May 2014 | Page 3 of 10 | CalWatchdog.com

Archive

Texas shale history provides key context on downbeat CA report

The new federal report sharply reducing the amount of oil believed to be “technically recoverable” in California’s Monterey Shale triggered glee among the greens who hate fossil fuels. But as the Bakersfield Californian reported, oil companies hardly saw the report

Would Donnelly run hurt GOP in U.S. House?

John Seiler May 25, 2014

I’ve been watching political campaigns since Barry Goldwater vs. the Ogre LBJ in 1964. And this just doesn’t seem right to me. Roll Call reports on how a victory in the Top Two primary by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly over Neel Kashkari

Typical Sacramento: Weak CalSTRS fix made even weaker

Chris Reed May 24, 2014

So Gov. Jerry Brown is finally forced by events to come up with a CalSTRS pension rescue plan. And as Dan Borenstein points out, it’s so cautious that it doesn’t prevent CalSTRS’ underfunding from getting worse for some time to

Three vie to replace Controller Chiang

John May 23, 2014

Three established California politicians — each from a different region of the state — are asking voters to give them control of the state’s checkbook. Two Democrats, Board of Equalization member Betty Yee and Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, and

Ending water wars could spark tax wars

Wayne Lusvardi May 23, 2014

Phil Isenberg wants to end California’s water wars. The member of the Delta Stewardship Council and its past chair wants to connect the cost of water more closely to its users. According to a report by the California Economic Summit, he

Bring Ol’ Sparky back to CA?

John Seiler May 23, 2014

California hasn’t executed anyone in more than 8 years. And just 14 since it was allowed again in 1978. Problems remain with lawsuits concerning the lethal-injection method. And a proposed initiative would shorten death-penalty appeals. But maybe Tennesses has found

A California vs. Texas analysis that breaks the mold

Chris Reed May 23, 2014

The California vs. Texas fight has gotten stale for my tastes. It’s insanely annoying how so many California defenders simply ignore basic facts like Texas is creating more middle-class jobs or that Texas’ Latino and black students do better than

High-speed rail crashes into high costs

Kathy Hamilton May 22, 2014

Funding for the high-speed rail project keeps chugging along in Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Revision to his budget proposal for fiscal 2014-15, which begins on July 1. He maintained the same funding request from his January budget, $279,316. That’s

CA bullying controversies go national

James Poulos May 22, 2014

America is shocked — and fascinated — by bullying in California. In recent days, several local stories relating to the issue have been picked up by the national news media. Together, they illustrate three important developments. First, policymakers are struggling to determine how

Poll: Special interests run state govt.

John Seiler May 22, 2014

People finally are catching on that “government of the people” isn’t. The Public Policy Institute of California’s new poll finds: “A strong majority says state government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves (68%),