We believe every Californian should have the opportunity to flourish.

Unions Give Thanks for Trump’s Labor Pick

Unions Give Thanks for Trump’s Labor Pick

We don’t generally discuss national politics here at CPC World HQ – we’ve got our hands full dealing with Gov. Gavin Newsom and his confederacy of dunces in the state capitol. But let’s acknowledge some of President-elect Donald Trump’s great choices for key administration positions – including Scott Bessent at Treasury, Chris Wright at Energy,...

By Will Swaim

Californian Energy Use Compared to the USA and the World

Californian Energy Use Compared to the USA and the World

As we celebrate one of America’s finest traditions this week, one of the things we are surely thankful for is the energy we often take for granted. We are particularly lucky in America, because the energy we use is nearly always reliable and abundant. Just how abundant? Here are some numbers. Most energy economists report...

By Edward Ring

The Numbers Driving California vs Washington on Energy, Water & Forestry

The Numbers Driving California vs Washington on Energy, Water & Forestry

With national election results that have delivered a surprisingly unequivocal result, California’s business interests now find themselves on a political tightrope. On one side, the incoming Trump administration will pursue deregulation that may help businesses remain in California, and on the other side, the Newsom administration is going to do everything in its power to...

By Edward Ring

CPC Launches Local Fiscal Health Dashboard for California’s Cities, Counties and School Districts

CPC Launches Local Fiscal Health Dashboard for California’s Cities, Counties and School Districts

Interactive Database Reveals which Local Governments are Fiscally Sound or at High-Risk of Fiscal Crisis As of November 19, 2024, California Policy Center has updated its General Fund Reserves scoring to give maximum credit to entities whose unrestricted reserves equal 32% of general fund expenses. This replaces the previous scale, which ranged up to a 75%...

By California Policy Center

Quantifying the Impact of “Low Carbon” Fuel

Quantifying the Impact of “Low Carbon” Fuel

On November 8, a Friday evening, after a day long marathon of public comment, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved updates to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. According to the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, the price impact of compliance with the new rules “could be $0.65 per gallon in the near term, $0.85 per gallon...

By Edward Ring

Is California Ready to Kill Its Oil Industry?

Is California Ready to Kill Its Oil Industry?

California’s state legislature is determined to eliminate fossil fuel as soon as possible, with oil at the top of the list. This goal is shared by the Governor and Attorney General, along with leadership and staff at every one of the many state agencies that collectively regulate the industry. But even if this goal is...

By Edward Ring

Ways California Can Have Abundant Water

Ways California Can Have Abundant Water

A few years ago a group of volunteers, myself included, attempted to qualify a state ballot initiative called “The Water Infrastructure Funding Act.” Those of us involved with this project remain convinced that had it qualified for the ballot and been approved by voters, it would have solved water scarcity in California forever. Included within...

By Edward Ring

Should voters approve new taxes without seeing the books?

Should voters approve new taxes without seeing the books?

As Californians head to the polls, voters statewide will be deciding on whether to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in local tax hikes and new government bonds. The problem? Over two dozen cities, counties and school districts are asking for more money, but elected officials in those jurisdictions don’t even know what their financial...

By Andrew Davenport

Golden Debacle – The California political machine is no model for the nation

Golden Debacle – The California political machine is no model for the nation

Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has been light on policy specifics, but her political inheritance provides clues. Harris is a creature, after all, of the California political machine. What real-world results has that machine produced? The Golden State still has a powerful economic base, though its government budgets are once again in deficit territory. California’s success,...

By Edward Ring

California’s Unstoppable Taxation Machine

California’s Unstoppable Taxation Machine

The powers that be seek to make it virtually impossible for state residents to restrain taxation and spending. Every two years, in addition to electing their state and local officials, Californians participate in so-called citizen democracy, a process by which they approve or reject legislation in the form of ballot initiatives. This election season is...

By Edward Ring

Ways California Can Have Abundant Energy

Ways California Can Have Abundant Energy

With the right combination of new policies in California, abundant energy ought to be just around the corner. Nearly all new energy development can be privately financed, and it can be delivered while creating tens of thousands of high paying jobs. But for this to happen, California’s state legislators will need to accept the following...

By Edward Ring

Would Suing the Bureaucracy Bring Us More Water?

Would Suing the Bureaucracy Bring Us More Water?

There isn’t a major water project in California in the last 30 years or more that hasn’t been subject to relentless litigation. Usually the litigators represent powerful environmentalist organizations, sometimes they represent social justice groups, and sometimes they represent labor. But in every case, they hit water projects from every legal angle imaginable, either completely...

By Edward Ring

What the City of Santa Ana Does Not Want the Public to Know

What the City of Santa Ana Does Not Want the Public to Know

Longtime teacher Brenda Lebsack noticed some disconcerting statistics coming out of the Santa Ana Unified School District. Only 30% of students are proficient in reading and 20% are proficient in math, but graduation rates are at 91%. To raise awareness in the community, she called the City of Santa Ana seeking to place the following...

By Julie Hamill