California
California
State must reveal, not conceal, school aptitude
San Francisco Chronicle, November 24, 2009 This year marks the 10th anniversary of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act, an early legislative triumph of then-Gov. Gray Davis. While some good things have come out of the law, the act has failed in its two key missions: to inform parents and the ...
Business & Economics
Derailing public pension gravy train
Orange County Register (CA), November 22, 2009 Defenders of government employees’ current retirement system depict critics as haters of government workers who want public “servants” to spend their retirement years eating cat food and living in dire poverty. That’s the response I always get when I point to the absurdity ...
Business & Economics
Where’s That Inflation?
From September 2008 to September 2009, the Federal Reserve pumped an unprecedented $2 trillion into the financial system by buying Treasury bonds and assets from banks. According to most mainstream economists, such action should create a general increase in prices. Inflation is the result of more dollars chasing the same ...
California
Why California’s “Two-Plan” Does Not Support the “Public Option”
Last month, Christina Romer, professor of economics at UC Berkeley, and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, made a presentation at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. In response to a question about whether a so-called “public option” for health insurance would increase competition and reduce costs, ...
Business & Economics
Sneaky way to murder Prop. 13
Easier tax increases and budget approvals seems to be the primary goals of a proposed state constitutional convention. SACRAMENTO — There ain’t no such thing as bipartisan, nondivisive reform. Any real change to California’s dysfunctional political structure and culture must gore somebody’s ox, stir up contentious battles and draw vicious ...
Climate Change
Oregon Governor Vetoes Bipartisan Subsidy Cut
The Oregon state legislature passed a bill reducing runaway renewable energy subsidies in an effort to help balance the state budget, but Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) killed the bill with a veto. Now Oregon, which already faced a budget shortfall, may have to find an additional $50 million in its ...
Commentary
California Assembly Expunges Santa Barbara Drilling Vote
The California State Assembly is refusing to provide the names of assemblymen who voted to ban oil recovery off the coast of Santa Barbara. Twenty-eight members supported the ban, but their votes cannot be found in the official state database. Assembly leaders expunged the votes in order to spare lawmakers ...
Business & Economics
California and Canada Provide Guidance on Card-Check Legislation
Epoch Times (New York, New York), October 29, 2009 The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is still being fought out in Congress but according to the Wall Street Journal, several Democrats say they could pass a version of the EFCA this year. On this issue, federal legislators can find guidance ...
Commentary
Do We All Need to Be Like Massachusetts?
2. If it is instead a miserable failure, then why would we want to impose that failure from coast to coast? 3. If people can’t at all agree as to whether it’s a success or failure, which seems to be the case, then why not let the states that like ...
Commentary
Race To The Top is About More Than Money
SACRAMENTO – California is scrambling for federal Race to the Top grants but there is more at stake than money according to state Sen. Gloria Romero, who held an informational hearing on October 14. “I’m open to having discussions on accountability and what works,” said Sen. Romero in the hearing. ...
State must reveal, not conceal, school aptitude
San Francisco Chronicle, November 24, 2009 This year marks the 10th anniversary of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act, an early legislative triumph of then-Gov. Gray Davis. While some good things have come out of the law, the act has failed in its two key missions: to inform parents and the ...
Derailing public pension gravy train
Orange County Register (CA), November 22, 2009 Defenders of government employees’ current retirement system depict critics as haters of government workers who want public “servants” to spend their retirement years eating cat food and living in dire poverty. That’s the response I always get when I point to the absurdity ...
Where’s That Inflation?
From September 2008 to September 2009, the Federal Reserve pumped an unprecedented $2 trillion into the financial system by buying Treasury bonds and assets from banks. According to most mainstream economists, such action should create a general increase in prices. Inflation is the result of more dollars chasing the same ...
Why California’s “Two-Plan” Does Not Support the “Public Option”
Last month, Christina Romer, professor of economics at UC Berkeley, and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, made a presentation at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. In response to a question about whether a so-called “public option” for health insurance would increase competition and reduce costs, ...
Sneaky way to murder Prop. 13
Easier tax increases and budget approvals seems to be the primary goals of a proposed state constitutional convention. SACRAMENTO — There ain’t no such thing as bipartisan, nondivisive reform. Any real change to California’s dysfunctional political structure and culture must gore somebody’s ox, stir up contentious battles and draw vicious ...
Oregon Governor Vetoes Bipartisan Subsidy Cut
The Oregon state legislature passed a bill reducing runaway renewable energy subsidies in an effort to help balance the state budget, but Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) killed the bill with a veto. Now Oregon, which already faced a budget shortfall, may have to find an additional $50 million in its ...
California Assembly Expunges Santa Barbara Drilling Vote
The California State Assembly is refusing to provide the names of assemblymen who voted to ban oil recovery off the coast of Santa Barbara. Twenty-eight members supported the ban, but their votes cannot be found in the official state database. Assembly leaders expunged the votes in order to spare lawmakers ...
California and Canada Provide Guidance on Card-Check Legislation
Epoch Times (New York, New York), October 29, 2009 The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is still being fought out in Congress but according to the Wall Street Journal, several Democrats say they could pass a version of the EFCA this year. On this issue, federal legislators can find guidance ...
Do We All Need to Be Like Massachusetts?
2. If it is instead a miserable failure, then why would we want to impose that failure from coast to coast? 3. If people can’t at all agree as to whether it’s a success or failure, which seems to be the case, then why not let the states that like ...
Race To The Top is About More Than Money
SACRAMENTO – California is scrambling for federal Race to the Top grants but there is more at stake than money according to state Sen. Gloria Romero, who held an informational hearing on October 14. “I’m open to having discussions on accountability and what works,” said Sen. Romero in the hearing. ...
