You can almost hear promoters of a state constitutional convention saying, "Hey Buddy, want to trade your cow for some magic beans?" For Jack this deal worked out in the end, but for taxpayers being asked to trust those peddling a constitutional convention as a panacea for our state's problems, we doubt things will turn out like the fairytale.

As the Legislature returns to Sacramento after a brief break, the continuing budget crisis is the focus of attention. But there are also serious discussions about how to improve California governance.  Read more >>

Several years ago, Stephan Pastis, the creator of "Pearls Before Swine," drew a cartoon that illustrates the threat now faced by taxpayers. In the comic, Zebra is complaining to his friend Goat that he was being sued by crocodiles. The crocodiles' cause of action? "Defendant Zebra has willfully failed to be plaintiffs' food, in breach of Natural Law ... Plaintiffs seek defendant Zebra cooked medium well over a barbecue pit."  Read more >>

Readers of this column may do a double take to see CALPIRG and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association advocating an identical position. But when it comes to government transparency, we are surely reading off the same sheet of music.  Read more >>

The California Commission for the 21st Century Economy was created by the Governor and Legislature in October of 2008. Its main purpose, at least that which was represented to the public, was to deal with the real issue of California's revenue volatility. By now, almost everyone knows that California is overly reliant on the income tax to run the state and, because of its steep progressivity, we are even more reliant on a handful of the "evil rich" to pay the lion's share of that tax.  Read more >>