Columns
Back to homepageCA better off than four years ago?
Sept. 7, 2012 By Joseph Perkins I really didn’t need to watch President Obama’s speech last night — although I did — to know how it would be reviewed by his cheerleaders in the mainstream media. To hear them tell
Read MoreCalifornia government gone wild
Sept. 4, 2012 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — California, you’ve gotta love it. But beautiful weather and majestic landscape can’t fix what ails us. California now has the third highest unemployment and the highest foreclosure rate in the country, highest
Read MoreA darker shade of blue
Sept. 3, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO — City officials across California typically spare police officers from even modest reductions in the pay and pension packages that are a leading cause of municipal budget problems, even when the alternatives are
Read MoreChamber launches ‘California Comeback’
Aug. 31, 2012 By Joseph Perkins Here’s an ad: “California is struggling … badly. Two million people out of work… Huge deficits… High taxes… Over-regulation…” “Instead of creating jobs, politicians increased spending $30 billion since 2008. And bureaucrats put $37 billion
Read MoreFighting public service ‘corruption’
Aug. 27, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO — During recent travels to Madison and Milwaukee for some research about reform-minded Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s survival of a union-backed recall, I found little residual anger among the friendly folks there,
Read MoreCA to become sanctuary state?
August 27, 2012 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — Immigration issues within states are becoming more prevalent. The usual complaints are that the federal government isn’t doing enough to enforce U.S. policy. California is different. Earlier this year, it already embarked
Read MoreRare court victory for home builders
Aug. 22, 2012 By Joseph Perkins It has taken the better part of two decades, but the California Supreme Court has finally reined in so-called “construction defect” lawsuits, the threat of which has had a damping effect on development of
Read MoreBankruptcy no panacea for pensions
Aug. 20, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO – Municipal bonds have long been among the safest investments, but a coming wave of municipal bankruptcies in California — and the disturbing way one of those cities is stiffing its bondholders —
Read MoreGovernment octopus strangling state
August 20, 2012 By Katy Grimes If forces are at work quelling America, the best place to start would be right here in California. California used to be the 6th largest economy in the world, with rich natural resources, prime
Read MoreBrown Admin attacks climate ‘deniers’
Aug. 17, 2012 By Joseph Perkins “Climate change,” declares the home page for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, “poses an immediate threat to California’s economy, environment, and to public health.” The Brown administration is “taking action” to avert
Read More