January 2016 | CalWatchdog.com

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Falling gas revenue sharpens CA infrastructure fight

As revenues from the statewide gasoline tax tanked amid low prices, lawmakers in Sacramento faced a fiercer debate over how to fund California’s much-needed infrastructure improvements. In the meanwhile, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration went ahead with huge cuts to the

County payroll hikes stay ahead of population increases

Steve Miller January 30, 2016

Sierra County, tucked in the foothills once traversed by the Donner Party along the Nevada border, has seen its population dip 7 percent since 2010 to 3,000 souls. Meantime, though, the county’s payroll increased from $7 million in 2013 to

Bullet train shifts focus from SoCal to Bay Area

James Poulos January 29, 2016

California’s beleaguered high-speed rail project has hit a new snag, likely shifting its proposed construction strategy away from the Southland-first plan it had initially adopted. “The state rail authority is studying an alternative to build the first segment in the

Schism grows between San Francisco leaders, police

Chris Reed January 29, 2016

San Francisco could be on the brink of a schism between the police union and city leaders that rivals or exceeds the animosity seen in New York City between the police union and Mayor Bill de Blasio in the winter

Hyperloop soon to break ground

James Poulos January 28, 2016

Despite a consistent chorus of criticism from naysayers, the Hyperloop ultra-fast rail project has broken new ground, with a rapid timetable in place for its California debut. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, one of the leading companies dedicated to taking SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s revolutionary

Jerry Brown for president? Two interesting angles

Chris Reed January 28, 2016

Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters observed in a column last Friday that Gov. Jerry Brown might still have the White House itch: Does the three-time White House hopeful read about Hillary Clinton’s slide and left-winger Bernie Sanders’ surge in their

North/south rivalry renewed over high-speed rail, Delta tunnels

Joel Fox January 28, 2016

California’s historic north/south rivalry appears to be writing a new chapter over Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed big legacy projects: the bullet train and delta tunnels. The rivalry is sure to heat up over a report that the California High-Speed Rail

U.S. tax policy undercuts CA water conservation push

Chris Reed January 27, 2016

Even before the current marathon drought, turf replacement subsidies have long been touted by the state government as a powerful way to get California homeowners to stop having water-guzzling lawns. But the federal government sees these subsidies as taxable income.

CA Dems face election year divides

James Poulos January 27, 2016

Conflicts over the spoils of Democratic leadership in California have come to define the party’s prospects and future in 2016 and beyond. Division and disagreement Falling victim to their extreme dominance in statewide politics, an increasing number of Democrats have sharpened their blades

“Tampon tax” cut earns big bump

Matt Fleming January 27, 2016

The state’s Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate unanimously voted to support a bipartisan bill cutting sales tax on menstrual hygiene products — like tampons and sanitary napkins — giving the effort a big boost. The bill’s primary author, Assemblywoman Christina Garcia, has