Blog

George Skelton finally turns on bullet train. Now will Dan Morain?

So it’s been clear for years that when it comes to the bullet train, Gov. Jerry Brown has lost Sac Bee news columnist Dan Walters. This weekend’s column makes it clear that the LAT’s George Skelton is about to jump

ALRB’s Shiroma Backs AB 32

Katy Grimes December 9, 2013

As part of CalWatchdog’s ongoing series reporting about the California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board, it is interesting to note some of the political activities of ALRB Chairwoman Genevieve A. Shiroma, who has been politically active throughout her career. My interview with

Texas-California rivalry hits new phase: burger wars

Chris Reed December 8, 2013

My money’s on the company from California. “World famous California hamburger chain In-N-Out Burger opened a new location in Round Rock Tuesday. “As the first location in Central Texas, the new In-N-Out will allow customers a much easier way to

CalPERS is worried

John Seiler December 8, 2013

Last week, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes ruled that Detroit city workers’ pensions could be part of the Chapter 9 proceedings. So the pensions could be cut substantially. That obviously affects the federal bankruptcy trial for San Bernardino and, potentially, Desert

Bullet-train blog urges $29B in new CA taxes to save project

Chris Reed December 7, 2013

These are melancholy and bitter times for the California High Speed Rail Blog. Overseer Robert Cruickshank has reacted to Judge Michael Kenny’s rulings blocking the project by decrying the taxpayer protections in the 2008 ballot measure authorizing $9.95 billion in

Can we repeal AB 32 now?

John Seiler December 7, 2013

AB 32 is the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. It is cutting state greenhouse-gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 to prevent further global warming. Along the way it’s killing manufacturing jobs in this state — the kind of

Ugly dust up over GOP Assembly health care site

Katy Grimes December 6, 2013

The California State Assembly website, Covering Health Care: A California Resource Guide, has become something of a media kerfuffle. But many of the messages coming from the media and social media, are false and misleading. “Helping You Navigate Federal Health Care

Bullet train: Denial is a river in Sacramento

Chris Reed December 6, 2013

The meeting Thursday of the board of the California High-Speed Rail Authority was a laugh riot, with authority officials dismissing state and federal setbacks as much ado about nothing. This is from the Mercury-News: “SACRAMENTO — Critics and many political

Mega spy satellite launched from CA

John Seiler December 6, 2013

If you live in Southern California, the rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base north of Los Angeles can be breathtaking. Even if you live way down in Orange County. Also breathtaking is what was the payload of the latest

It’s hard to see how Jerry loses

John Seiler December 5, 2013

Chapman University’s usually accurate Economic Forecast expects growth of about 2.2 percent over the next year for the country, somewhat higher for California. That’s not fantastic; previous economic recoveries have been much stronger. But it’s way better than a recession.