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Budget reflects truce in Brown-Napolitano fight over UC

For eight months, the most high-profile political fight in Sacramento has been between Gov. Jerry Brown and University of California President Janet Napolitano, triggered by Napolitano’s attempts to pressure Brown and the Legislature to increase funding for the UC system.

HJTA initiative could focus affordable housing debate

Chris Reed May 9, 2015

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association on May 1 filed paperwork with the state Attorney General’s Office as a first step toward qualifying an affordable-housing measure — the California Homeowners and Renters Tax Relief Act of 2016 — for next year’s

Seattle’s advantage in tech rivalry with Silicon Valley

Chris Reed May 1, 2015

Silicon Valley has an increasingly aggressive rival for tech talent and entrepreneurs: the Seattle area. Once known primarily for Microsoft and Amazon, the region now hosts hundreds of tech firms big and small. Hadi Partovi has a good overview on

Leading liberal policy wonk: “Snob zoning” drives inequality

Chris Reed April 13, 2015

The fact that California has by far the nation’s highest effective poverty rate finally sank in with the California political and media establishments in recent months. The Census Bureau’s 2012 decision to issue a separate ranking that factored in the

Treasurer Chiang talks taxes and the economy

Joel Fox March 2, 2015

With the rising conversation about extending Proposition 30‘s temporary taxes, I asked state Treasurer John Chiang if he would advise that the taxes be continued. Chiang said a promise was made that the taxes would be temporary and circumstances would

Pols’ 2010 gas tax swap made road woes worse

Chris Reed March 2, 2015

It’s become an annual ritual: Stories about the State Board of Equalization announcing it is raising or cutting the state excise tax on gasoline come July 1 to honor the fine print of a 2010 budget deal that requires gas

Assembly subcommittee flunks UC budget

Dave Roberts February 26, 2015

Tuition hikes marched to the head of the class at a recent hearing of California Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance. Assembly members balked at a 28 percent tuition hike advanced by UC President Janet Napolitano and approved by the University of

Car-mileage fee debate accelerates

Joel Fox February 5, 2015

The debate over gas taxes or mileage-based user fees to fund road construction and maintenance is accelerating. Proponents of gas tax increases argue now is the time to proceed because lower gasoline prices would lessen the blow on consumers and

Veteran lawmakers embrace new committee assignments

John February 3, 2015

As the new class of state lawmakers settles in to their jobs, Sacramento’s old hands are getting a jump start on the 2015-16 legislative session. Each session brings a biennial reshuffling of committee assignments. But some lawmakers aren’t waiting to get acquainted with their new perches. New

CA media finds de Leon guilty of not being Steinberg

Chris Reed December 22, 2014

There has been steady turnover in the leadership of the state Assembly every few years, so there is plenty of evidence that most new speakers get the equivalent of a honeymoon. Certainly that’s been true of current Speaker Toni Atkins,