SB 768 cigarette tax could promote smuggling

May 30, 2013 By Katy Grimes A new bill could drive cigarette prices even higher. It especially would hit working-class Californians because they’re more likely to smoke than professionals. SB 768 is by state Sen. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles. It would

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Property rights score victory in Alameda County

May 29, 2013 By Wayne Lusvardi Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court John Roberts once observed that it was virtually impossible for any landowner to win a regulatory property takings case against local government.  This was because the case

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As CA eyes big-box ban, Wal-Mart fan ascends at White House

May 29, 2013 By Chris Reed As hard left as it can seem, even the Obama administration isn’t as doctrinaire as the leftists who dominate Sacramento. As I have written about several times for Cal Watchdog, state Democrats and even

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Panetta panel pushed gun control

May 28, 2013 By John Seiler Former SecDef Leon Panetta, also a former congressman from Monterey, on Monday convened a panel on gun control. Although some gun defenders were there, this mainly was a pro-gun control powwow. It’s significant that

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Site problems

May 28, 2013, 12:53 pm By John Seiler Earlier today we has some problems with our site, but now it’s up. We’re sorry for the inconvenience. –John Seiler, Managing Editor  

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Downside of costly energy dawning on Europe. CA next?

May 24, 2013 By Chris Reed One of the most befuddling things about being a public-policy watcher in California in recent years has been the durability of the argument that the higher energy costs forced by 2006’s passage of AB

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One more Obamacare snafu

May 23, 2013 By Katy Grimes There is yet one more snafu in the Obamacare health care law — paying for it. The new federal health law, going into effect January 1, 2014, requires most Americans to carry health insurance.

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Assembly bill would extend ‘cradle-to-career’ state education

May 21, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — Some California educators want to educate your children “cradle-to-career.” In support of President Obama’s proposal to significantly increase federal spending on early childhood education and care, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 45 is by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber,

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Obama-connected Media Matters smeared prez critics

May 21, 2013 By John Seiler Last year, the Obama-connected left-wing group Media Matters engaged in a vendetta against the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is a venerable, old, bipartisan group that helps legislators craft bills. Media Matters was upset

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Leg still obsessed with tax increases

May 18, 2013 By John Seiler So much new revenue is flowing into California that Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Revise budget projected an extra $4.5 billion this year. But even that was too low for Legislative Analyst, who projected another

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