Blog
Blog
Learn about an important state budget priority
Public Employee Pay Savings Must Be Part of Budget Solution
California’s record $68 billion deficit for the 2024 fiscal year is a national newsmaker. State government isn’t the only administrative body facing a budget shortfall, though. A number of cities are also finding they have insufficient funds. Officials are busy trying out plans to resolve their financial troubles, but balancing ...
Blog
Get a state budget preview
Three things to watch in Governor’s budget rollout
On Wednesday, Gov. Newsom will unveil his much-anticipated 2024-25 state spending plan, officially kicking off the budget debate at the State Capitol. While the state is facing a $68 billion shortfall according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s office, Newsom said in a December TV interview that, “we have different numbers ...
Blog
Public pension reform needed to balance state budget
The Miracle Of Defined Contributions
The headline says “Florida has an answer” and if so there could be any number of public policy dilemmas that the state has solved, but in this case it’s government employee pensions. California also knows the answer, but there can be a sizable gap between having knowledge and applying it. ...
Blog
An ode to the suburb
An ode to the suburb By Andrew Smith | January 4, 2024 Suburbs are considered the ugly stepchild of American urban design. They’re generally despised, considered bastions of conformity, derided as “cookie-cutter vinyl villages,” considered eyesores and blamed for virtually every malady that has affected urban America. But if they’re ...
Blog
Read latest on debate over changing CA election laws
Are Proposed Election Law Changes Defending ‘Fair and Open Elections’ or ‘Shenanigans’?
You may have missed it during the holiday season, but there was a big political dustup in California over the race to replace Kevin McCarthy in Congress. Assemblyman Vince Fong filed to replace his former boss in Congress, but he had previously filed for re-election. Democratic Secretary of State Shirley ...
Blog
Learn how much you'll be paying for power
Power And Higher Prices To The People
With the arrival of the new year comes higher energy prices for many Californians. Here is how things are looking: One week before Thanksgiving, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a 13% rate hike for Pacific Gas & Electric. It will go into effect on New Year’s Day. But even ...
Blog
Remember PRI in your year-end giving
Your Gift is a Critical Investment in PRI’s Future
As the year draws to a close, the Pacific Research Institute team has taken time to reflect on all that we have accomplished this year. In 2023, our research centers focused on crafting and promoting free-market policies that preserve our nation’s culture of innovation and economic growth, without the suffocating ...
Blog
Read about California's bad new laws for 2024
Less Freedom, More Regulation, Higher Costs: 5 Bad New Laws for 2024
Every day, PRI’s scholars cover the good, the bad, and the ugly coming from the State Capitol. It’s hard to single out the worst of the worst, but here are 5 horrifically noteworthy new state laws with the potential to worsen the quality of life for all. Higher Costs for ...
Blog
Lessons from PRI’s School Board Member Conferences: Your Superintendent Does Not Have the Final Say – You Do.
The highlight of these events, however, was the opportunities for school board members to network and meet like-minded people fighting the same fight in their districts. Many of the school board members in attendance are in the minority on their boards, some being the lone voice of reason. Many are ...
Blog
Oppressive state policies keep cities shackled in chains
Oppressive state policies keep cities shackled in chains By Kerry Jackson | December 26, 2023 Ken Griffin, founder and chairman of hedge fund company Citadel, caused a bit of a stir when he recently suggested that Miami could eventually replace New York City as the nation’s financial capital. “We’ll see ...
Learn about an important state budget priority
Public Employee Pay Savings Must Be Part of Budget Solution
California’s record $68 billion deficit for the 2024 fiscal year is a national newsmaker. State government isn’t the only administrative body facing a budget shortfall, though. A number of cities are also finding they have insufficient funds. Officials are busy trying out plans to resolve their financial troubles, but balancing ...
Get a state budget preview
Three things to watch in Governor’s budget rollout
On Wednesday, Gov. Newsom will unveil his much-anticipated 2024-25 state spending plan, officially kicking off the budget debate at the State Capitol. While the state is facing a $68 billion shortfall according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s office, Newsom said in a December TV interview that, “we have different numbers ...
Public pension reform needed to balance state budget
The Miracle Of Defined Contributions
The headline says “Florida has an answer” and if so there could be any number of public policy dilemmas that the state has solved, but in this case it’s government employee pensions. California also knows the answer, but there can be a sizable gap between having knowledge and applying it. ...
An ode to the suburb
An ode to the suburb By Andrew Smith | January 4, 2024 Suburbs are considered the ugly stepchild of American urban design. They’re generally despised, considered bastions of conformity, derided as “cookie-cutter vinyl villages,” considered eyesores and blamed for virtually every malady that has affected urban America. But if they’re ...
Read latest on debate over changing CA election laws
Are Proposed Election Law Changes Defending ‘Fair and Open Elections’ or ‘Shenanigans’?
You may have missed it during the holiday season, but there was a big political dustup in California over the race to replace Kevin McCarthy in Congress. Assemblyman Vince Fong filed to replace his former boss in Congress, but he had previously filed for re-election. Democratic Secretary of State Shirley ...
Learn how much you'll be paying for power
Power And Higher Prices To The People
With the arrival of the new year comes higher energy prices for many Californians. Here is how things are looking: One week before Thanksgiving, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a 13% rate hike for Pacific Gas & Electric. It will go into effect on New Year’s Day. But even ...
Remember PRI in your year-end giving
Your Gift is a Critical Investment in PRI’s Future
As the year draws to a close, the Pacific Research Institute team has taken time to reflect on all that we have accomplished this year. In 2023, our research centers focused on crafting and promoting free-market policies that preserve our nation’s culture of innovation and economic growth, without the suffocating ...
Read about California's bad new laws for 2024
Less Freedom, More Regulation, Higher Costs: 5 Bad New Laws for 2024
Every day, PRI’s scholars cover the good, the bad, and the ugly coming from the State Capitol. It’s hard to single out the worst of the worst, but here are 5 horrifically noteworthy new state laws with the potential to worsen the quality of life for all. Higher Costs for ...
Lessons from PRI’s School Board Member Conferences: Your Superintendent Does Not Have the Final Say – You Do.
The highlight of these events, however, was the opportunities for school board members to network and meet like-minded people fighting the same fight in their districts. Many of the school board members in attendance are in the minority on their boards, some being the lone voice of reason. Many are ...
Oppressive state policies keep cities shackled in chains
Oppressive state policies keep cities shackled in chains By Kerry Jackson | December 26, 2023 Ken Griffin, founder and chairman of hedge fund company Citadel, caused a bit of a stir when he recently suggested that Miami could eventually replace New York City as the nation’s financial capital. “We’ll see ...
