Steven Greenhut, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From Steven Greenhut

Steven Greenhut

Steven Greenhut is CalWatchdog’s contributing editor. Greenhut was deputy editor and columnist for The Orange County Register for 11 years. He is author of the new book, “Plunder! How Public Employee Unions are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation.”

Raft of new state laws are going – or have gone – into effect

SACRAMENTO – California Gov. Jerry Brown signed 898 bills into law last year. Most start on Jan. 1, but others going into effect in coming years. The majority of new laws deal with minutiae that’s unlikely to affect most residents, but a number

CalPERS considers – then rejects – efforts to end tobacco divestment

Steven Greenhut December 20, 2016

SACRAMENTO – As the nation’s largest state-based pension fund, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System is known for using its massive investment muscle to promote various social-investment causes. So-called ESGs – Environmental, Social and Governance issues – are a major

Court OKs constitutional challenge to new state law affecting farm industry

Steven Greenhut December 13, 2016

SACRAMENTO – A federal appeals court last week has taken the highly unusual step of finding a U.S. constitutional cause of action in a challenge to a California state law – the latest wrinkle in a long-running and bitter dispute

New legislative session puts bail-bonds industry under microscope

Steven Greenhut December 6, 2016

SACRAMENTO – At a press conference in the Capitol on Monday morning, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom explained that although he has long championed various reforms to the state’s criminal-justice system, he had in the past rarely even thought about

Police-reform spotlight shines on the local level

Steven Greenhut November 29, 2016

SACRAMENTO – The presidential campaign focused some attention on the long-simmering debate over policing and the appropriate uses of force, but as is typical with national campaigns, the nuances got lost amid ideologically charged soundbites such as “law and order”

CalPERS staff nudges board to consider lower return rates

Steven Greenhut November 22, 2016

SACRAMENTO – There’s bad news coming down the pike for California municipalities following several days of board meetings for the nation’s largest state-based pension fund. Although no action has been taken, it’s clear the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or

Bail reform tops criminal-justice efforts in next legislative session

Steven Greenhut November 15, 2016

California has long been known as a law-and-order state, particularly following the crime spikes of the 1980s. The state passed the toughest “three strikes” law in the nation and state officials from both parties often have argued over who would

California voters defy trend – by voting as expected

Steven Greenhut November 9, 2016

SACRAMENTO – Whereas the national election results shocked and surprised pollsters and many media observers, California’s results from Election Day conformed almost exactly to pre-election polls and predictions. Some of the big races were foregone conclusions, such as Attorney General

San Diego council chief trying to quickly push through Airbnb ‘ban’

Steven Greenhut November 1, 2016

A common spectacle takes place at the state Capitol at the end of every session. Legislative leaders who have been unsuccessful advancing their bills through the usual system move them ahead instead through the gut-and-amend process. Language from an innocuous

Competing death-penalty measures revive old feud

Steven Greenhut October 25, 2016

SACRAMENTO – Thirty years ago, California voters did something unprecedented (and not seen since): They bounced Chief Justice Rose Bird from the supreme court. Two other state high-court justices also failed to win reconfirmation to the court, following an intense