Too many kids are failing in California, and so is the education establishment
Too many kids are failing in California, and so is the education establishment
High school graduation rates have traditionally been a barometer of student success, as well as a measure of the quality of school systems. The members of California’s education establishment have been high-fiving each other over the state’s on-time high school graduation rate reaching 83.2 percent in 2016. But a peak behind the curtain reveals some...
By Larry Sand
On the chopping block: Gov. Brown joins the chorus of those predicting coming pension cuts
On the chopping block: Gov. Brown joins the chorus of those predicting coming pension cuts
Sacramento Lo and behold, it’s not just pension reformers and critics of the state’s massive pension funds who are worried about the sustainability of California’s pension systems. At a press conference announcing his proposed budget last week, Gov. Jerry Brown made some astounding comments. “When the next recession comes around,” he said, “the (next) governor...
By Steven Greenhut
Permanent Water Rationing is Coming to California
Permanent Water Rationing is Coming to California
Have you experienced water faucets that spray tiny jets of water onto your hands? You know, those eight tiny jets of water, each about 1.0 millimeter in diameter, that are emitted with so much pressure that the paltry quantity of water bounces off your skin before you can get it wet enough to apply soap,...
By Edward Ring
Bill to unionize Capitol staffers is ridiculous, but cynics might find a bright side
Bill to unionize Capitol staffers is ridiculous, but cynics might find a bright side
Sacramento If you believe that mandatory unionization is a solution to almost every state problem rather than the prime cause of California governmental dysfunction, then you’ll love an idea that one of the Legislature’s most union-friendly lawmakers is touting. “I will be introducing a bill this year to allow our legislative staff to unionize,” wrote...
By Steven Greenhut
How Much More Will Cities and Counties Pay CalPERS?
How Much More Will Cities and Counties Pay CalPERS?
When speaking about pension burdens on California’s cities and counties, a perennial question is how much are the costs going to increase? In recent years, California’s biggest pension system, CalPERS, has offered “Public Agency Actuarial Valuation Reports” that purport to answer that question. Notwithstanding the fact that CalPERS predictive credibility is questionable – i.e., they’ve...
By Edward Ring
In New Year, court could usher in dramatic reform on California’s pension front
In New Year, court could usher in dramatic reform on California’s pension front
Sacramento When it comes to California’s underfunded pension system and to its root cause – the excess power of public-employee unions – we’ve gotten used to the same old story every year. The pension funds go deeper into debt, public services are cut and taxes are raised to make up for past shortfalls. Reformers stand...
By Steven Greenhut
The student is father to the teacher
The student is father to the teacher
Low teacher quality leads to low student quality, which, in turn, leads to uneducated teachers, which then leads to…. What qualities does a good teacher have? Opinions abound, but love of kids, great work ethic, organization, an engaging personality, clear objectives for lessons, and effective discipline techniques are often mentioned. But, as important as any,...
By Larry Sand
How to Reduce the California State Budget by $40 Billion
How to Reduce the California State Budget by $40 Billion
As of a few days ago, high-wage earners have a new reason to leave California: their state income taxes are no longer deductible on their federal income tax returns. Can California’s union-controlled state legislature adapt? Can they lower the top marginal tax rates to keep wealthy people from leaving California? The short answer is, no, they cannot. They cannot conceive of the possibility that California's current economic success is not because of their confiscatory policies, but in spite of them.
By Edward Ring
City services slashed to fund pensions, and now your taxes are going up, too!
City services slashed to fund pensions, and now your taxes are going up, too!
Sacramento In the coming months and years, California voters can expect to see a variety of tax increases pop up on their local election ballots. They will be called “public safety” taxes to hire more police or firefighters or “parks” or “library” taxes to pay for those popular public services. But don’t be fooled. Any...
By Steven Greenhut
Overturning the Teacher Turnover Fables
Overturning the Teacher Turnover Fables
The “nationwide teacher shortage” claim is a myth that has been perpetuated on and off for about a hundred years now. Of late, its inaccurate cousin the “teachers are leaving the profession in droves” fable has been giving it some serious competition however. And California, never a place to avoid a good fad, has hatched a plan to address the mythical problem. In an attempt to lure and keep teachers, there is talk of a “The Teachers Fair Pay” referendum which would align teachers’ pay to the wages of state lawmakers, about $104,000 a year.
By Larry Sand
CalPERS’ social investing comes at steep cost paid for by California taxpayers
CalPERS’ social investing comes at steep cost paid for by California taxpayers
Sacramento The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the nation’s largest state pension fund, claims that making investments based on myriad social priorities is good for business, even though a newly released report found that such investments are some of its poorest stock performers and are increasing the public’s risk in the vastly underfunded system. CalPERS...
By Steven Greenhut
If You Think the Bull Market Rescued Pensions, Think Again
If You Think the Bull Market Rescued Pensions, Think Again
One year ago the Dow Jones stock index was 19,756. Today it closed at 24,211, an increase of 23%. Pretty good for one year! When the stock market does well, pension funds do well, since that’s where these funds place most of their portfolio investments. But CalPERS, the largest public employee pension system in the...
By Edward Ring
Public schools’ dirty laundry
Public schools’ dirty laundry
Do public schools really serve the public? On November 16th, the United Teachers of Los Angeles held a “Save Our Schools” rally, which was part of the larger American Education Week, a National Education Association creation. Touting NEA’s 2017 theme, “Public Schools for all,” union President Lily Eskelsen García emphatically stated “Public schools are the...
By Larry Sand
Rhetoric to Challenge California’s Statist Elites
Rhetoric to Challenge California’s Statist Elites
California’s ruling elites have enacted policies that make it impossible for middle class citizens to live here. They have artificially elevated the cost of living, nearly destroyed public education, decimated public services, neglected public infrastructure, and declared war on small business. To deflect criticism, they’ve convinced a critical mass of voters that any attempts to...
By Edward Ring