John Seiler, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From John Seiler

John Seiler

John Seiler has been writing about California for 25 years. That includes 22 years as an editorial writer for the Orange County Register and two years for CalWatchDog.com, where he is managing editor. He attended the University of Michigan and graduated from Hillsdale College. He was a Russian linguist in U.S. Army military intelligence from 1978 to 1982. He was an editor and writer for Phillips Publishing Company from 1983 to 1986. He has written for Policy Review, Chronicles, LewRockwell.com, Flash Report and numerous other publications. His email: [email protected]

L.A. changes election dates

Occasionally an election itself epitomizes a political situation. That was the case Tuesday with the Los Angeles primary. The main items on the ballot were Charter Amendment 1 and Amendment 2, which respectively changed the city and LAUSD elections to

Supreme Court could throw redistricting back to Legislature

John Seiler March 3, 2015

California’s redistricting reforms could be revoked by the U.S. Supreme Court for congressional races in a case involving similar reforms in Arizona. State legislative races would not be affected, only races for the U.S. House of Representatives. Proposition 11, the

Berkeley finds it’s not easy imposing soda tax

John Seiler March 3, 2015

The city of Berkeley, Calif., is finding it’s not so easy imposing a soda tax. Since the tax’s Jan. 1 imposition, retailers find it’s a burden changing prices for just one type of item in one city. Measure D, officially

USC Poll: Voters like Brown as governor, but favor Clinton for president

John Seiler March 2, 2015

A new USC Dornsife poll shows Gov. Jerry Brown is as popular as ever — but voters want to keep him in California, not send him to the White House. With the economy improving, his “California is back” message playing well and

Solar power causing problems with electricity grid

John Seiler March 1, 2015

One theme CalWatchdog.com has covered is how solar power can cause problems to the state’s existing electricity grid. An investigation a year ago found: An emerging problem with California’s new green power grid is the need to ramp up enough conventional power

Voters want better roads, payment uncertain

John Seiler February 28, 2015

A new Field Poll found California registered voters want more construction and repairs to the state’s shaky road system. But they’re stuck before a fork in the road when it comes to paying for them. A whopping 71 percent favor

Cartoon: Leonard Nimoy, RIP

John Seiler February 27, 2015

Feinstein bill could end ethanol mandate

John Seiler February 27, 2015

A bipartisan bill co-written by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., could end the federal mandate to add ethanol to gasoline. She’s teaming with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. The senator’s website reported yesterday they “are working to repeal a law that drives up the

New poll reveals Californians’ low approval of Congress

John Seiler February 26, 2015

A new Field Poll shows Californians have maintained their recent disdain for the U.S. Congress. During 2000-2003, approval was as high as 50 percent. Today it’s just 18 percent. That’s actually up a little, from the 10 percent to 13 percent

The economics of football stadiums

John Seiler February 26, 2015

CalWatchdog.com has run several stories on the National Football League’s maneuvers with the Los Angeles market, which currently doesn’t have a team. It’s worthwhile to step back a little and consider the economics of sports stadiums, which has been studied thoroughly