Blog
Latest Effort to Move Up California Primary Won’t Make a Difference
The Legislature recently passed a bill that will move California’s presidential primary from June up to Super Tuesday – which will be March 3, 2020. Upon Governor Brown signing the bill, Secretary of State Alex Padilla told the Los Angeles Times that, “candidates will not be able to ignore the ...
Blog
To Grow America’s Economy, We Need Tax Reform and Spending Reform
Washington D.C. has turned its sights on tax reform. Critics, almost reflexively, oppose the effort based on claims that tax reform will increase the deficit. A little perspective is in order, consequently. The chart below presents data on total federal, state, and local government revenues and spending relative to the ...
Blog
Sacramento Tries to Dictate Our Choices Again with Proposed Gas Car Ban
Last week, within the space of three days, we learned that Gov. Jerry Brown is considering phasing out fossil-fuel powered automobiles in about 10 years, then we found out that Assemblyman Phil Ting, a San Francisco Democrat, is planning to introduce legislation that would outlaw the sale of new cars ...
Blog
Gallagher Bill Would Restore Voice to the Forgotten
For too long, Sacramento has ignored Rural California, enacting policies that are out-of-step with the values of those living north of the State Capitol. Fed-up North State residents have been loudly pushing a proposal to break the state in two. If the organizers have their way, 21 counties would leave ...
Blog
“Gov. Windmill” Takes His Crusade Around the World
Jerry Brown was tagged with the nickname “Gov. Moonbeam” while in office during the 1970s and 1980s. It was a fitting handle, because he was an unorthodox politician who represented the state’s increasingly curious behavior. Now in his second life as the state’s chief executive, it might be time to ...
Blog
Is State’s Plastic Bag Ban Causing Rise in Hepatitis Cases?
A deadly hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County has residents on edge. Since last November, at least 17 people have died and nearly 300 others have been sent to the hospital in what public health officials are calling the deadliest outbreak of the disease in the U.S. in decades. ...
Blog
Hyatt Case Shows Why Taxpayers Will Be Big Losers in BOE Power Grab
Recently, Gilbert Hyatt presented his side of a tax dispute case to the voter-elected Board of Equalization. The state has been pursuing Mr. Hyatt for 26 years, alleging that he owes millions in back taxes and penalties from capital gains from a computer patent he owns. The dispute centers over ...
Blog
A Big Week on Health Care in Washington
The health care debate continues to heat up this week. A big vote in Congress on the Graham-Cassidy health care reform legislation is expected before Saturday, September 30. This is the deadline to pass repeal and replace legislation with just 50 votes (and Vice President Pence breaking the tie) under ...
Blog
Proposed Tax Is a Four-Letter Word in My Neighborhood
Water meters are a sore subject in my neighborhood. The City of Sacramento has been installing water meters for the past few years as part of its effort to comply with a state mandate. This year, it was my neighborhood’s turn to endure the inefficient mess that has become Sacramento’s ...
Blog
When Push Comes to Shove, Labor Emerges as Big Winner of 2017 Session
As promised, the Democrat-majority California Legislature finished its session early Saturday morning by enacting a package of bills that lawmakers say will ease the state’s housing crisis, and failing to expand state environmental protections. This year’s session was notable for its sometimes-fierce battles between key interest groups, namely environmental groups, ...
Latest Effort to Move Up California Primary Won’t Make a Difference
The Legislature recently passed a bill that will move California’s presidential primary from June up to Super Tuesday – which will be March 3, 2020. Upon Governor Brown signing the bill, Secretary of State Alex Padilla told the Los Angeles Times that, “candidates will not be able to ignore the ...
To Grow America’s Economy, We Need Tax Reform and Spending Reform
Washington D.C. has turned its sights on tax reform. Critics, almost reflexively, oppose the effort based on claims that tax reform will increase the deficit. A little perspective is in order, consequently. The chart below presents data on total federal, state, and local government revenues and spending relative to the ...
Sacramento Tries to Dictate Our Choices Again with Proposed Gas Car Ban
Last week, within the space of three days, we learned that Gov. Jerry Brown is considering phasing out fossil-fuel powered automobiles in about 10 years, then we found out that Assemblyman Phil Ting, a San Francisco Democrat, is planning to introduce legislation that would outlaw the sale of new cars ...
Gallagher Bill Would Restore Voice to the Forgotten
For too long, Sacramento has ignored Rural California, enacting policies that are out-of-step with the values of those living north of the State Capitol. Fed-up North State residents have been loudly pushing a proposal to break the state in two. If the organizers have their way, 21 counties would leave ...
“Gov. Windmill” Takes His Crusade Around the World
Jerry Brown was tagged with the nickname “Gov. Moonbeam” while in office during the 1970s and 1980s. It was a fitting handle, because he was an unorthodox politician who represented the state’s increasingly curious behavior. Now in his second life as the state’s chief executive, it might be time to ...
Is State’s Plastic Bag Ban Causing Rise in Hepatitis Cases?
A deadly hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County has residents on edge. Since last November, at least 17 people have died and nearly 300 others have been sent to the hospital in what public health officials are calling the deadliest outbreak of the disease in the U.S. in decades. ...
Hyatt Case Shows Why Taxpayers Will Be Big Losers in BOE Power Grab
Recently, Gilbert Hyatt presented his side of a tax dispute case to the voter-elected Board of Equalization. The state has been pursuing Mr. Hyatt for 26 years, alleging that he owes millions in back taxes and penalties from capital gains from a computer patent he owns. The dispute centers over ...
A Big Week on Health Care in Washington
The health care debate continues to heat up this week. A big vote in Congress on the Graham-Cassidy health care reform legislation is expected before Saturday, September 30. This is the deadline to pass repeal and replace legislation with just 50 votes (and Vice President Pence breaking the tie) under ...
Proposed Tax Is a Four-Letter Word in My Neighborhood
Water meters are a sore subject in my neighborhood. The City of Sacramento has been installing water meters for the past few years as part of its effort to comply with a state mandate. This year, it was my neighborhood’s turn to endure the inefficient mess that has become Sacramento’s ...
When Push Comes to Shove, Labor Emerges as Big Winner of 2017 Session
As promised, the Democrat-majority California Legislature finished its session early Saturday morning by enacting a package of bills that lawmakers say will ease the state’s housing crisis, and failing to expand state environmental protections. This year’s session was notable for its sometimes-fierce battles between key interest groups, namely environmental groups, ...
