Headlines across the country have detailed Supreme Court actions regarding various state gerrymandering scandals, the politicizing the Census, and attempts by some states to create new ways to draw district lines after receiving 2020 Census data. California was not a part of any of those stories. More than a decade...
2020 Preview? Feud Erupts Between Biden, Trump
NEW YORK — Democrats won't pick their nominee for another year, but President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are acting like the 2020 presidential contest is already a two-man race. Almost completely ignoring his 23 Democratic competitors, Biden has been laser-focused on Trump — particularly his embrace of racist...
Denver Voters to Decide Legalizing ‘Magic Mushrooms’
DENVER — Voters decide this week whether Denver will become the first U.S. city to decriminalize the use of psilocybin, the psychedelic substance in "magic mushrooms." A citizen-led initiative appearing on ballots Tuesday follows a path that led to marijuana's legalization in Denver and later in Colorado. Campaign organizers, though,...
Trump Using Tax Day Trip to Tout 2017 Tax Cuts
ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Donald Trump will use Tax Day on Monday to visit Minnesota, an erstwhile Democratic stronghold he hopes to flip in 2020 after nearly winning it in 2016. Questions remain, however, about just how much he's politically benefiting from his signature legislative accomplishment. Minnesota, which gave...
Walters: Bond Issue Transparency Still Under Assault
Two years ago, in a rare display of support for transparency in government finance, the Legislature and then-Gov. Jerry Brown required local governments and school districts to tell voters how proposed bond issues would affect their property taxes. That would seem to be just common sense and good government, but...
Walters: A Crackdown on Misuse of Taxpayer Money?
As documented in this space on several occasions, local government officials throughout California have been thumbing their noses at a state law that prohibits them from using taxpayer funds for political campaigns. Officials in cities, counties, school districts and special purpose districts routinely hire campaign management firms, often with multi-million-dollar...
Assembly Democrats Want Lower Threshold to Raise Local Taxes
SACRAMENTO — California voters could decide in 2020 whether it should be easier for their local governments to raise taxes and issue bonds for affordable housing, road improvements and other public projects. A constitutional amendment proposed Wednesday would lower how much voter support communities need to raise money for infrastructure...
Walters: A Crackdown on Misusing Public Funds for Campaigns?
When Yuba County’s Board of Supervisors asked its voters to hike sales taxes last year, it wasn’t alone. Hundreds of California’s local governments, cities and counties primarily, were doing so, promising voters that the new revenues would be used to enhance popular services, such as parks, police and fire protection....
California Supreme Court Throws Cities, Including Fresno, Into Chaos Over Local Taxes
The California Supreme Court has some explaining to do. Late last year, the city of Oakland put a new land parcel tax on the books, after 62 percent of voters turned out to boost funding for public education. Now a local business group is suing the city, arguing that the new tax...
Gov. Brown Tweets to California: 'Thank You'
Gov. Jerry Brown will finish his final term at noon Monday and then head to his Colusa ranch with wife, Anne Gust Brown. Brown tweeted a video compilation of his accomplishments Friday afternoon, along with a three-word political farewell: "Thank you, California." Indeed, several of Brown's achievements wouldn't have been...