A few weeks ago, it appeared that the city of Los Angeles might be liable for billions of dollars to backstop the costs of the upcoming 2028 Olympics. …
California Commentary
The ‘defenders of democracy’ oppose transparency in California Capitol
Democrats in the Legislature are spending their first week back from summer recess frantically redrawing the state’s congressional maps in response to …
Will Gavin Newsom hoist with his own petard?
A line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet refers to a character being “hoist with his own petard.” A petard is a small explosive device, and the saying refers …
Sacramento is scheming to raise taxes to fund the bullet train
California taxpayers are angry enough over the nation’s most embarrassing boondoggle – the infamous high-speed rail project. But imagine the outrage …
California lags in financial transparency
Truth in Accounting (TIA) is a think tank that analyzes government financial reports. As part of its mission, it encourages public entities to produce …
Both parties continue to play soccer with the proverbial can
The guiding philosophy at all levels of politics is “never face today what you can put off to tomorrow.” This is even true for matters that require …
Assembly Bill 84 is an assault on taxpayers and students
California taxpayers and parents should be alarmed. A deeply flawed bill, Assembly Bill 84, is moving through the Legislature — expanding bureaucracy, …
The history of legal attacks on Proposition 13
On June 6th, 1978, California voters delivered a shock wave, not just in California, but throughout America. Proposition 13 reduced property taxes by …
San Francisco’s latest ridiculous idea: taxing driveways
The headline was certainly eye-catching: “San Francisco considered charging property owners for their driveways.” For local taxpayers, the City by the …
Capital gains tax: Another hit to homeowners
Just when you think things couldn’t get worse for California’s beleaguered taxpayers, a new problem is beginning to emerge that will surprise many …