Get the Stories Sacramento
Doesn’t Want You to Hear

Independent analysis of California policy and government — cutting through the one-party narrative

✓

Thanks, you’re all set!

Like Our Facebook Page
Data-Driven Insights

Data-Driven Insights

Research and analysis grounded in data, not politics

Outsider Perspective

An Independent Perspective

Holding Sacramento’s political and media establishment accountable

Weekly Updates

Weekly Updates

The biggest stories shaping California each week

CHECK OUT PREVIOUS RESEARCH SHAPING POLICY

FEATURED INVESTIGATION

Our Experts Exposed Julie Su’s $30 Billion Fraud Cover-Up

Congressional testimony, Senate letters, and national media coverage followed

Story featured in: New York Post, Fox Business, San Bernardino Sun, Congressional Record

CPC CEO Will Swaim uncovered a buried detail in California’s 2022 financial report: Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su was preparing to forgive herself for losing $30 billion in federal COVID-relief funds to fraudsters and international crime gangs while she oversaw California’s Employment Development Department.

$30 Billion

In taxpayer funds lost to fraud under Julie Su’s watch, more than double the entire annual budget of the Department of Labor.

Congressional Record & Senate Response

“I want to submit for the record this article from the San Bernardino Sun… titled ‘Julie Su Prepares to Forgive Herself for Julie Sue’s Mistakes.'”

— Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), House Education and Workforce Committee

Following Swaim’s reporting, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Mike Crapo sent a formal letter to Su demanding answers about DOL’s plan to shield California from accountability for the massive fraud losses.

COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS

California’s $1.37 Trillion Debt Crisis Exposed

Comprehensive analysis of California’s total government debt reveals massive unfunded liabilities

State and local government debt reaches 34.1% of GDP—higher than most countries

Our comprehensive study of California’s government finances reveals a staggering $1.37 trillion in total debt—representing 34.1% of the state’s GDP. This includes $513 billion in bonds, $664 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, and $175 billion in unfunded retiree healthcare obligations.

$1.37 Trillion

Total debt across California state and local governments—34.1% of GDP, placing California among the most indebted government systems globally.

Key Findings

  • Hidden debt dominates: $664B in pensions + $175B in retiree healthcare exceeds $513B in bonds
  • Fiscal distress widespread: LA County, Sacramento Fire, San Gabriel all carry debt-to-revenue ratios exceeding 200%
  • Union influence: Public employee unions drive unfunded liabilities through pension benefit negotiations
  • Transparency failures: Many local governments file financial audits years late, obscuring true fiscal condition
FEATURED INVESTIGATION

How Unions Funnel Millions Through Rural County “Dark Money” Channels

Five remote California counties move $7.2 million from government unions to distant legislative races

Campaign finance analysis reveals coordinated program overseen by State Senate Democratic Caucus

Our analysis of campaign finance records uncovered a sophisticated money-laundering scheme: Five sparsely populated rural counties—Humboldt, Tehama, Napa, Mendocino, and Del Norte—have funneled $7.2 million from government unions to state legislative candidates hundreds of miles away, while their own Democratic central committees receive 94% of funding from unions.

$7.2 Million

Moved from unions through 5 rural county committees to distant legislative races—representing $21 per capita from just 457,000 residents, compared to $0.73 per capita from the state’s other 53 Democratic county committees.

How the Program Works

“These funds are strictly for the Caucus to request that TCDCC send specific amounts to targeted state senate campaigns at strategic times in election cycles.”

— Kathy Cole, Chair, Tehama County Democratic Central Committee

The scheme appears designed to mask unions’ outsized role in state races. One example: Humboldt County’s committee sent $275,000 to Sen. Josh Newman—who represents districts over 500 miles away—while the three counties Newman actually represents sent him less than $2,000 combined. The Fair Political Practices Commission confirms that coordination between state parties and unions in directing contributions may violate California law.

EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS

Insights from California’s leading policy experts and analysts like these and more

Will Swaim

Will Swaim is CEO of the California Policy Center. With CPC board member David Bahnsen, he hosts National Review’s Radio Free California podcast. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, LA Daily News, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Orange County Register, the Wall Street Journal, New York Post and National Review.

 

Will Swaim

Marc Joffe

Marc Joffe is President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association and a California Policy Center visiting fellow.

After a long career in the financial industry, including a senior director role at Moody’s Analytics, he transitioned to policy research at CPC and Reason Foundation. Joffe’s research focuses on government finance and state policy issues.

Marc Joffe

Edward Ring

Edward Ring is the Director of Water and Energy Policy at the California Policy Center, which he co-founded in 2013. Ring is the author of Fixing California: Abundance, Pragmatism, Optimism (2021) and The Abundance Choice: Our Fight for More Water in California (2022).
Edward Ring

Lance Christensen

Lance Christensen brings two decades of public policy and political experience to the California Policy Center as CPC’s Vice President of Government Affairs & Education Policy.

Christensen was a candidate for California Superintendent of Public Instruction on the November 2022 statewide ballot. He was also one of the principal architects of the recent school choice initiative proposal in California.

Lance Christensen

Spacer

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

“There are organizations around the country that talk the talk when it comes to reforming what is broken in their state. But then there is the California Policy Center, where the walk matches the talk, and where the long-game is a way of life.”

 
David Bahnsen
The Bahnsen Group & Fox Business Contributor

“I’m beyond grateful for CPC’s relentless and strategic advocacy in the state capitol.” 

Bill Essayli
Assistant United States Attorney

California Policy Center navigates the challenging inner workings of the Capitol effectively and works to build strategic and bipartisan relationships that result in better policy outcomes that benefit families and entrepreneurs across the Central Valley.

Shannon Grove
California State Senator

Spacer