Politics and Elections

Torlakson continues lying about teacher-discipline law AB 215

Tom Torlakson supports a status quo in which an average of 2.2 of the state’s 275,000 public school teachers are fired each year for incompetence — a figure so ridiculous you barely need to add context. It shows the public

Newsom reluctant to debate Nehring

John Seiler September 30, 2014

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is crusing to re-election victory on Gov. Jerry Brown’s coattails and the general strength of the California Democratic Party. Yet he is reluctant to debate his Republican opponent, former GOP state Chairman Ron Nehring. The Bee

VIDEO: Pete Peterson — Empowering entrepreneurs to transform California

CalWatchdog Staff September 29, 2014

You can’t register your business online in California and the state has a long history of punishing business owners and entrepreneurs in other ways as well. Pete Peterson, the Republican candidate for Secretary of State, plans to use the entrepreneurial

Cartoon: How many Californias?

John Seiler September 28, 2014

‘No party preference’ gains again

John Seiler September 25, 2014

California Democrats are enjoying the decline of the Republican Party. But they shouldn’t party hearty too quickly. Because their party also is not finding satisfaction with voters. Secretary of State Debra Bowen reported: Updated voter registration numbers released by Secretary

Rand Paul road tests campaign themes in CA

James Poulos September 24, 2014

In the early search for an edge in 2016, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has trained his sights on California. Doubling down on a strategy that saw Paul make waves with a well-received speech at the University of California, Berkeley in

Records show unions massively fund CA Dem Party

John September 24, 2014

At a time when two Democratic lawmakers stand accused of bribery and public corruption, California’s most powerful labor unions have kicked back more than a million dollars to the California Democratic Party. According to state campaign finance records posted Monday evening,

Betty Yee flips, now backs high-speed rail

John September 23, 2014

Board of Equalization member Betty Yee has changed her mind about the state’s controversial high-speed rail plan. During the June primary campaign, the Democratic candidate for state controller opposed Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to build a faster rail connection between San Francisco

CA GOP Fall Convention pushes liberty

Sal Rodriguez September 23, 2014

This past weekend, California Republicans gathered in Los Angeles for their annual Fall Convention under the banner, “Reclaim California.” Throughout the event, party delegates, candidates and elected officials sought to cast a picture of unity and diversity just over six

Language of teacher discipline bill shows Torlakson’s deceit

Chris Reed September 23, 2014

At a little bit after the 51-minute mark of a forum in Los Angeles last week with state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and challenger Marshall Tuck, the candidates are asked a question from the audience about the Vergara