January 2015 | Page 2 of 10

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Correa could benefit from his bill to accept late ballots

Former state Sen. Lou Correa, D-Anaheim, is down but not out of the race for the Orange County Board of Supervisors. If he ultimately prevails, he can thank a change in state law to accept late absentee ballots, a bill authored by

CA road use tax could morph into social engineering experiment

Chris Reed January 28, 2015

The prospect that Californians will face a new state levy is certain to cause grousing and considerable comment. But a proposal that is increasingly making waves has far-reaching implications and possibilities that have yet to be acknowledged. This is from

Comparing CalPERS and CalSTRS with AT&T retirement

Wayne Lusvardi January 27, 2015

Following yesterday’s CalWatchdog.com story, “State pensions improve, but members living longer,” it would be useful to compare California’s two large state retirement funds with a roughly equivalent private one, AT&T. Most private companies have switched to “defined contribution” pension plans, in

Gun groups urge Supreme Court to take up SF gun case

John January 27, 2015

More than a dozen Second Amendment groups are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a high-profile challenge to a San Francisco gun-control measure. Led by the Firearms Policy Coalition, gun groups say the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

CA Dem vs. CA Dem on taxes

John Seiler January 27, 2015

One-party systems are inherently unstable. People inevitably choose sides. And budget realities always limit what government can do, bringing conflict. So it’s not surprising Democrats in California, who dominate the minority Republicans despite some GOP gains last November, are fighting

Contra Costa County government scandal: Third World R Us?

Chris Reed January 27, 2015

It’s long been common in politics for one side to comment on how alleged wrongdoing is covered by the media if their side does it versus how it’s covered if it’s the other side doing it. But this tactic and/or

State pensions improve, but members living longer

Wayne Lusvardi January 26, 2015

Is it morning in California for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System? Both CalPERS and CalSTRS’ funds have performed better lately, even as members are living longer. CalPERS is doing much better since 2008,

CA tests 4-year community college plan

James Poulos January 26, 2015

On the heels of a high-profile presidential push for free community college, California has committed to an expansion program for the typically two-year schools. In what could be a model for advocates who support President Obama’s agenda for free community college

Challenge to CA union dues heads to Supreme Court

John Seiler January 26, 2015

Are union dues mandatory? The U.S. Supreme Court is closeer to taking up that controversy. According to the Center for Individual Rights, which defends individual workers’ rights not to belong to unions and pay dues, specifically to the California Teachers