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Taxpayers pay for lobbying in Sacramento
The latest lobbying reports are out in Sacramento, showing how much special interests are spending to influence lawmakers. After reading the reports, you can’t blame taxpayers for feeling like the man who has been unjustly condemned to the gallows and is compelled to pay for the rope that will hang him. When asked who spends […]
California GOP Calls For Resignation of Assembly Minority Leader Chad Mayes
In an unusual move for the California Republican Party — which has long staked its comeback on moving toward the center — the state board of the party voted to call for the resignation of one of it’s own, who was presumably sticking to the establishment script, Assembly GOP Minority leader Chad Mayes. The results of […]
Water Wars Rage Over Where to Spend Bond Money
After a 35-year stalemate stalled new California water storage projects, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders agreed in 2014 to include $2.7 billion for such needs as part of Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water bond approved in a landslide by voters later that year. The then-raging drought persuaded Democrats to go along with major water […]
Remembering Ross Johnson – The Last Lion
Editor’s Note: Ross Johnson passed away earlier this week. This column originally appeared on CPR in 2004 when he retired from the California Legislature. Monday, December 6th will mark the end of an illustrious political career and of an era. State Senator Ross Johnson will officially leave the Legislature. He will be the last of […]
San Diego mayor hopes to lead state GOP out of its morass
SACRAMENTO – Even Republicans admit the state GOP is something of a rudderless ship these days. The party doesn’t control any constitutional offices. Democrats have supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature. Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley, is the target of a grassroots effort to force him from his leadership post after he backed […]
CPR Blog
JFK or Patrick Henry?
May 29 marked the 100th anniversary of John F. Kenney’s birth, which has triggered multiple Camelot retrospectives. Seldom do they omit JFK’s power to inspire, often illustrated with his most famous quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” However, while many find it […]
A Supreme Court Litmus Test from Our Founders
As the March 20 start of confirmation hearings for Neil Gorsuch approaches, Americans have been hearing about litmus tests. For instance, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have set up a standard of “being mainstream” in their eyes and respecting precedents they like, ignoring whether they violate the Constitution. However, there is a […]
Neither liberty nor justice for all
Recently, Harvard political theorist Danielle Allen wrote in the Washington Post of “The most important phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance” — “with liberty and justice for all.” Allen recognized that justice required “equality before the law” and that freedom exists “only when it is for everyone.” But she confused democracy, as in progressives “build[ing] […]
Publisher’s Corner
Astonishing Waste on Homeless Programs by San Francisco
I had to read the story in the San Francisco Chronicle twice to let the facts sink in. Over the last three years, The City has budgeted and spent $821 million in public funds on programs to address homelessness. My thought, and also the question posed by the piece, was that the problem must have surely […]
Cali-Culture
Most Californians Want Their Elected Officials to Work With Trump – UC Berkeley Poll
California’s elected Democratic leaders have vowed to “resist” the Trump Administration. Attorney General Xavier Becerra says he will invoke legal action to cut any funding to California, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says he will “stand up to Trump,” Governor Jerry Brown has said California is “not turning back,” Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters wants to […]
Trending News
Five issues to watch in the California Legislature’s final month
As reported by the Sacramento Bee: State lawmakers return from summer break today to a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse and tens of thousands of people crowding into Capitol Mall for a free concert to urge passage of a trio of criminal justice bills. Monday also marks the beginning of the end of session. Legislators have one […]
Steve Bannon, former Hollywood Producer, Out at White House
President Trump’s controversial chief strategist Steve Bannon is leaving the White House, in another major staff shakeup announced at the close of another tumultuous week in Washington. The White House confirmed in a brief statement that Bannon, a hardcore populist who often sparred with his West Wing colleagues, would make Friday his last day — […]
Mainstream conservative groups alarmed to be found on ‘hate map’
As reported by the Washington Times: Brad Dacus was thousands of miles away in California last weekend when the Charlottesville protest erupted, so he was flabbergasted when CNN labeled his Pacific Justice Institute a “hate group.” “Here are all the active hate groups where you live,” said the CNN wire story headline on Chicago’s WGN-TV website. The […]
Los Angeles approves plan to pay homeowners to house homeless
As reported by the L.A. Daily News: A pilot program that pays some Los Angeles County homeowners to build a second dwelling on their property to house homeless people was approved with a 4-0 vote Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors. Homeowners in unincorporated communities who qualify can receive up to $75,000 to build a […]
State ethics commission poised to help Democrats fight off recall effort
As reported by the L.A. Times: The state’s campaign watchdog agency is poised on Thursday to open the spigot for large political contributions that would help an embattled Democratic state senator fend off a recall campaign, a change that opponents say is tainted by secret talks between a commissioner and a Democratic attorney. The state […]
