Budget and Finance

More food stamp cuts coming

Last week, expansions ended to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as the Food Stamp program. Food stamp recipients will see their benefits cut depending on the size of their family. A family of four, for example, will

Issues split CA GOP delegation in Congress

Adam O'Neal November 4, 2013

Typically, congressional delegations can be divided into two camps, Republicans and Democrats. Some smaller states — such as Massachusetts or Rhode Island — are only represented by one party. But more populous states like Texas and Illinois typically bring both

Sequester cuts likely to remain in place

Adam O'Neal October 31, 2013

This week, for the first time since the end of the government shutdown, budget talks between Democrats and Republicans began. The aim of the negotiations is to avert another government shutdown when temporary funding runs out January 15 and to

Some CA Republicans move Left on immigration

Adam O'Neal October 30, 2013

While several California Republican congressmen have reiterated previous support for comprehensive immigration reform in recent days, it is still unlikely that the House will take up a bill on the matter anytime this year. A few days ago, Rep. Jeff

State bullet-train contracts appear to violate federal grant conditions

Chris Reed October 29, 2013

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny’s Aug. 16 ruling concluded that the California High-Speed Rail Authority would break state law if it proceeded with construction of a small first portion of the state’s bullet-train project without having full funding in

BART strike is a teachable moment

Ed Ring October 23, 2013

Reactions from the press and public to the BART strikes this year have been overwhelmingly negative. In one of the safest Democratic strongholds in the U.S., there is serious talk of outlawing future BART strikes. As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle