Business & Economics

Blog

Learn about the Biden budget plan

President Biden’s Fiscal Illusions

The President imagines that the federal budget is driving toward a fiscal cliff because tax revenues are too low, and the rich are not paying their fair share. Such accusations may make good political talking points, but they are demonstrably false. Let’s start with his vacuous accusation of tax fairness. ...
Business & Economics

Andrew Stuttaford – Electric Cars: Central Planning’s Latest Vehicle

Our podcast this week is a recording of remarks by Andrew Stuttaford, editor of National Review’s Capital Markets. Andrew spoke at a PRI dinner in San Francisco in March on progressives’ efforts to mandate electric vehicles and the problems that lie ahead should they be successful. Before becoming a writer ...
Blog

Read about latest anti-business mandate from Sacramento

In California, You Can Self-Checkout Any Time You Want – For Now

Self-checkout seems to have reached a peak. Some retailers are pulling back on the systems, apparently due to intentional and unintentional thefts, and there are signs that customers have grown weary of scanning their own purchases and waiting in long, slow lines while a single attendant tries to manage the ...
Blog

Learn the latest about the Newsom Panera Bread scandal

California’s Sourdough Politics

Did the California governor have his cake and let an old friend eat it, too? Late last month, Gavin Newsom was accused of providing a schoolmate’s businesses with an exemption from the minimum wage hike coming on April 1. Both parties deny there was any favoritism. Yet it still looks ...
Business & Economics

Robert Bryce and Tyson Culver – Juice, Power, Politics and the Grid

Filmmakers Robert Bryce and Tyson Culver join us to discuss their new docuseries Juice, which explores how misguided government energy policies and cronyism are threatening energy reliability and affordability.  Also, Rowena and Tim discuss why Gov. Newsom is delaying his State of the State address and the latest legislative proposal ...
Business & Economics

PRI All-Star Speechwriters on the State of the Union Address

Our annual former PRI speechwriters analyze President Biden’s State of the Union Address: Senior Director of Education Lance Izumi was chief speechwriter to Gov. Deukmejian and Attorney General Ed Meese, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Tim Anaya was speechwriter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and numerous legislators and COO Rowena ...
Blog

Spending Watch

Single Payer Will Worsen California’s Healthcare System and Reduce Economic Growth

Single Payer Will Worsen California’s Healthcare System and Reduce Economic Growth Wayne Winegarden March 2024 With the introduction of AB 2200, advocates are, once again, proposing that California adopt a single payer healthcare system. Ostensibly, their proposed CalCare system would streamline payments, lower per-capita spending, guarantee “quality health care and ...
Business & Economics

Read the latest on California's reparations proposal

Here’s what California’s radical reparations plan will cost taxpayers

Much of the discussion surrounding the push for reparations in California, New York and cities like San Francisco center on the historical justifications for mass payouts. Yet, as the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras said, “Numbers rule the universe.” Reparations proponents in California are quick to dismiss criticisms over cost. ...
Blog

Spending Watch

Too Much Government Spending and Volatile Tax Revenues Drive State’s Budget Problem

Too Much Government Spending and Volatile Tax Revenues Drive State’s Budget Problem Wayne Winegarden March 2024 This analysis is the first publication of Spending Watch, a new initiative from the Pacific Research Institute. Spending Watch is a resource that evaluates the revenue, spending, and economic impacts of major budget and ...
Business & Economics

Read on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation's latest regulation proposal

Misguided California Regulation Would Hinder Useful Financial Tool

To a hammer, everything is a nail, and so it is with California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Don’t let the “innovation” in the agency’s name fool you – far too many of its regulations deter rather than promote innovative solutions as evidenced by the agency’s recent stance ...
Blog

Learn about the Biden budget plan

President Biden’s Fiscal Illusions

The President imagines that the federal budget is driving toward a fiscal cliff because tax revenues are too low, and the rich are not paying their fair share. Such accusations may make good political talking points, but they are demonstrably false. Let’s start with his vacuous accusation of tax fairness. ...
Business & Economics

Andrew Stuttaford – Electric Cars: Central Planning’s Latest Vehicle

Our podcast this week is a recording of remarks by Andrew Stuttaford, editor of National Review’s Capital Markets. Andrew spoke at a PRI dinner in San Francisco in March on progressives’ efforts to mandate electric vehicles and the problems that lie ahead should they be successful. Before becoming a writer ...
Blog

Read about latest anti-business mandate from Sacramento

In California, You Can Self-Checkout Any Time You Want – For Now

Self-checkout seems to have reached a peak. Some retailers are pulling back on the systems, apparently due to intentional and unintentional thefts, and there are signs that customers have grown weary of scanning their own purchases and waiting in long, slow lines while a single attendant tries to manage the ...
Blog

Learn the latest about the Newsom Panera Bread scandal

California’s Sourdough Politics

Did the California governor have his cake and let an old friend eat it, too? Late last month, Gavin Newsom was accused of providing a schoolmate’s businesses with an exemption from the minimum wage hike coming on April 1. Both parties deny there was any favoritism. Yet it still looks ...
Business & Economics

Robert Bryce and Tyson Culver – Juice, Power, Politics and the Grid

Filmmakers Robert Bryce and Tyson Culver join us to discuss their new docuseries Juice, which explores how misguided government energy policies and cronyism are threatening energy reliability and affordability.  Also, Rowena and Tim discuss why Gov. Newsom is delaying his State of the State address and the latest legislative proposal ...
Business & Economics

PRI All-Star Speechwriters on the State of the Union Address

Our annual former PRI speechwriters analyze President Biden’s State of the Union Address: Senior Director of Education Lance Izumi was chief speechwriter to Gov. Deukmejian and Attorney General Ed Meese, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Tim Anaya was speechwriter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and numerous legislators and COO Rowena ...
Blog

Spending Watch

Single Payer Will Worsen California’s Healthcare System and Reduce Economic Growth

Single Payer Will Worsen California’s Healthcare System and Reduce Economic Growth Wayne Winegarden March 2024 With the introduction of AB 2200, advocates are, once again, proposing that California adopt a single payer healthcare system. Ostensibly, their proposed CalCare system would streamline payments, lower per-capita spending, guarantee “quality health care and ...
Business & Economics

Read the latest on California's reparations proposal

Here’s what California’s radical reparations plan will cost taxpayers

Much of the discussion surrounding the push for reparations in California, New York and cities like San Francisco center on the historical justifications for mass payouts. Yet, as the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras said, “Numbers rule the universe.” Reparations proponents in California are quick to dismiss criticisms over cost. ...
Blog

Spending Watch

Too Much Government Spending and Volatile Tax Revenues Drive State’s Budget Problem

Too Much Government Spending and Volatile Tax Revenues Drive State’s Budget Problem Wayne Winegarden March 2024 This analysis is the first publication of Spending Watch, a new initiative from the Pacific Research Institute. Spending Watch is a resource that evaluates the revenue, spending, and economic impacts of major budget and ...
Business & Economics

Read on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation's latest regulation proposal

Misguided California Regulation Would Hinder Useful Financial Tool

To a hammer, everything is a nail, and so it is with California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Don’t let the “innovation” in the agency’s name fool you – far too many of its regulations deter rather than promote innovative solutions as evidenced by the agency’s recent stance ...
Scroll to Top