Search Results for ""
Back to homepage
Secretary of State 2014: Tight race, cautious candidates
It’s one of the few competitive statewide races in California. And befitting a close contest, Democrat Alex Padilla and Republican Pete Peterson share remarkably close visions for the job of secretary of state. CalWatchdog.com asked the two candidates a half dozen questions about
Read More
Kiplinger: CA taxes highest — and state hostile to retirees, too
Over the years, when I’ve reported that the nation’s CEOs continue to rank California as the most anti-business state in the country, I’ve gotten some blowback in emails and comments that question whether the ranking was manipulated. This is goofy
Read More
San Onofre decommissioning: $4.4 billion wasted
According to the U-T, the decommissioning of the San Onofre nuclear powerplant will cost $4.4 billion. The money, of course, will be paid by ratepayers. It is owned mainly by Southern California Edison and SGD&E. Even if stockholders are hit
Read More
State funds dry cleaners’ shift to CO2
The California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research Program has produced a dry cleaning machine that uses CO2. The carbon-based cleaning process replaces perchoroethylene chemical-based dry cleaning. The machine is being tested by the Aramark uniform cleaning corporation in Los Angeles. Colorado-based
Read More
Consumer Watchdog criticized for ‘misleading’ report
The shoe’s on the other foot for Consumer Watchdog (no connection to CalWatchdog.com). Routinely critical of state regulators for failing to protect consumers, the consumer advocacy group has been criticized by an independent oversight panel for presenting “incorrect” and “misleading” information to the public.
Read More
Pension costs burden CA budget
Gov. Jerry Brown still hasn’t gotten his state’s budget problems beat. A high-profile new report showed California still faces massive liabilities extending far into the future. The study, released by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, tallied over $340 billion in debts, deferred payment and other
Read More
California leads way in emergence of thoughtcrime vigilantes
California continues its emergence as the base for those who wish to enforce thoughtcrime penalties and launch group-hate campaigns against people with unacceptable political and social views. There have been glimpses of this mindset for years among the academic left
Read More
CA advances transparency — but needs some work
This is Sunshine Week, a time to promote transparency in government. An AP analysis found that the Obama administration, which came into office promising to be the most transparent ever, has become more secretive. Fortunately, things are better out here
Read MoreLawmakers lighting up $2 per pack cigarette tax hike
Like a re-lit cigarette, smoke again is rising from Senate Bill 768. By state Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, the bill would place a new tax on cigarettes of $2 a pack, with an equivalent tax on cigars, pipe tobacco
Read More
San Diego leaders embrace failed affordable-housing approach
As Eric Stratton so memorably put it in 1978 — or was it 1962? — sometimes a situation “requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.” Which brings us to the affordable-housing policies of the majority faction of
Read More