Politics and Elections

Sen. Boxer to retire

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., today announced her retirement. In office since her 1992 election, she has been considered one of the country’s most liberal senators. Elected the same year as the more moderate Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the two were

Referendum threat ties CA bag ban in knots

James Poulos January 6, 2015

California’s tug-of-war over the legality of single-use plastic bags will get another twist in 2015. Thanks to a determined signature collection campaign mounted by industry opponents, a referendum putting the ban to a vote now seems certain to land on state ballots in 2016.

Brown’s 4th Inaugural looks to CA past, future

John Seiler January 5, 2015

Gov. Jerry Brown’s unprecedent fourth, and final, inaugural address had an aura of “Back to the Future” about it. Given at 10 a.m. this morning before the assembled Legislature, he looked back to his first inaugural address 40 years ago;

Pasadena struck with Bell-like scandal

Wayne Lusvardi January 5, 2015

Pasadena has a reputation of being run by good-government liberals. But now it’s immersed in a scandal that could rival that of Bell and its infamous former administrator, Robert Rizzo. The Pasadena Star News reported, “Los Angeles County District Attorney’s

Harsh impact of CalSTRS bailout begins to emerge

Chris Reed January 2, 2015

The deal struck in spring 2014 to bail out the underfunded California State Teachers’ Retirement System will lead school districts, the state and teachers to increase their annual contributions to CalSTRS from $5.9 billion in 2014 to at least $10.9

CA initiative reform: Lawmakers ignore the elephant in the room

Chris Reed January 1, 2015

The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported on initiative reforms that take effect today. After more than a century in California’s political spotlight, the state’s initiative process will be getting a major revise next year. Even more surprising, both Democrats and

Will young CA justices use Vergara case to audition for SCOTUS?

Chris Reed December 27, 2014

The Volokh Conspiracy, the wonderful legal blog founded by UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, had a provocative post about what might happen now that Gov. Jerry Brown has named three acclaimed youngish scholars to the California Supreme Court. George Washington

After 2014 successes, CA GOP leaders seek second term

John December 17, 2014

Two years ago, Jim Brulte chastised his party for losing seats to laziness. “There were three Assembly seats that were lost because we got lazy,” Brulte said shortly after taking the helm as chairman of the California Republican Party in March

Low turnout in 2014, high initiative count in 2016

James Poulos December 16, 2014

Elections have consequences. Ironically, California’s abysmal election turnout this November has teed up a veritable flood of ballot initiatives for 2016. Because the signature threshold for qualifying initiatives is pegged to the number of Californians who cast votes in the previous

Dismal election turnout

John Seiler December 15, 2014

The California Secretary of State’s office just released figures showing the Nov. 4 election suffered the worst turnout rate ever. According to the Capitol Weekly summary: Less than a third of California’s eligible voters cast ballots on Nov. 4…. Of