Uncategorized | California Policy Center

Transparency Website Shows True Cost of Unionized Government in California

In light of the strong public policy supporting transparency in government, an individual’s expectation of privacy in a salary earned in public employment is significantly less than the privacy expectation regarding income earned in the private sector. – Excerpt from California Supreme Court Ruling, 8-27-2007, IFPTE v. Superior Court Today the California Public Policy Center...

By Edward Ring

Taxpayer Group Pushing to Gut California’s Prop. 13 is Union Front Group

One lingering success of the Right in California is the public’s continued association of taxpayers’ organizations with fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and limited government. Statewide groups such as the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and regional groups such as the San Diego County Taxpayers Association maintain credibility as leaders in resisting foolhardy tax increases and wasteful...

By Kevin Dayton

Harris v. Quinn: A Mother Petitions the Supreme Court in Fight Against Unions

I have tried to steer clear of inflaming names like “parasite” when speaking about public unions. In this case, no other word comes close to describing the setup. Making Millions Off the Disabled One brave mother, Pam Harris, has resisted forced unionization of herself (as a sole home-caretaker, in her own home, for her disabled...

By Mike Shedlock

Public Union Foes and Defenders

The basic premise behind public employee financed campaigns is that the election is now while the bills may be deferred for years, particularly if they take the form of pension promises. Eventually, however, the bills do come due. This is why Governor Mitch Daniels (R-Indiana) said he decided on his first day of office in...

By Hunter Lewis

Union Watch Highlights

Here are links to the top stories available online over the past week reporting on union activity including legislation, financial impact, reform activism, etc., from California and across the USA. Northwestern football players seek to join labor union By Teddy Greenstein and Chris Hine, January 28, 2014, Chicago Tribune Kain Colter called Tuesday a “historic...

By Editor

Forming a Bipartisan Consensus for Public Sector Union Reform

Across the United States there is an escalating political conflict over the role of labor unions in society. But it is inaccurate to characterize this conflict as one between Republicans and Democrats. There are members of both major political parties, as well as independents of widely diverse ideologies, who are concerned about civil liberties, the...

By Edward Ring

How Public Employees Have Superior Rights and Entitlements

America’s founders left us one of the most thoughtful documents ever written. The U.S. Constitution is the basis of our republic, not democracy, and what has allowed the United States to become the most prosperous nation ever. The freedoms and rights written down on that document are what makes America so prosperous. Within the 14th...

By Bill White

Union Watch Highlights

Here are links to the top stories available online over the past week reporting on union activity including legislation, financial impact, reform activism, etc., from California and across the USA. Labor Wants Its Say at Davos By Katrin Bennholdjan, January 21, 2014, New York Times Philip Jennings, a union leader from working-class Wales, has been...

By Editor

Scranton Residents Plead for Bankruptcy vs. Higher Taxes

City officials in Scranton Pennsylvania have ignored pleas from residents pleading for bankruptcy. Instead, the city raised property taxes and trash fees nearly 60% and tripled rental registration fees. The city’s school district, which faced a $4-million deficit, raised taxes 2.4%. The City Council, which in 2012 passed a 5% amusement tax on live entertainment,...

By Mike Shedlock

Union Watch Highlights

Here are links to the top stories available online over the past week reporting on union activity including legislation, financial impact, reform activism, etc., from California and across the USA. L.A. may hike minimum wage for hotel workers to highest in U.S. By James Rainey, January 14, 2014, Los Angeles Times Labor leaders hope a...

By Editor

Big Labor's Divide and Conquer Strategy for 2014

Shortly before returning from his 17-day vacation in Hawaii, the President resumed divisive rhetoric by reprimanding House Republicans for going on a “holiday break” and not staying in Washington D.C. to pass a measure to extend unemployment benefits for needy Americans. The benefits were allowed to lapse, as they were not included in the budget ...

By Dave Bego

Union Watch Highlights

Here are links to the top stories available online over the past week reporting on union activity including legislation, financial impact, reform activism, etc., from California and across the USA. Scalia’s golden chance to kill unions Josh Eidelson, January 6, 2014, Salon A Supreme Court case to be heard this month could deal another body...

By Editor

Ushering in 2014 with Laws that Government Unions and Greens Adore

California’s legislature passed, as usual, hundreds of laws that took effect on January 1st, but two of them are prime examples of how the Golden State has turned its governance over to an alliance of public sector unions, environmentalist extremists, and wealthy elites. Nowhere within this privileged clique is there any recognition of how difficult...

By Edward Ring

Detailed Look At Rising Sentiment Among Californians for Union Reform

In what is decidedly a good thing for California as well as the nation at-large, a recent Field Poll shows California Voters Take Negative View of Labor Unions. According to the latest Field Poll, California voter views of labor unions have taken a decidedly negative turn over the past two and one-half years. Whereas a March...

By Mike Shedlock