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A California vs. Texas analysis that breaks the mold
The California vs. Texas fight has gotten stale for my tastes. It’s insanely annoying how so many California defenders simply ignore basic facts like Texas is creating more middle-class jobs or that Texas’ Latino and black students do better than
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Are CA elected officials underpaid?
Just after getting a 5 percent raise, Gov. Jerry Brown, other statewide officials and legislators soon could get another boost, supposedly because they’re “underpaid.” Hey, “California is back,” Brown keeps saying. The CA Dem party is meeting this weekend in Los
Read MoreSenate pushing nutty new school-finance scheme
April 29, 2013 By John Seiler The state supposedly “balanced” its budget only with the Prop. 30 tax increase. Three California cities declared bankruptcy last year. Businesses keep streaming out to greener pastures. So what does the California Legislature do?
Read MoreL.A. Times’ analysis on crazy school borrowing omits why it’s done
Nov. 29, 2012 By Chris Reed The Los Angeles Times has printed an analysis piece on the insane borrowing by dozens of California school districts using “capital appreciation bonds” (CABs), which delay any repayment for 20 years and often cost
Read MoreRun a restaurant like a school?
April 2, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO — California’s public schools continue to lay off teachers, in a process that is as convoluted and illogical as one would expect in a bureaucratic system in which the needs of the students
Read MoreMore Taxes for Skoolz?
Commentary FEB. 7, 2012 By JOHN SEILER I’m enjoying the tiff between Gov. Jerry Brown and the other tax-increase forces in the state, in particular activist lawyer Molly Munger and the California Teachers Association. As Dan Walters notes today, Brown’s
Read MoreSchool Funding Reform Skewered by CTA
JULY 11, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI In California, all good ideas for school reform seem to end up in the corner wearing a dunce cap. Back on May 3, I reported on promising development in state Assembly Bill 18, a proposal by Assemblywoman Julia
Read MoreWill Crashing Real Estate Kill Prop. 13?
JUNE 1, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI A demogogue is a leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. And a demographer is someone who studies the characteristics of human populations, such as
Read MoreWill School Block Grants Replace Earmarks?
MAY 3, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI In a February report, the Legislative Analyst’s Office charged that “virtually every aspect of K-14 (public school) mandate finance system is broken.” The report was titled, “Education Mandates: Overhauling a Broken System.” The LAO report
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