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CalWatchdog Staff
Budget Ignores Public Employee Reform
JUNE 29, 2010 Commentary By LANNY EBENSTEIN The state budget approved on Tuesday is the wrong way forward for the state of California. Though this budget does not rely upon new or extended general taxes, it would cut many vital
Read MoreJohn Shirey Calls The Kettle Black
Steven Greenhut: The California Redevelopment Association’s claim that the state’s attempt to take money from redevelopment agencies is a form of “illegal extortion” is one of the most hypocritical and otherworldly statements I’ve heard in a long while. Never mind
Read MoreDemocrats Pass Hinky Budget
JUNE 29, 2011 By KATY GRIMES With a surprising lack of debate between parties, the California Legislature passed the budget late last evening, and only with a majority vote, attempting to close what began the year as a $26.6 billion
Read MoreShallow Cuts For Lifeguard Pensions
Katy Grimes: With the recent discovery that many Southern California lifeguards receive the same fat pensions as other “public safety” officers and fire fighters, the public outcry at the absurdity is apparently paying off. The Newport Beach City Council is
Read MoreBrown, Leg Conjure Up Phantom Budget
JUNE 28, 2011 By KATY GRIMES In the shadow of the 2009 tax increases set to expire this Friday July 1, Gov. Jerry Brown and the Democrat party leadership announced Monday that a majority-vote budget deal had been reached. There
Read MoreBut — It's Still a Phony Budget
John Seiler: If a new budget passes as described in news accounts, Controller John Chiang should continue withholding legislators’ pay. That’s because the deal worked out between Gov. Jerry Brown and the dominant Democrats in the Legislature still would be
Read MoreJuly 1 Tax Cut Will Boost CA Economy
NOTE: This article first appeared yesterday in Flashreport.org. JUNE 28, 2011 By JOHN SEILER Assuming Republicans in the Legislature stand solid, Californians could get an early Independence Day gift this year: tax cuts. And that gift will provide a needed
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Redevelopment is Prop. 13 in Reverse
JUNE 28, 2011 by WAYNE LUSVARDI To California redevelopment advocates, the policy brings the Midas touch to cities, turning everything into gold for the Golden State. Redevelopment fans point to all the beautiful new malls, restored Old Town business districts, industrial
Read MoreLittle Hoover Critiques Community Colleges
JUNE 28, 2011 By DAVE ROBERTS If California’s educational system were a student, it would be made to sit on a stool in the corner with a dunce cap on its head. Nearly one in four Californians is functionally illiterate,
Read MoreDem Budget Deals In Hope
Katy Grimes: Democratic legislators and Gov. Jerry Brown announced today that they have reached a majority-vote budget deal – without Republican votes or any of the reforms Republicans have pushed for. Legislators will begin voting on the plan on Tuesday.
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