In January, Gov. Gavin Newsom presented a proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 which envisioned a several billion dollar increase in spending for …
California Commentary
Standing for taxpayers and direct democracy
By Jon Coupal and Timothy Bittle The powers of direct democracy — initiative, referendum and recall — have been powerful tools to control …
Of nuclear-powered airplanes and the bullet train
A long-forgotten aspect of the nuclear arms race was the costly undertaking by the United States to develop a nuclear-powered aircraft as a strategic …
The dark side of stimulus
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down with massive disruptions in virtually every aspect of human life. With some notable exceptions, …
Prop. 13 opponents turn in their signatures
With great fanfare, the proponents of an initiative to raise property taxes in California by $12 billion a year announced they had turned in over 1.7 …
Little coronavirus relief for property owners
The second installment of the 2019-2020 property tax bill was due on Friday and we hope the majority of California’s property owners were able to pay …
Pension bomb fuse just got shorter
Homeowners have enough to worry about in the current coronavirus crisis. They face an April 10 deadline for the second installment of their annual …
Pressure mounts for property tax relief
From many corners, California politicians and tax officials are under increasing pressure to extend the current April 10 deadline for paying …
Protecting taxpayers in a time of crisis
The word “unprecedented” is fitting for the coronavirus crisis that is now savaging both the health of countless Americans as well as our nation’s …
Money can’t buy love, or elections
Of the many conclusions that can be drawn from the March primary election in California, perhaps the most notable is that money doesn’t always …