and how California’s ...
Blog
Read the latest on California's growing budget problem
Deficits as Far as the Eye Can See
In its Multiyear Budget Outlook, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) summed up the dire state of California’s fiscal state. According to the LAO, Both our office and the Department of Finance (DOF) project operating deficits ranging from $10 billion to $20 billion over the multiyear period. These shortfalls represent future ...
California
Newsom’s ed budget: high spending, low results
Despite a $12 billion budget deficit, Governor Gavin Newsom still proposes to spend more on the state’s public schools, despite findings of a Georgetown University study showing that California is not getting education bang for its taxpayer buck. Newsom’s updated budget includes $137.8 billion in total education funding, which consists ...
California
Can California afford costly climate change programs in a grim budget year?
It was not supposed to be this way. In the throes of last year’s budget turmoil, California’s spending plan at that time was supposed to bring stability. Yet here we are. Another May Revision, another budget deficit — this time for $12 billion. While Gov. Gavin Newsom is right — ...
Blog
Spending Watch
Covering Undocumented Immigrants Will Worsen The State’s Fiscal Crisis
Covering Undocumented Immigrants Will Worsen The State’s Fiscal Crisis Wayne Winegarden May 2025 A previous Spending Watch analysis estimated the fiscal and economic impact of funding Medi-Cal benefits to undocumented immigrants. The analysis estimated that the expansion will require an additional $11.6 billion in expenditures, which will impose large economic ...
Blog
How does California’s employment growth compare with the rest of the US?
Gov. Gavin Newsom and California’s progressives point to the Trump Administration’s imposition of tariffs as a reason for its economic slowdown, and the LAO acknowledges that unpredictable policymaking at the federal level puts California’s ‘fragile economy at risk.’ But while California’s ports have seen a decline in economic activity over ...
Read the latest about the LA ICE riots
The Challenge of Democratic Policing
News of the fairly small federal enforcement action spread quickly amongst opponents of immigration enforcement, and based on the flags and signs, a host of other political causes as well, resulting in days of riots, assaults on police officers, arson, and vandalism. The situation is made more confusing in California ...
Reparations Bill Back, Opposed by Everyone
Two important events recently happened on the “reparations” beat. First, the U.S. House, led by Representative Ayanna Pressley, re-introduced H.R. 40, “federal legislation to study reparations for slavery.” At the same time, 2024-25 data began to circulate widely – showing greatly increased opposition to reparations and support for President Donald ...
Rebekah Paxton – Would You Like a Higher Minimum Wage with Your Fries?
Rebekah Paxton of the Employment Policies Institute joins us to discuss EPI’s high-profile research on the impact of California’s $20 fast food minimum wage on jobs, workers, prices. They also discuss the Los Angeles’ plan for a $30 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers.
Spending Watch
Budget Gimmicks Will Not Solve The State’s Fiscal Crisis
Budget Gimmicks Will Not Solve The State’s Fiscal Crisis Wayne Winegarden June 2025 It’s budget crunch time for Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders. The immediate problem is closing the estimated $12 billion budget shortfall for the FY2025-26 budget. Despite this serious fiscal challenge, the Governor’s budget proposal demonstrates an unseriousness ...
Susan Crabtree – Fool’s Gold
This week, we talk with Susan Crabtree, award-winning investigative journalist and senior White House and national political correspondent for RealClearPolitics, author of the new book on Gavin Newsom, Fool’s Gold. We discuss the impact of the governor’s policy agenda on people’s ability to achieve the California dream and how California’s ...
Read the latest on California's growing budget problem
Deficits as Far as the Eye Can See
In its Multiyear Budget Outlook, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) summed up the dire state of California’s fiscal state. According to the LAO, Both our office and the Department of Finance (DOF) project operating deficits ranging from $10 billion to $20 billion over the multiyear period. These shortfalls represent future ...
Newsom’s ed budget: high spending, low results
Despite a $12 billion budget deficit, Governor Gavin Newsom still proposes to spend more on the state’s public schools, despite findings of a Georgetown University study showing that California is not getting education bang for its taxpayer buck. Newsom’s updated budget includes $137.8 billion in total education funding, which consists ...
Can California afford costly climate change programs in a grim budget year?
It was not supposed to be this way. In the throes of last year’s budget turmoil, California’s spending plan at that time was supposed to bring stability. Yet here we are. Another May Revision, another budget deficit — this time for $12 billion. While Gov. Gavin Newsom is right — ...
Spending Watch
Covering Undocumented Immigrants Will Worsen The State’s Fiscal Crisis
Covering Undocumented Immigrants Will Worsen The State’s Fiscal Crisis Wayne Winegarden May 2025 A previous Spending Watch analysis estimated the fiscal and economic impact of funding Medi-Cal benefits to undocumented immigrants. The analysis estimated that the expansion will require an additional $11.6 billion in expenditures, which will impose large economic ...
How does California’s employment growth compare with the rest of the US?
Gov. Gavin Newsom and California’s progressives point to the Trump Administration’s imposition of tariffs as a reason for its economic slowdown, and the LAO acknowledges that unpredictable policymaking at the federal level puts California’s ‘fragile economy at risk.’ But while California’s ports have seen a decline in economic activity over ...
