22May

May 22, 2017

Political Stories Top stories   Dan Walters: Borrowing scheme for CalPERS deserves more scrutiny — When local pension bonds have fallen short, Crane points out, borrowers then face double debts, one for the bond and the other for pensions. As Taylor advises, this may work out, but before the state takes a major plunge into […]

18May

May 18, 2017

Political Stories – Top stories   Trump’s man in Congress: Fewer on Capitol Hill are closer to President Trump than Bakersfield’s Kevin McCarthy — On paper, McCarthy is the second-most powerful member in the House after Speaker Paul Ryan, but in reality, no politician has more clout with the Trump White House than he does.  CALmatters […]

16May

May 16, 2017

Political Stories Top stories   Dan Walters: AG Becerra muffs chance to crack down on local government corruption — California’s new attorney general, Xavier Becerra, was given a golden opportunity Monday to change his department’s passive attitude toward governmental corruption. He muffed it.  Walters column in Sacramento Bee   Judge compares Trump travel ban to […]

09May

May 9, 2017

Political Stories – Top stories Dan Walters: California Democrats wanted more tax dollars to spend, but it’s not working out — Democratic legislators have counted on a revenue surge to persuade Gov. Jerry Brown to loosen up on spending – but just the opposite is occurring. Walters column in Sacramento Bee After a bumpy tax report […]

02May

May 2, 2017

Political Stories – Top stories How Donald Trump’s attorney general could change life in California – No one in the Trump administration is better positioned in the coming months to upend the direction of California than Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Pick an issue, and he doesn’t agree with the majority of state residents. Sacramento Bee article […]

01May

May 1, 2017

Political Stories – Top stories Dan Walters:  Help struggling students or pay teachers salaries? California’s education war continues — Just a month ago, Public Advocates and others sued Long Beach Unified on behalf of parents over the same issue, saying money is not being concentrated on kids needing extra attention. And a new report from the Public Policy Institute of […]

30Apr

April 30, 2017

Political Stories – Top stories John Myers: So why can the UC regents thumb their noses at the Legislature? — Fans of the University of California often tout the 10-campus system as being in a class by itself, first among peers in offering a quality education. Recent events, though, offer a reminder of another unique aspect of the […]

29Apr

April 29, 2017

Political Stories – Top stories California gas increase is now the law. What is costs you and what it fixes — Now that Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law billions of dollars in higher fuel taxes and vehicle fees, the state will have an estimated $52 billion more money to help cover the state’s transportation needs […]

28Apr

April 28, 2017

Political Stories – Top stories Dan Walters: Can California become a player in presidential nominations? — Here we go again. For the fifth time in recent history, California politicians want to move the state’s presidential primary, traditionally held in June, several months earlier in hopes of making it a player. Walters column in Sacramento Bee Rep. […]

27Apr

April 27, 2017

Political Stories Top stories   Fresno State survey: Nearly half of Valley adults worry about deportations for family or friends — Nearly half of adults in the central San Joaquin Valley say they are worried a family member or close friend could be deported by immigration officers, according to survey findings released Wednesday by Fresno State’s Institute for […]