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State peddles idea that bullet train contractors are investors
On Jan. 11, 2010, the Legislative Analyst’s Office issued a report on the latest iteration of the business plan for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. It contained a game-changing conclusion — a predictable conclusion but still a crucial one. Here’s
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Alleged CA budget renaissance: Yet another hole in narrative
The readiness of the Sacramento and East Coast media to accept the narrative that Gov. Jerry Brown is a genius who has solved California’s previously immense budget problems is everywhere. An accountant — as opposed to a journalist or a
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Another reminder of Jerry Brown’s, Mac Taylor’s irresponsibility
This Los Angeles Times story should infuriate anyone familiar with Gov. Jerry Brown’s claims that the state is on firm ground financially — and absolutely appall anyone who knows that alleged watchdog Mac Taylor of the Legislative Anayst’s Office gave
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CalSTRS hearing underscores Mac Taylor’s destructive happy talk
An Assembly committee hearing Wednesday on the immense underfunding problems facing the California State Teachers’ Retirement System also illuminated another strange problem in Sacramento: the emergence of Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor as a civic arsonist. As John Myers reported, one
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LAO’s cheerfully nutty budget report: Pension crisis? What pension crisis?
The Legislative Analyst’s Office has among the best reputations of any state agency. But after the release of Wednesday’s bizarre LAO budget analysis and accompanying press conference by Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, I don’t know why. I groused about it
Read MoreCA State Hospitals flout legislative process
May 22, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — The Department of State Hospitals appears to be flouting the legislative process. Instead of getting legislative approval for a $50 million expansion, they’ve been implementing the changes since February, and just now
Read MoreLAO confirms insanity of Mac Taylor’s November happy talk
March 21, 2013 By Chris Reed In November, to the amazement of many journalists who have admired the independence and thoughtfulness of the Legislative Analyst’s Office over the years, LAO boss Mac Taylor gave an amazingly sunny take on the
Read MoreState bureaucrats get surprise smack down at hearing
March 7, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — It has never been more apparent that unelected state bureaucrats are also unaccountable to the Legislature. I attend legislative committee hearings every week, and despite the questions from lawmakers, the bureaucrats obfuscate,
Read MoreMac Taylor’s goofy happy talk triggers more toxic fallout
Dec. 4, 2012 By Chris Reed Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor’s unhinged decision to project budget surpluses in coming years in California could turn out to be the defining moment of his career. The decision of state voters to back temporary
Read MoreMac Taylor’s budget happy talk draws more fire — deservedly
Nov. 18, 2012 By Chris Reed Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor’s budget report does have plenty of caveats that his somewhat upbeat view of coming years may never come to pass. But Taylor’s opening statement about there being a “strong possibility
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