Blog

Supreme Court could throw redistricting back to Legislature

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

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

Pols’ 2010 gas tax swap made road woes worse

Chris Reed March 2, 2015

It’s become an annual ritual: Stories about the State Board of Equalization announcing it is raising or cutting the state excise tax on gasoline come July 1 to honor the fine print of a 2010 budget deal that requires gas

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

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

Covered CA deadline extended to April 30

John Seiler February 25, 2015

Originally the deadline to sign up was Feb. 15. But Covered California, the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act, now is extending the deadline to April 30. According to the program’s website: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California is offering a

Silicon Valley’s vanishing middle class

John Seiler February 24, 2015

When you read the biographies of Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and other early Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, one thing to note is their middle-class origins. Jobs’ father, Paul, was a mechanic and carpenter. Wozniak’s father was an engineer. They went to

CalSTRS bailout cost: Pension tsunami laps at CA shores

Chris Reed February 24, 2015

Gov. Jerry Brown’s relative stinginess in seeking to hold the line on social services spending and in demanding an end to the practice of state education bonds paying for local districts’ construction dumbfounds some Democrats, who cite a healthier economy

Port strife ends — but damage was done

John Seiler February 23, 2015

As mentioned in a Feb. 14 blog, the West Coast dock strife wasn’t likely to last long because of the new competition from Gulf Coast and Mexican ports. So now a new contract has been reached with dock workers. Yet any shipping