What will CA be like in 2025 — and how to we begin now to plan for a better future? What kind of population growth will CA experience — who will they be? And where will they live? What about CA’s long term economic prospects? What are the opportunities? What are the threats to our […]
Progressives like FDR thought some government regulation –protecting workers and the environment, promoting fairness in business transactions or achieving other social goals– was necessary to control the excesses of businesses. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, preached the gospel of laissez-faire capitalism –the discipline of the market and self-regulation– and the belief that government wasn’t […]
State Sen. Joe Simitian once compared California’s byzantine school financing system to the “Winchester Mystery House” — with rooms added willy-nilly to solve one problem or another. In 1978, voters passed Prop. 13, limiting residential property taxes, the source of most school funding up to that point. Ten years later, in 1988, voters passed Prop. […]
The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, commonly referred to as AB 32, established the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission statewide to 1990 levels by 2010. In order to help achieve this goal, the CA Air Resources Board (ARB), has adopted a new “cap-and-trade” program that places a “cap” on entities responsible for 80% […]
Raising and spending money in politics became considerably easier under the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling that gave corporation and unions unfettered access to the political process. The Supreme Court’s decision gave rise to increased involvement by 501(c)4 non-profit advocacy organization, political action committees, and Super PACs in the political process. The results were […]
When first coming into office in 2010, Governor Brown faced budget shortfalls upwards of $20 billion. In just three years, the state “…has reached a point where its underlying expenditures and revenues are roughly in balance,” according to the non-partisan LAO. Furthermore, Gov. Brown is projecting a $1 billion surplus for the coming year. Is […]
Gov. Brown started of 2012 by saying “I am going directly to the voters because I don’t want to get bogged down in partisan gridlock.” He did, and voters passed the first broad scale tax increase in memory. In addition, the state’s economic recovery and prior budget cuts combined to bring a possible end to […]
After President Obama’s inauguration and Rick Santelli’s infamous rant on CNBC in February of 2009, disgruntled conservatives began raucous protests in opposition to bank bailouts, taxes, and what they perceived as the over-intrusiveness of the federal government. The tea party surge helped the GOP take back control of the HOuse in 2010 midterm elections. However, […]
Governor Jerry Brown addresses Maddy Associates at a luncheon in August 2011. ORIGINAL AIR DATE: JULY 11, 2012
In January, Gov. Brown projected a $9.2 billion shortfall in the State Budget. When the May Revise, capturing April’s tax receipts, came out, however, voters were told projected deficit has swelled to $5.2 billion. The dilemma has become a familiar pattern in California, where the state relies heavily on income taxes that go up and […]
