Inside Government
Back to homepageWater plan threatens taxpayers, environment
April 14, 2013 By Steven Greenhut In Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov,” a priest recalls the words of a man who confessed: “The more I love mankind in general, the less I love people in particular.” We can all think of
Read More
Donors lavish gifts on key aides in CA Legislature
April 14, 2013 By Chris Reed The term limits that shuffle lawmakers in and out of office in Sacramento vest considerable power in the staff members who remain in powerful posts, whether working for individual lawmakers or in key assignments
Read MoreHouse GOP whip: Folly to expect fed $ for bullet train
April 12, 2013 By Chris Reed There’s a double-whammy targeting the bullet train on the op-ed page of Friday’s U-T San Diego newspaper. First House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, tees off on the state’s assumption that federal dollars will
Read MoreGOP lawmakers push for more state budget transparency
April 12, 2013 By Katy Grimes In 2012, the state Legislature passed 80 budget “spot” bills — empty bills with no details. Such measures just sit on a shelf and await last-minute bill language, then are put forward for late-night passage
Read MoreCA fire chiefs warn state fire tax will hurt, not help
April 12, 2013 By Dave Roberts The $89 million annual fire prevention fee imposed on rural Californians for the first time last year could, ironically, increase the chance that their houses will burn down in the event of a fire.
Read MoreDespite Caltrans boondoggles, acting director to be confirmed
April 11, 2013 By Katy Grimes Today, it appears the California Senate will confirm Malcolm Dougherty as director of Caltrans. He has been serving as acting director. This will be done after only one Senate hearing, where instead of asking
Read MoreSacramento subsidy could win Kings
April 11, 2013 By Katy Grimes Sacramento could become known as the little government town that could. As Sacramento officials fight to prevent the Sacramento Kings basketball team from being lost to Seattle, the public subsidy the officials are offering
Read MoreData show hefty public-employee compensation
April 11, 2013 By Ed Ring “Forget about logic,” Jack advised. “My analytics instructor says that all logic is mere tautology. She says it is impossible to learn anything through logic that you did not already know.” — Robert A.
Read More