Proposition 55: A Lesson in Not-So-Temporary Temporary Taxes
by Joel Fox Tuesday, August 30, 2016 Coming out of the Great Recession that ravaged the state budget, Governor Jerry Brown and the state’s teachers’ unions joined forces to successfully push Proposition 30, a 2012 ballot initiative labeled, “Temporary Taxes to Fund Education.” Yet, despite a General Fund that grew 42 percent since Governor Brown became […]
Brown’s housing hypocrisy
Opinion By Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox Sunday, August 28, 2016 Jerry Brown worrying about the California housing crisis is akin to the French policeman played by Claude Rains in “Casablanca” being “shocked, shocked” about gambling at the bar where he himself collects his winnings. Brown has long been at the forefront on drafting and […]
Don’t pollute air board with state appointees
By The Editorial Board, LA Daily News POSTED: 08/22/16, 4:19 PM PDT When Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts, seen as a swing vote on the court, shifted his allegiance and rendered the deciding vote to uphold the constitutionality of a state minimum wage law in the court’s 1937 West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish decision, […]
Why some business groups are supporting a $2-per-pack tax hike on cigarettes
Alan Young, Staff Writer Sacramento Business Journal August 22, 2016 Two large business organizations in San Francisco and Los Angeles are backing a tax measure that will appear on the November ballot that would hike the cost of cigarettes by $2 a pack. Their endorsements may not make a difference, however, as tobacco companies and […]
Let local leaders rather than state fight Southland smog: Guest commentary
By Vivian Romero POSTED: 08/18/16 In a country as big as ours, democratic government is tiered out of necessity. Some issues require federal attention and resources, some should be solved at the state level and some issues require specialized solutions only possible with unique local experience. SB 1387, a bill now up for consideration by […]
INFO ALERT: NEW INTEL to fight LA Housing Crisis- SCAG region CEQA lawsuit research
INFO ALERT: NEW INTEL to fight LA Housing Crisis- SCAG region CEQA lawsuit research Look at the facts, hot off the press… Last 3 years of real data: Biggest target of CEQA lawsuits were filed to STOP HOUSING. Most suits were against infill and multi family housing. This is the exact kind of housing that Californians and Public […]
The TPP and US SMEs: Good for business?
Global Trade Review: SME FOCUS / March 9, 2016 / BY ELEANOR WRAGG With a deliberate focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and special provisions to help them integrate into the global supply chain, could the TPP be a chance to bring trade simplicity to small American firms? Eleanor Wragg reports. After almost six years […]
State Senate leader will introduce measure to counter Southern California air board’s industry-friendlier plans
Moving to weaken regulation, GOP-led board also reaffirms smog rules backed by major polluters. By Tony Barboza, LA Times, Wednesday, March 9 The leader of the state Senate said Tuesday that he will push to reverse efforts by the Southern California air quality board to adopt pollution rules friendlier to industry, saying swift action is […]
