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Back to homepageSchool Funding Reform Skewered by CTA
JULY 11, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI In California, all good ideas for school reform seem to end up in the corner wearing a dunce cap. Back on May 3, I reported on promising development in state Assembly Bill 18, a proposal by Assemblywoman Julia
Read MoreCalderon Pushing Hinky 'Gut-Amend' Bill
JULY 11, 2011 By KATY GRIMES A bill just signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown is apparently being reincarnated — but for what purpose is known only to the bill’s author and perhaps Democratic Party leadership. AB 155, by
Read MoreNew Stem Cell Boss Grabs $400K Salary
JULY 11, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI People are upset. The Los Angeles Times reported that the new chairman California stem cell research center, Jonathan Thomas — an investment banker — will draw a salary of more than $400,000 per year. Current Chairman
Read MoreUnions Might Seek 43% Tax Increase
JULY 10, 2011 By JOHN SEILER California’s government unions could seek a 43 percent tax increase on wealthy Californians. The Contra Costa Times reported on the action, but missed the magnitude of the tax increase. The Times: SACRAMENTO — Labor leaders were
Read MoreVoters Might Get to Kill Death Penalty
Editor’s Note: Some corrections to this article were added after comments from Natasha Minsker, Death Penalty Policy Director of the ACLU of Northern California. JULY 9, 2011 By ALI MEYER If SB 490 becomes law, voters could have a chance to kill the death penalty.
Read MoreDemocrats Kill Abusive Lawsuit Bill
JULY 8, 2011 By KATY GRIMES Commentary There have been several bills in the last few years authored to stop lawyers who file frivilous lawsuits and shakedown businesses for not having “adequate” Americans With Disabilities Act handicapped accessibility. Or who have
Read MoreProp. 13 Circuit Breaker Halts Tax Losses
JULY 8, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI AND CHARLES B. WARREN California’s Proposition 13 is working to halt a larger and faster erosion of the property tax base in Sacramento County and elsewhere around the state. But that is not what
Read MoreInitiative would create citizen Legislature
JULY 8, 2011 By STEVEN GREENHUT A former Republican presidential candidate and long-time political reformer said Wednesday that he plans on leading a statewide initiative effort designed to expand the number of politicians in the state by reducing the size
Read MoreBudget Assumptions Don't Hold Up
JULY 7, 2011 By JOHN SEILER Not even a week old, the California budget Gov. Jerry Brown signed already is out of balance. “They did not cut as much as they needed to, and they pushed up revenue estimates,” Esmael
Read MoreLeg Passes LGBT Textbook Mandate Bill
JULY 6, 2011 By KATY GRIMES A Fourth of July celebration in the Assembly was overshadowed on Tuesday by debate on another bill teaching about LGBT in California public schools. LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. SB 48
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