Watching Gov. Gavin Newsom focus some of his youthful energy on the issue of aging is both refreshing and clearly required, especially given his observation that California is getting grayer in staggering numbers. Newsom noted in his State of the State address in February that California’s over-65 population will nearly...
Walters: California’s Other Fiscal Crisis
Gov. Gavin Newsom and his predecessor, Jerry Brown, have repeatedly stressed the need to build state budget reserves to cushion the impact of the next recession, whenever it hits. Thanks to a vibrant economy, they’ve squirreled away nearly $20 billion in various reserve accounts. When recession hits, however, the state...
Resumed Federal Executions Raise Death Penalty's 2020 Stakes
WASHINGTON — The question to Michael Dukakis, the Democratic presidential candidate in 1988, was brutally personal. "If Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?" Bernard Shaw, a CNN anchor, asked, referring to the Massachusetts governor's wife. Dukakis said he wouldn't favor...
Newsom Visits Big Oil Spill Near Bakersfield, Sees 'Progress'
Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the site of California's largest oil spill in decades and said he is encouraged by Chevron's efforts to clean it up. About 970,000 gallons have leaked from the ground at an oilfield west of Bakersfield over the last couple of months; about one third of it is...
Walters: Newsom Now Owns DMV’s Woes
Another day, another plan to make the state Department of Motor Vehicles something other than the agency Californians love to hate. On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom released a report from the “strike force” he created to attack the DMV’s managerial and technological shortcomings that have forced motorists to endure hours-long...
Is Fresno Ready to Talk About Race? If Not, Shame on Us.
Is Fresno ready to honestly talk about race with willing ears and open minds? If not, the economy of our metropolitan region will never truly hum and scores of residents in poor neighborhoods will continue to be left behind. That was the bottom line emanating from the kick-off meeting Wednesday...
California OKs Benefits to Immigrants in Country Illegally
SACRAMENTO — California has become the first state to offer taxpayer-funded health benefits to young adults living in the country illegally. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Tuesday that makes low-income adults age 25 and younger eligible for the state's Medicaid program regardless of their immigration status. State...
Walters: New State Budget a Windfall for Unions
The state budget package Democratic legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom just enacted is sprinkled with billions of dollars in extra goodies for their most important political constituency, labor unions. Take, for example, Senate Bill 90, the budget’s omnibus education measure. It would allocate $3.1 billion to reduce mandatory payments that...
In Blue California, Why Are so Many Leftist Plans Going Under?
An unprecedented haul of tax dollars generated by a roaring economy. A governor who campaigned on a big-ticket policy agenda of long-time lefty favorites, including universal childcare and state-funded healthcare for all. A Legislature so thoroughly packed with Democrats it gives rise to a new term — "giga-majority.” Californians could be forgiven...
California’s Housing Budget Is a Wrap. Here’s What's Inside.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders agreed to spend a fresh $2 billion to combat the state’s housing and homelessness woes. Democratic lawmakers and the new governor settled relatively quickly on the amount — which advocates say is the biggest in recent memory dedicated to housing. Ever since, they’ve been trying to resolve the...