Spending Watch
Spending Watch: The Taxing Wealth Tax
The Taxing Wealth Tax Wayne Winegarden February 2026 To his credit, Governor Newsom is vowing to stop the wealth tax. As we noted in our response to Governor Newsom’s January budget, just the possibility that a 5 percent wealth tax will appear on the November ballot is having a chilling effect on California’s economy and state budget. The tax, which would be retroactive to January 2026, has already driven away wealth. This lost wealth is ...
Spending Watch
Spending Watch: California’s Budget Delusion
Spending Watch: California’s Budget Delusion Wayne Winegarden January 2026 Governor Newsom has released his final state budget and for the fourth year in a row, the state is facing a large budget deficit that it must close. This prolonged period of persistent budget deficits was entirely predictable. For the upcoming FY2026-27 budget, that deficit is estimated to be $18 billion according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office but a much smaller $3 billion deficit according to ...
Crime in California 2024
Crime in California 2024 by Steve Smith | July 15, 2025 On July 1, as it has for over 50 years, the California Department of Justice released three statistical reports covering crime in general, homicides, and juvenile crime. On the positive side, there are some reductions particularly in violent crime and auto thefts. Yet sexual assaults are up, statistical flaws remain, and clearance rates were very low. Unreported crimes and low clearance rates expose the ...
Watch Videos from PRI’s 2025 California Ideas in Action Conference
Watch Videos from PRI’s 2025 California Ideas in Action Conference The 2025 PRI California Ideas in Action Conference featured conversations and panel discussions with leading state policy makers, real life changemakers, and top free market thinkers on some of California’s top challenges, including what’s next for stronger criminal justice policy reform after the passage of Prop. 36, how to improve student achievement in the classroom through better reading instruction, why bad government prescription drug policy ...
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