A Surplus of Nonsense in the Governor’s Latest Budget

By John Moorlach
05/17/2022
There are two big days for a California governor, January 10 when the budget is presented and the May Revise when a few months of additional data and debate have passed. They’re both political documents, allowing governors to play with numbers. Few governors have been as sporting in that enterprise as Gavin Newsom. Last week,...

TAGS: California budget, John Moorlach, pension

Radio Free California Podcast Episode 201: Newsom’s Cabo Controversy

By Will Swaim
12/02/2021
French Laundry, the Getty Wedding, and now a family vacation in a Mexican resort remind us that our governor is auditorily challenged where political tone is involved. Eric Swalwell wants you vaccinated to protect his kids. Progressives threaten Feinstein over the filibuster. Dem’s federal budget includes tax breaks for government unions. Times are tough, but...

TAGS: California budget, Eric Swalwell, Feinstein, Gavin Newsom, Rivian

California’s Budget “Surplus” Ignores Crushing Debt Burden

By Edward Ring
01/09/2019
California’s new governor, Gavin Newsom, delivered an inaugural address earlier this week that accurately reflected the mentality of his supporters. Triumphalist, defiant, and filled with grand plans. But are these plans grand, or grandiose? Will Governor Newsom try to deliver everything he promised during his campaign, and if so, can California’s state government really deliver...

TAGS: California budget, California debt

Government Created Energy Blackouts Coming to a City Near You

By Katy Grimes
06/13/2016
Most countries around the world think that it’s a good thing to have cheap energy. But in California, we have plenty of cheap energy available, just not the political will to access it. California depends on natural gas-driven turbines and hydroelectric generators to provide just 38 percent of its oil needs. The state imports 12 percent...

TAGS: California, California budget, California Legislature, cap and trade, debt, Democrats, economy, electricity, energy, Government, Jerry Brown, Katy Grimes, regulations, Sacramento

Budget Primer for California Citizen Taxpayers

By Jon Coupal
05/15/2016
Average taxpayers in California are probably aware that the state budget was in the news again over the weekend. But even folks who follow both Presidential politics and local issues probably couldn’t be blamed if they tune out stories about the California budget. It’s not that they don’t care. It’s just that public finance issues...

TAGS: California budget, gas tax