Blog
Blog
Support, Not Stimulus or Political Favoritism
Governor Newsom has announced his stimulus plans for the state economy, the “Equitable Recovery for California’s Business and Jobs” plan. While increased support to those who are harmed is necessary, neither California nor the U.S. require an economic stimulus, as traditionally defined. To see why, consider the state and national ...
Wayne Winegarden
January 11, 2021
Blog
Winners and Losers – January 8
Tim Anaya, Senior Director of Communications Winner: Stacey Abrams – Say what you will about her, but there’s no doubt that the former Georgia House Democratic leader and failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate succeeded beyond her wildest imagination this week in her decade-long effort to turn Georgia blue with the election ...
Pacific Research Institute
January 8, 2021
Blog
How 2020 Was Good and Bad for California Governor Gavin Newsom
In the wild year that was 2020, many political stars rose and fell. None may have gone on quite the roller coaster ride than California Governor Newsom. Since each month of last year felt like a lifetime, I thought I’d review some of the good and bad moments from Newsom’s ...
Evan Harris
January 7, 2021
Blog
At The Intersection Of Lockdown Business Destruction And A Minimum-Wage Hike
Way back in August, in what seems like an entirely different historical era, when California was open relative to the restrictions we’re under today, 44% of small business owners said they were at risk of permanent closure in the next six months, unless they received additional stimulus funding. Six percent ...
Kerry Jackson
January 6, 2021
Blog
Get Ready for Redistricting Dominoes to Fall
With the beginning of the new year, work now begins on the drawing of California’s new legislative and congressional lines. Several years back, voters enacted a ballot measure to give the power to draw district lines to an independent citizen’s commission. They will produce final maps by fall 2021, which ...
Tim Anaya
January 5, 2021
Blog
New Year, New Laws
It’s been a tough year, and we hope that Californians can get back on their feet in 2021. Unfortunately, many of the new laws that took effect on January 1 won’t be helping. To borrow from Kermit the frog — it’s not easy being Blue. I’ve picked out a few ...
Rowena Itchon
January 4, 2021
Blog
2020’s Winners and Losers
Recently, the PRI All Stars (Rowena Itchon, Ben Smithwick, Lance Izumi, Evan Harris and Tim Anaya) got together to hand out their annual 2020 year end awards on PRI’s “Next Round” podcast. Below are their choices for the biggest winners and losers of 2020. To hear their other award winners, ...
Pacific Research Institute
December 31, 2020
Blog
The NCAA Goes to Washington
In mid-December, the U.S. Supreme Court signaled their intent to wade into the student athlete compensation debate. The Supreme Court combined two cases, National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston and American Athletic Conference v. Alston, and plans to hear oral arguments this spring. The NCAA, Congress and state legislatures have ...
Evan Harris
December 30, 2020
Blog
What’s Up with the New “California Driver Benefits Fee”?
Uber customers might have noticed a new fee that’s appearing on their charges. Now, who do we have to thank for that? Oh, yes, the lawmakers who tried to destroy the gig economy and its millions of jobs. Uber added a “California Driver Benefits Fee” to its charges on Dec. ...
Kerry Jackson
December 29, 2020
Blog
PRI Advances Free Market Policy Victories in Challenging, Turbulent Year
This year has been a challenging one for our nation – and a particularly turbulent time in PRI’s home state of California. 2020 ushered in weeks of rioting and protesting, devastating wildfires, pandemic restrictions and draconian lockdowns, a worsening homelessness crisis, and unaccountable social services. We saw a continued exodus ...
Ben Smithwick
December 28, 2020
Support, Not Stimulus or Political Favoritism
Governor Newsom has announced his stimulus plans for the state economy, the “Equitable Recovery for California’s Business and Jobs” plan. While increased support to those who are harmed is necessary, neither California nor the U.S. require an economic stimulus, as traditionally defined. To see why, consider the state and national ...
Winners and Losers – January 8
Tim Anaya, Senior Director of Communications Winner: Stacey Abrams – Say what you will about her, but there’s no doubt that the former Georgia House Democratic leader and failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate succeeded beyond her wildest imagination this week in her decade-long effort to turn Georgia blue with the election ...
How 2020 Was Good and Bad for California Governor Gavin Newsom
In the wild year that was 2020, many political stars rose and fell. None may have gone on quite the roller coaster ride than California Governor Newsom. Since each month of last year felt like a lifetime, I thought I’d review some of the good and bad moments from Newsom’s ...
At The Intersection Of Lockdown Business Destruction And A Minimum-Wage Hike
Way back in August, in what seems like an entirely different historical era, when California was open relative to the restrictions we’re under today, 44% of small business owners said they were at risk of permanent closure in the next six months, unless they received additional stimulus funding. Six percent ...
Get Ready for Redistricting Dominoes to Fall
With the beginning of the new year, work now begins on the drawing of California’s new legislative and congressional lines. Several years back, voters enacted a ballot measure to give the power to draw district lines to an independent citizen’s commission. They will produce final maps by fall 2021, which ...
New Year, New Laws
It’s been a tough year, and we hope that Californians can get back on their feet in 2021. Unfortunately, many of the new laws that took effect on January 1 won’t be helping. To borrow from Kermit the frog — it’s not easy being Blue. I’ve picked out a few ...
2020’s Winners and Losers
Recently, the PRI All Stars (Rowena Itchon, Ben Smithwick, Lance Izumi, Evan Harris and Tim Anaya) got together to hand out their annual 2020 year end awards on PRI’s “Next Round” podcast. Below are their choices for the biggest winners and losers of 2020. To hear their other award winners, ...
The NCAA Goes to Washington
In mid-December, the U.S. Supreme Court signaled their intent to wade into the student athlete compensation debate. The Supreme Court combined two cases, National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston and American Athletic Conference v. Alston, and plans to hear oral arguments this spring. The NCAA, Congress and state legislatures have ...
What’s Up with the New “California Driver Benefits Fee”?
Uber customers might have noticed a new fee that’s appearing on their charges. Now, who do we have to thank for that? Oh, yes, the lawmakers who tried to destroy the gig economy and its millions of jobs. Uber added a “California Driver Benefits Fee” to its charges on Dec. ...
PRI Advances Free Market Policy Victories in Challenging, Turbulent Year
This year has been a challenging one for our nation – and a particularly turbulent time in PRI’s home state of California. 2020 ushered in weeks of rioting and protesting, devastating wildfires, pandemic restrictions and draconian lockdowns, a worsening homelessness crisis, and unaccountable social services. We saw a continued exodus ...