NOV. 28, 2010 Anyone who has dealt with a loved one deeply involved in some destructive behavior understands that there's only so much you can do until the person hits whatever low point is necessary to spark a commitment to turn things around. I think of my beloved California in the same ligh...
Columns-November, 2010State Has Yet To Hit BottomSunday, November 28th, 2010Brown May Downsize CommissionsSunday, November 28th, 2010NOV. 28, 2010 Gov.-elect Jerry Brown has a reputation for being frugal. Throughout his recent campaign, he referenced his unabashed personal frugality and said that if elected, it would translate to the governor’s office. Already, there are reports that Brown will not be making nearly the n... Black Friday At Capitol StoreFriday, November 26th, 2010NOV. 26, 2010 It being Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, I decided to check out the place where the real power-brokers, the legislative aides and staffers who write the bills and reports that keep the state humming, do their gift shopping. Yes, I visited Capitol Books & Gift... Watching The SchlackmanSunday, November 21st, 2010NOV. 22, 2010 Contrary to popular belief, spending a couple hours in a hearing room listening to 20 political consultants, analysts and bureaucrats talk about something called “The Political Reform Act” isn’t my favorite way to spend afternoon. But, truth be told, there are worse things to ... Groping Toward TyrannySunday, November 21st, 2010NOV. 22, 2010 The Transportation Security Administration knows with 100 percent certainty that John Tyner, the 31-year-old Oceanside man who refused to submit to one of those embarrassing body scans or be searched by TSA groin-grabbers during his recent attempt to fly from San Diego to South Dako... Obscuring Truth About Prop. 23′s BackersThursday, November 18th, 2010NOV. 18, 2010 In the Sacramento Bee Sunday Nov. 14, there were five different stories about climate change, including stories about the recently defeated Proposition 23, California's global warming law (AB32), which Prop. 23 sought to suspend until the state's economy improved, as well as stories... FPPC Not Totally Wed To Gift BansMonday, November 15th, 2010NOV. 15, 2010 The traditional start of the Christmas shopping season is just around the corner, so I guess it makes sense that the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has decided to redo some of its gift-related regulations. Unfortunately, it’s not likely they’re going to be very... Bigger Not Better With GovernmentMonday, November 15th, 2010NOV. 15, 2010 As government costs soar, and revenue remains low because of the poor economy, some politicians and academics are trotting out an old idea that promises to increase efficiency and save money. It's called municipal consolidation. In their view, combining multiple cities or agenci... Union Candidate Quiz Ignored Ed IssuesMonday, November 15th, 2010NOV. 15, 2010 I used to think school boards were about schools, and the kids they are charged with educating. At one time this was the case. But today, the majority of school board positions appear to be union labor representatives. My friend Paige Powell ran for the Sacramento City Unified Sc... State GOP Now IrrelevantMonday, November 8th, 2010NOV. 8 Republicans have been amused by President Barack Obama's thick-headed response to the Democratic Party's electoral defeat. Despite near-historic gains for the GOP in the House of Representatives and significant GOP gains in the Senate and statehouses, Obama refused in his news conference ... |