Business Looks At New Legislative Makeup
In a political landscape dominated by Democrats, the California business community looks for members of the majority party who will work with them—especially if the Democrats can secure the important two-thirds vote majority. The Democrats are close. They took two-thirds in the Assembly. One contested seat in the senate will determine whether the Democrats gain […]
How Trump’s Win Might Spark CA Republican Revival
My title is, “How Trump’s Win Might Spark CA Republican Revival.” The key word is “might.” This statement is counterintuitive, given the hostility to him among many GOP ranks here. But bear with me. There are two conditions: Taking immigration off the table and a Reaganesque economic boom. First, immigration. But isn’t he nasty toward […]
Improving California’s Legal Climate: Proposals for Legal Reform Legislation
California’s civil justice system has always been a major deterrent against increased job growth and economic development. This state’s liberal tort liability laws have contributed to the anti-business climate in California and the inability of businesses to reach their full potential. To make matters worse, the plaintiff’s bar in California continues to push a legislative […]
Housing by the Numbers
If you’re following the debate over new housing in California you were probably encouraged to see a recent report of McKinsey and Company which seeks to actually, specifically suggest what can be done to ease the state’s shelter crisis. I’m here to say it’s for real, too. The report, entitled A Tool Kit to Close California’s […]
Missing The Story
No one looks like bigger fools the day after President-elect Trump’s triumph than American’s political reporters, and especially those working for the major California newspapers who completely misread this election. Cocooned in their little world of liberal elitism they completely missed the real anger that was out in the country and that led to Tuesday’s […]
Voters OK with Long Ballot. More Initiatives Coming
California voters once again proved they cherish their role in direct democracy, running through the entire statewide list of 17 measures with no apparent drop off in voting. With 100% of the precincts ‘partially’ reporting according to the Secretary of State’s site, 8.6 million votes were cast for Proposition 51, the school bond, at the head […]
Improbable Demographics Behind Donald Trump’s Shocking Presidential Victory
In an election so ugly and so close, one is reluctant to proclaim winners. But it’s clear that there’s a loser — the very notion of the United States of America. Instead we have populations and geographies that barely seem to belong in the same country, if not on the same planet. The electorate is […]
I Really Am Leaving The Country Post-Election
Now that the election is over, are you leaving the country? If not, you ought to reconsider. I’m not kidding. Yes, a handful of our fellow Californians—prominent citizens from Samuel L. Jackson and Bryan Cranston to Miley Cyrus and Barbra Streisand—proclaimed themselves so disgusted with the sorry state of democracy that they pledged to depart […]
A Few Questions For My Fellow California Voters
I have a few questions for California voters: Californians who voted YES on Proposition 55, can you please explain what your rationale was for voting for an increase in personal income taxes when California already has the highest personal income tax rate in the country? Californians who voted YES on Proposition 57, can you please […]