As Jerry Brown enters the final months of his second go-around as Governor, the status of his two legacy projects — the twin tunnels and high-speed rail — is reminiscent of when he left office the first time. CALmatters columnist Dan Walters looks back to 1982, when Brown's original second-term wound...
California’s Rich Will Feel New $12 Billion Tax Bite: Walters
Dan Walters of CALmatters points out in his April 23 column that wealthy Californians can expect to pay $12 billion in additional federal taxes annually as a result of the tax-reform package passed by Congress and signed by President Trump this year. Like many, Walters wonders what impact the added...
The Next Speaker of the House: McCarthy or Pelosi?
Now that House Speaker Paul Ryan has announced his retirement from Congress at the end of this term, Dan Walters of CALmatters asks a logical question in his April 16th column: Will the second time be the charm for Bakersfield Congressman Kevin McCarthy? In 2015, Walters notes, "McCarthy’s bid to become speaker...
Despite Newsom's Name Recognition, He's Slow to Win Over Voters
In his Tuesday, Feb. 20 column, CALmatters' Dan Walters sizes up California's gubernatorial election as a two-man, "down to the wire" race. The two leading candidates are Democrats, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and they are running neck-and-neck in the most recent Public Policy...
Despite Newsom's Name Recognition, He's Slow to Win Over Voters
In his Tuesday, Feb. 20 column, CALmatters' Dan Walters sizes up California's gubernatorial election as a two-man, "down to the wire" race. The two leading candidates are Democrats, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and they are running neck-and-neck in the most recent Public Policy...
California Cities Work Both Sides of the Street on Climate Change: Walters
Officials in five cities and three counties have filed lawsuits alleging that companies knowingly emitted greenhouse gases that will damage those communities as oceans rise, and should pay for it, Dan Walters writes in his Feb. 12 CALmatters column. So, what's the rub? Explains Walters: "It’s easy to file a...
California Cities Work Both Sides of the Street on Climate Change: Walters
Officials in five cities and three counties have filed lawsuits alleging that companies knowingly emitted greenhouse gases that will damage those communities as oceans rise, and should pay for it, Dan Walters writes in his Feb. 12 CALmatters column. So, what's the rub? Explains Walters: "It’s easy to file a...
Dan Walters Tells It Like It Is About Sexual Harassment & Hypocritical Cal Legislature
California lawmakers finally relented last week and released records of investigations into sexual harassment involving Capitol members and employees. But CALmatters columnist Dan Walters opines in his Feb. 7 column that the state Legislature's action fell short of what is needed. "It was not a complete capitulation," Walters writes. "Records of...
Dan Walters Tells It Like It Is About Sexual Harassment & Hypocritical Cal Legislature
California lawmakers finally relented last week and released records of investigations into sexual harassment involving Capitol members and employees. But CALmatters columnist Dan Walters opines in his Feb. 7 column that the state Legislature's action fell short of what is needed. "It was not a complete capitulation," Walters writes. "Records of...
Dan Walters Calls for More Rigorous High-Speed Rail Audit
In his Feb. 1 column, CALmatters columnist Dan Walters points out that the audit of California's over-budget, behind-schedule high-speed rail project commissioned by state lawmakers this week is limited in its scope. Walters opines that a top-to-bottom examination by state Auditor Elaine Howle of the estimated $70 billion project would...