State Budget
Commentary
Are Electric Car Subsidies Just Giveaways To The Wealthy?
Gov. Jerry Brown and some California lawmakers are pushing Golden State drivers to the fast lane of an all-electric car future. For example, San Francisco Democrat Phil Ting has introduced legislation to outlaw the sale of traditional gas-powered cars by the year 2040. My colleague Kerry Jackson has called this idea “a ...
Blog
Herding Cats and Moving the Ball Forward
Tim Anaya interviews Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Over the years, I had the opportunity to work for 9 consecutive Assembly Republican Leaders. To say that leading the minority party in California is a great challenge is an understatement. Transitioning from being one Senator ...
California
Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates – The View from Under the Dome
Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates joins us as she celebrates her one-year anniversary as Leader to discuss the top issues on the agenda at the State Capitol – poverty, health care reform, transportation, the state budget, taxes, and her caucus’ priorities for 2018.
Commentary
Put Medicaid Back to Work Helping the Truly Unfortunate
Some Americans may soon have to punch a time clock to qualify for Medicaid. Last month, the Trump administration announced that states could seek federal permission to require people to work, attend school, or otherwise contribute to the community in order to receive Medicaid benefits. Kentucky’s plan to mandate 80 ...
Blog
There They Go Again!
One of Ronald Reagan’s legendary lines in a debate with Jimmy Carter was, “There you go again!” When it comes to the UC and CSU system continually threatening to raise tuition unless the Legislature gives them (even) more money, California taxpayers are crying, “There you go again!” This annual budget ...
California
California Can’t Afford Single-Payer Health Care Fantasy
A civil war is brewing within California’s Democratic party. Progressives — led by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the frontrunner for governor, and the politically powerful California Nurses Association — plan to fight for a single-payer healthcare system this year. Their more moderate rivals — among them Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ...
Blog
The State of the State’s Pensions Is Not So Strong
The governor covered quite a few topics in Thursday’s State of the State address, some of them in more detail than others. But one he skimmed over that should have received more attention is the state’s public-employee pension crisis. It was mentioned only twice, both times references to a reform ...
California
Sacramento’s Next Battle – How To Spend A $6.1 Billion Budget Surplus
Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed the biggest state budget in history. He wants to spend $131.7 billion from the general fund, about 5 percent more than is being spent from the $125 billion 2016-17 budget he signed last year. His 16th and final budget also includes a surplus, which some ...
Blog
California’s “Greatest Showman” Opens His Last Budget Circus
Last week, I had the chance to see the new movie “The Greatest Showman” about P.T. Barnum and how his dreams to set up his famous circus became a reality. Hugh Jackman and the very entertaining cast deliver a crowd-pleasing and empowering performance. After watching the movie, I started thinking ...
California
Expanding SF Restaurant Surcharge Statewide is a Bad Idea
Dining at a premium San Francisco restaurant will always be expensive. But add in the cost of The City’s health care surcharge and eating out, even at modest and lesser establishments, is even more expensive. What’s more, one gubernatorial candidate wants to expand the program that requires the surcharge to ...
Are Electric Car Subsidies Just Giveaways To The Wealthy?
Gov. Jerry Brown and some California lawmakers are pushing Golden State drivers to the fast lane of an all-electric car future. For example, San Francisco Democrat Phil Ting has introduced legislation to outlaw the sale of traditional gas-powered cars by the year 2040. My colleague Kerry Jackson has called this idea “a ...
Herding Cats and Moving the Ball Forward
Tim Anaya interviews Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Over the years, I had the opportunity to work for 9 consecutive Assembly Republican Leaders. To say that leading the minority party in California is a great challenge is an understatement. Transitioning from being one Senator ...
Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates – The View from Under the Dome
Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates joins us as she celebrates her one-year anniversary as Leader to discuss the top issues on the agenda at the State Capitol – poverty, health care reform, transportation, the state budget, taxes, and her caucus’ priorities for 2018.
Put Medicaid Back to Work Helping the Truly Unfortunate
Some Americans may soon have to punch a time clock to qualify for Medicaid. Last month, the Trump administration announced that states could seek federal permission to require people to work, attend school, or otherwise contribute to the community in order to receive Medicaid benefits. Kentucky’s plan to mandate 80 ...
There They Go Again!
One of Ronald Reagan’s legendary lines in a debate with Jimmy Carter was, “There you go again!” When it comes to the UC and CSU system continually threatening to raise tuition unless the Legislature gives them (even) more money, California taxpayers are crying, “There you go again!” This annual budget ...
California Can’t Afford Single-Payer Health Care Fantasy
A civil war is brewing within California’s Democratic party. Progressives — led by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the frontrunner for governor, and the politically powerful California Nurses Association — plan to fight for a single-payer healthcare system this year. Their more moderate rivals — among them Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ...
The State of the State’s Pensions Is Not So Strong
The governor covered quite a few topics in Thursday’s State of the State address, some of them in more detail than others. But one he skimmed over that should have received more attention is the state’s public-employee pension crisis. It was mentioned only twice, both times references to a reform ...
Sacramento’s Next Battle – How To Spend A $6.1 Billion Budget Surplus
Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed the biggest state budget in history. He wants to spend $131.7 billion from the general fund, about 5 percent more than is being spent from the $125 billion 2016-17 budget he signed last year. His 16th and final budget also includes a surplus, which some ...
California’s “Greatest Showman” Opens His Last Budget Circus
Last week, I had the chance to see the new movie “The Greatest Showman” about P.T. Barnum and how his dreams to set up his famous circus became a reality. Hugh Jackman and the very entertaining cast deliver a crowd-pleasing and empowering performance. After watching the movie, I started thinking ...
Expanding SF Restaurant Surcharge Statewide is a Bad Idea
Dining at a premium San Francisco restaurant will always be expensive. But add in the cost of The City’s health care surcharge and eating out, even at modest and lesser establishments, is even more expensive. What’s more, one gubernatorial candidate wants to expand the program that requires the surcharge to ...
