California
Blog
Death by a Thousand Cuts: Andrew Gruel on the Cost of Regulations for California Restaurants
The challenge is not a single overwhelming regulation, it is accumulation. California layers rule upon rule, each one defensible on its own. Over time, those requirements reshape how restaurants hire, price, expand (or not), and compete. What appears manageable on paper becomes costly in practice. Restaurants are high-transaction, high-labor businesses. ...
California
Empty home tax failed elsewhere — why try it here?
Maybe 2026 is the year of the tax hike in a state where taxes are already an existential burden. Among the many proposed hikes is San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s call for up to a $15,000 annual levy on empty second homes in the city through a proposed June ballot ...
Blog
Sanders, Wealth Tax Proponents Could Chase $30 Billion in Revenue Out of State
“The billionaire class no longer sees itself as part of American society,” said Sanders, a Vermont socialist and winner of the 2020 California Democratic presidential primary by 8 percentage points over eventual nominee and president Joe Biden. “They see themselves as something separate and apart, like the oligarchs of the 18th century, ...
California
Top California Journalists Discuss the California Governor’s Race
From PRI’s 2026 California Ideas in Action Conference, hear some of California’s top journalists and opinion writers discuss the state of the California governor’s race, and legacy of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. Moderated by attorney, political analyst and former reporter Melissa Caen, panelists include Marisa Lagos of KQED Radio, Politico’s ...
Blog
Spending Watch
Spending Watch: Californians Will Pay a High Price for Tom Steyer’s “Split-Role” Proposal
Californians Will Pay a High Price for Tom Steyer’s “Split-Role” Proposal Wayne Winegarden March 2026 Gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer supports “a special election to raise corporate taxes in his first year as governor.” Specifically, he favors removing the Proposition 13 tax limitations for commercial properties – an idea referred to ...
Blog
California Is Falling Behind On Jobs: Can It Move Beyond The Crossroads?
While the state has become known for its mounting troubles, at least the California economy is growing. But all isn’t as well as it might seem. When compared the rest of the country, California’s jobs market is one of the weakest. Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show California’s total employment ...
California
Sacramento “Ideas in Action” Conference 2026
Sacramento “Ideas in Action” Conference 2026 A Conversation with US Attorney Eric Grant From PRI’s 2026 California Ideas in Action Conference watch new US Attorney for Eastern California Eric Grant, in conversation with Free Cities Center Director Steven Greenhut. Preceding their discussion, watch conference opening remarks from PRI President, CEO ...
Blog
Arizona cities should be blocked from blocking short-term rentals
Ten years ago, then-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed Senate Bill 1350 into law, preventing local governments from banning short-term rentals in their respective jurisdictions. “For thousands of hardworking citizens, opening up their home to out-of-state guests provides the financial breathing room they need to provide for their family or enjoy ...
California
An Evening with Jason Riley
In this special episode of Next Round, we present a recent talk from author, Manhattan Institute senior fellow and Wall Street Journal opinion columnist Jason Riley – delivered at a February PRI event in Pasadena. He talked about his latest book, The Affirmative Action Myth, and the ongoing debate over affirmative ...
Blog
Does California Need Billionaires?
If supporters are able to rack up 874 ,641 signatures, the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Should it pass, it will levy “a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth.” Rather than waiting until voters make their decision, a few billionaires have already left California, including PayPal and ...
Death by a Thousand Cuts: Andrew Gruel on the Cost of Regulations for California Restaurants
The challenge is not a single overwhelming regulation, it is accumulation. California layers rule upon rule, each one defensible on its own. Over time, those requirements reshape how restaurants hire, price, expand (or not), and compete. What appears manageable on paper becomes costly in practice. Restaurants are high-transaction, high-labor businesses. ...
Empty home tax failed elsewhere — why try it here?
Maybe 2026 is the year of the tax hike in a state where taxes are already an existential burden. Among the many proposed hikes is San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s call for up to a $15,000 annual levy on empty second homes in the city through a proposed June ballot ...
Sanders, Wealth Tax Proponents Could Chase $30 Billion in Revenue Out of State
“The billionaire class no longer sees itself as part of American society,” said Sanders, a Vermont socialist and winner of the 2020 California Democratic presidential primary by 8 percentage points over eventual nominee and president Joe Biden. “They see themselves as something separate and apart, like the oligarchs of the 18th century, ...
Top California Journalists Discuss the California Governor’s Race
From PRI’s 2026 California Ideas in Action Conference, hear some of California’s top journalists and opinion writers discuss the state of the California governor’s race, and legacy of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. Moderated by attorney, political analyst and former reporter Melissa Caen, panelists include Marisa Lagos of KQED Radio, Politico’s ...
Spending Watch
Spending Watch: Californians Will Pay a High Price for Tom Steyer’s “Split-Role” Proposal
Californians Will Pay a High Price for Tom Steyer’s “Split-Role” Proposal Wayne Winegarden March 2026 Gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer supports “a special election to raise corporate taxes in his first year as governor.” Specifically, he favors removing the Proposition 13 tax limitations for commercial properties – an idea referred to ...
California Is Falling Behind On Jobs: Can It Move Beyond The Crossroads?
While the state has become known for its mounting troubles, at least the California economy is growing. But all isn’t as well as it might seem. When compared the rest of the country, California’s jobs market is one of the weakest. Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show California’s total employment ...
Sacramento “Ideas in Action” Conference 2026
Sacramento “Ideas in Action” Conference 2026 A Conversation with US Attorney Eric Grant From PRI’s 2026 California Ideas in Action Conference watch new US Attorney for Eastern California Eric Grant, in conversation with Free Cities Center Director Steven Greenhut. Preceding their discussion, watch conference opening remarks from PRI President, CEO ...
Arizona cities should be blocked from blocking short-term rentals
Ten years ago, then-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed Senate Bill 1350 into law, preventing local governments from banning short-term rentals in their respective jurisdictions. “For thousands of hardworking citizens, opening up their home to out-of-state guests provides the financial breathing room they need to provide for their family or enjoy ...
An Evening with Jason Riley
In this special episode of Next Round, we present a recent talk from author, Manhattan Institute senior fellow and Wall Street Journal opinion columnist Jason Riley – delivered at a February PRI event in Pasadena. He talked about his latest book, The Affirmative Action Myth, and the ongoing debate over affirmative ...
Does California Need Billionaires?
If supporters are able to rack up 874 ,641 signatures, the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Should it pass, it will levy “a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth.” Rather than waiting until voters make their decision, a few billionaires have already left California, including PayPal and ...