Some GFC'ers have asked us about two tax increase measures potentially on the November ballot. After responding with our view that the state already generates sufficient revenue with which it produces poor value, we remind inquirers that GFC doesn't compete in the ballot measure marketplace. While we have competitive edges in assembling the capped direct contributions … Continue reading What We Cannot Influence
How To Play Defense
Earlier this week we wrote about a committee hearing concerning a noxious bill. Later, a reader asked why we didn't oppose the bill during the hearing. The answer tells you a lot about when and how to offer resistance in Sacramento. The bill is sponsored by the chairman of the committee, which consists of five … Continue reading How To Play Defense
Another Retroactive Pension Increase
Earlier this week we virtually attended a State Senate hearing about SB 868, a bill to provide a retroactive pension increase to some long-retired public employees. This isn't the first time lawmakers have considered a retroactive increase. As I explained in a Wall Street Journal op-ed in 2010, the last retroactive pension increase was the … Continue reading Another Retroactive Pension Increase
Tax Increases
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the largest recipients of government spending in California, has been putting the following questionnaire in front of candidates for the legislature: Do you support increasing corporate taxes in order to strengthen and expand public services and create the conditions for all Californians to thrive? If so, please … Continue reading Tax Increases
Stop Sacrificing Students To OPEB
West Contra Costa County Unified School District has received a “lack of going concern” determination from its county board of education. That means the district is unable to meet its financial obligations. But 60 percent of its deficit is accounted for by spending on an unnecessary insurance subsidy for retired employees known as “OPEB” (Other … Continue reading Stop Sacrificing Students To OPEB
Mental Health and Homelessness
Among the 2,167 bills we are reviewing are several dealing with mental health and homelessness. Recently the Newsom Administration issued a proposal to establish CARE (Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment) Courts “to deliver behavioral health services to severely ill and vulnerable individuals while preserving self determination and community living.” Yesterday we joined a webinar about … Continue reading Mental Health and Homelessness
Updated Tally: 2,115 Bills
One of our jobs each year is to review every bill and resist those not in the general interest. Legislators have submitted 2,115 bills so far this session. California suffers poor governance today because no one played our role yesterday. Eg, in 1999 the legislature passed SB 400, a retroactive pension increase. When asked years … Continue reading Updated Tally: 2,115 Bills
Endorsing Candidates
More than 30 open-seat races for the state legislature will be contested this year. Some of you have asked about our process for considering pre-election endorsements. First we ask ourselves what, if anything, we could gain by a pre-election endorsement. Often candidates have more to gain than we do from an endorsement and we are … Continue reading Endorsing Candidates
Manufactured Medical Shortages
Dear Legislators, Few services are more important than medical services yet due to efforts by the politically-active doctors' lobby to limit supply, Californians have not always been able to get immediate access to such services. Your passage of AB 890 (Wood) in 2020 was a big step towards improving that environment but more must be … Continue reading Manufactured Medical Shortages
Sustaining Political Power
Three years ago, a California businessman/philanthropist who had spent $19 million to help elect charter-school-friendly state legislators asked me why so many of those he had helped to elect had joined in passing anti-charter legislation. I responded that they couldn’t count on him to be there for them. When it comes to political power, reliability … Continue reading Sustaining Political Power