SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Tuesday approved a settlement that moves Pacific Gas & Electric closer to getting out of bankruptcy, but the troubled utility still must navigate nettlesome obstacles being put up by the state of California. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali signed off on a deal...
Walters: California’s Big Educational Dilemma
California’s largest, most important — and perhaps most troubled — governmental program is the education of nearly 6 million elementary, middle and high school students. Federal, state and local taxpayers are spending more than $100 billion each year on the assumption, or hope, that the state’s 944 school districts, ranging...
Walters: State Budget Depends on the Rich
The final pages of the 2020-21 budget that Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed this month contain arguably its most important factor — an utter dependence on taxing a relative handful of high-income Californians. Personal income taxes, the budget projects, will generate $102.8 billion during the fiscal year that will begin on July 1,...
Walters: Legislating by Whim
The Democrats who dominate the state Legislature have developed a very bad habit — legislating by whim. If they take a dislike to something or someone, they ban it. If they like something, they impose it on everyone and/or give it taxpayers’ money. However, their whims, awash in self-righteousness, often...
Could City Ordinance Punishing Leakers Also Go After Media?
A proposed Fresno City Council ordinance would punish City Hall officials and staff who reveal confidential information, as well as those who receive privileged materials. "We have problems with information that gets leaked out of our closed session items, with other information that is not supposed to be leaked," said...
Walters: Are the Wealthy Fleeing California Taxes?
Here is an indisputable fact about California taxation: More than two-thirds of state general fund revenues come from personal income taxes and about half of those taxes are paid by the 1% of taxpayers atop the income scale. In other words, K-12 schools, state colleges and universities, health and welfare...
California Lawmakers May Trim Repeat Offenders’ Sentences
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers are on the verge of approving legislation to trim prison sentences for repeat nonviolent felonies. Current law adds an additional year to offenders' sentences for each previous prison or jail term. The bill approved by the state Assembly on Thursday would remove the mandatory one-year enhancement....
Treasury Unveils Plans to Privatize Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has unveiled its plan for ending government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two giant mortgage finance companies that nearly collapsed in the financial crisis 11 years ago and were bailed out at a total cost to taxpayers of $187 billion. The administration's...
In Trump Aid Package for Farmers, Many Blow Past Caps
MINNEAPOLIS — When President Donald Trump's administration announced a $12 billion aid package for farmers struggling under the financial strain of his trade dispute with China, the payments were capped. But many large farming operations had no trouble finding legal ways around them, records provided to The Associated Press under...
Event Where California Officials Brawled Known for Partying
SACRAMENTO — A late-night argument between Southern California city councilors ended with one unconscious on the floor of a resort during an annual gathering of local government officials that some past attendees say is more fraternity party than public policy retreat. The May 18 incident drew unwanted attention to the...