August, 2012Chamber launches ‘California Comeback’Friday, August 31st, 2012 Aug. 31, 2012 By Joseph Perkins Here's an ad: “California is struggling … badly. Two million people out of work… Huge deficits… High taxes… Over-regulation…" "Instead of creating jobs, politicians increased spending $30 billion since 2008. And bureaucrats put $37 billion in ... Fighting public service ‘corruption’Monday, August 27th, 2012Aug. 27, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO -- During recent travels to Madison and Milwaukee for some research about reform-minded Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker's survival of a union-backed recall, I found little residual anger among the friendly folks there, despite seemingly endles... CA to become sanctuary state?Monday, August 27th, 2012 August 27, 2012 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO -- Immigration issues within states are becoming more prevalent. The usual complaints are that the federal government isn't doing enough to enforce U.S. policy. California is different. Earlier this year, it already embarked into uncharted terri... Rare court victory for home buildersWednesday, August 22nd, 2012 Aug. 22, 2012 By Joseph Perkins It has taken the better part of two decades, but the California Supreme Court has finally reined in so-called “construction defect” lawsuits, the threat of which has had a damping effect on development of multi-family for-sale housing. The case in questio... Bankruptcy no panacea for pensionsMonday, August 20th, 2012Aug. 20, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO – Municipal bonds have long been among the safest investments, but a coming wave of municipal bankruptcies in California -- and the disturbing way one of those cities is stiffing its bondholders -- could change perceptions about the wisdom of lendi... Government octopus strangling stateMonday, August 20th, 2012 August 20, 2012 By Katy Grimes If forces are at work quelling America, the best place to start would be right here in California. California used to be the 6th largest economy in the world, with rich natural resources, prime agricultural land, the innovations of Silicon Valley, and a on... Brown Admin attacks climate ‘deniers’Friday, August 17th, 2012 Aug. 17, 2012 By Joseph Perkins “Climate change,” declares the home page for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, “poses an immediate threat to California’s economy, environment, and to public health.” The Brown administration is “taking action” to avert the worst... Union pushing audit of CSU Extension edThursday, August 16th, 2012Aug. 16, 2012 By Katy Grimes The Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing last week was a mini civics lesson in what is going on in state politics, and what bad policy the state’s special-interest groups and labor unions are continually pushing. When special interests and their compl... ‘Policing for profit’ on the riseMonday, August 13th, 2012Aug. 13, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO -- Few groups of "sinners" are singled out in biblical accounts more than "tax collectors," who were not merely state agents collecting revenue that taxpayers rightfully owed to the government. They were the source of particular loathing because they... Chevron refinery fire sets off money grabFriday, August 10th, 2012 Aug, 10, 2012 By Joseph Perkins Well, that didn’t take long. No sooner did Chevron douse the fire this week at its Richmond oil refinery before a couple thousand folks, claiming some sort of personal injury or another, started looking for a way to get paid. More than a thousand “victim... |