Dave Roberts, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts

Assembly subcommittee flunks UC budget

Tuition hikes marched to the head of the class at a recent hearing of California Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance. Assembly members balked at a 28 percent tuition hike advanced by UC President Janet Napolitano and approved by the University of

Entrepreneurs fret over CA business climate

Dave Roberts February 17, 2015

Although California’s economy is finally picking up after seven years of recessionary blues, many small business owners continue to feel government is hurting more than helping them. That was one of the messages from entrepreneurs at a Feb. 11 hearing

Soaring costs vex health care witnesses

Dave Roberts February 10, 2015

The escalating cost of health care is making sick patients wait until they get sicker before receiving the medicine that would cure them. That was one of the warnings from a Feb. 4 California Senate Health Committee hearing titled, ”Making Health Care Affordable:

Californians distrust state government

Dave Roberts January 30, 2015

Nine out of 10 Californians believe state government wastes their tax dollars. Two-thirds believe state government is run for the benefit of a few special interests and state officials cannot be trusted to do the right thing. Those results from a

State facing flood protection shortfall

Dave Roberts January 22, 2015

With California mired in the third year of drought, it might seem strange that an Assembly committee recently held a hearing on flooding. That is, unless you’re one of the 6.6 million northern California residents who received a National Weather

CA Analyst warns against budget spending spree

Dave Roberts January 16, 2015

With California’s state budget in the best shape in years, Democratic legislators are eager to open the spending spigots. But they were cautioned at an Assembly Budget Committee hearing Jan. 15 that the good economic times could end as

Report finds inaccuracies in Covered CA doctor lists

Dave Roberts December 23, 2014

What good is medical insurance if you can’t find a doctor? A recent investigation by the California Department of Managed Health Care found a quarter of the doctors listed in the provider directories for two of California’s top Affordable Care Act insurance plans

Tax board criticized for delays

Dave Roberts December 10, 2014

California’s Franchise Tax Board is taking too long to complete audits and resolve taxpayers’ refund claims, protests and appeals, costing businesses hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the California Taxpayers Association. Gina Rodriquez, vice president of state tax

Is CA prepared for Ebola?

Dave Roberts November 26, 2014

The Ebola virus has yet to hit California, but it’s likely coming, according to state health officials. They say the state is prepared, but nurses on the health care front lines aren’t so sure. “Given the spread of Ebola

Open-enrollment headache again strikes Covered CA

Dave Roberts November 13, 2014

If you thought the rollout of Obamacare was problematic last year, this year could be worse — including its implementation here, called Covered California. State officials are still struggling to clear a huge backlog of Medi-Cal applications from the