Politics and Elections

CA Supreme Court clears Citizens United challenge

Critics of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case cheered a ruling by the California Supreme Court, which cleared the way for a ballot measure that would express support for an end to the campaign finance regime the nation’s

4 or more tax measures likely on crowded fall ballot

Chris Reed January 6, 2016

With low state turnout in the 2014 election making it much easier than normal to qualify a ballot measure for elections this year, Californians may see their most overloaded ballot yet. The glut includes several proposals to raise taxes or

Will 2016 be the ‘Year of the Initiative’?

Joel Fox January 5, 2016

The Legislature is back in town this week but in the major policy issues department the Legislature is likely to be a sideshow in what can be labeled the Year of the Initiative. With a rush to place measures on

Resigning lawmaker Henry Perea takes job with pharmaceutical industry

John December 26, 2015

Assemblyman Henry Perea, who announced earlier this month his intention to resign from the Legislature, has revealed that he’ll be taking a job with the pharmaceutical industry. State law bans the Fresno Democrat from lobbying his former colleagues for one year following his tenure

Initiative filing fee hike inspires wave of unconventional proposals

John December 18, 2015

A tenfold increase in the initiative filing fee was supposed to reduce the number of long-shot proposals in circulation. “The updated filing fee set by this bill will deter frivolous submissions,” Assemblyman Evan Low, author the new initiative fee increase, said in a

CA Attorney General wants confidential Koch data

James Poulos December 16, 2015

Pressing for access to confidential lists kept by the Koch brothers, U.S. Senate candidate Kamala Harris injected another note of politics into her tenure as California Attorney General. Harris “has a fight on her hands trying to get the brothers’ Americans

First debate of 2016 CA election season tackles poverty, taxes

Joel Fox December 15, 2015

It’s not even 2016 yet, but the first debate over a probable initiative on the November 2016 ballot took place in Dana Point Monday when former Board of Equalization member Conway Collis squared off with Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association president

San Bernardino attacks shape presidential race

James Poulos December 14, 2015

Presidential candidates in both parties have found challenges and opportunities in responding politically to the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, California. In the wake of Tashfeen Malik’s attack, carried out with her husband Syed Rizwan Farook, controversy and criticism has

Pot initiatives join forces

James Poulos December 11, 2015

Skittish at the thought of divided loyalties leading rival pot initiatives to defeat, two major marijuana legalization groups united behind the well-funded effort associated with Silicon Valley heavyweight Sean Parker. Concentrated support His initiative, which counts Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom among its supporters,

CA GOP labors to keep top talent

James Poulos December 10, 2015

With an underperforming field of gubernatorial candidates and no dominant figures leading the party, California Republicans have found themselves hard up for statewide leadership. Many high-profile California Republicans have shown a strong inclination to leave the state altogether to pursue their political fortunes