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High-speed rail Legislative Report lists some, but not all controversies

Risk, time and money remain the major problems for the construction of California’s high-speed rail project. That’s seen in the biannual Legislative Report of the California High-Speed Rail Authority released this month, as required by law. The report is a serious

DeMaio, Reed team up for 2016 pension fight

John March 12, 2015

The dynamic duo of California pension reform are teaming up in 2016. Former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio and former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, both of whom successfully passed pension reform in their respective cities during their time

Alternative fuel companies cheer, oil industry questions CA carbon regulations

Dave Roberts March 12, 2015

The California Air Resources Board’s plan to renew the Low Carbon Fuel Standard elicited cheers at a recent Board meeting from its main beneficiary: alternative fuel companies. More lukewarm was the petroleum industry, which could lose billions of dollars as it transitions

CA drought spurs painful rate hikes

James Poulos March 12, 2015

Faced with a drought that won’t quit, officials have taken new steps to add to Californians’ discomfort — a fresh round of rate hikes. Regulators in the San Francisco Bay Area have begun the march toward charging significantly more for water, pleading

CA GOP’s acceptance of Log Cabin Club a major culture war win — reflects 4-decade battle

John March 11, 2015

California’s gay Republicans, after four decades at the margins, finally have won recognition from their party. At this month’s state GOP convention in Sacramento, the California Republican Party approved the charter of the Log Cabin Republicans of California by an 861-293

Tax Foundation: CA has fourth-highest state taxes

John Seiler March 11, 2015

The newest figures just released by the Tax Foundation show California continues to be one of the highest-taxes states in the country. According to “Facts & Figures 2015: How Does Your State Compare?” the Golden State now ranks fourth-highest for

UC tuition battle sparks student protests

James Poulos March 11, 2015

The battle over University of California tuition hikes has been raised to a new level — with shades of 1960s student protests. Gov. Jerry Brown and state legislators have rejected the tuition hikes advanced by UC President Janet Napolitano. In response she

Covered CA complicates tax preparation

James Poulos March 10, 2015

Many Californians will be headed into tax season with their paperwork in disarray thanks to their state health care exchange, Covered California. The program is the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. In a repeat of follies

Supreme Court case could put Congressional redistricting back in hands of Legislatures

James Poulos March 10, 2015

Thanks to the Arizona legislature, control of redistricting for U.S. congressional districts in California soon could pass back to Sacramento. A lawsuit brought by lawmakers in Phoenix, now before the U.S. Supreme Court, argues that only state legislatures have the right to

Despite topping polls, Condoleezza Rice not running for Senate

James Poulos March 9, 2015

Political pundits and strategists finally are taking seriously that, despite topping polls, Condoleezza Rice is not running for the U.S. Senate. The decision by the former U.S. secretary of state puts California Republicans back on their heels. For the state GOP, the hunt