Waste, Fraud and AbuseThe Black Hole of Green MarketingWednesday, September 21st, 2011 SEPT. 21, 2011 Even with the recent news that bankrupt solar energy company Solyndra received questionable federal loan guarantees, Americans should be demanding, “Show me the money!” While Solyndra appears to have been a black hole of green marketing, the wealthy, politically well-connected ... Making Public Pay for Budget CutsMonday, July 25th, 2011 JULY 25, 2011 By STEVEN GREENHUT Last year, one of my reporters and her adult son were walking in downtown Sacramento when a couple of young toughs tried grabbing her purse. She pulled back her purse, and the robbers lunged at the two of them, leaving the son's face covered in blood. Despite a... Brownley’s Bill Bashing Bad BagsWednesday, March 2nd, 2011 MARCH 2 Sometimes, writing about state government is too easy. No matter how dire the current budget crisis, or low public opinion of the Legislature can get, our elected officials continue to perpetuate The Nanny State. Yes, I put it in all capitals because just about everyone in the Capitol ... The Cost Of Fighting Bullet TrainsWednesday, February 16th, 2011FEB. 16, 2011 Sixty-five billion dollars. That’s the newest estimate of how much money it will take to run bullet trains across California. Though not an official figure – the California High-Speed Rail Authority still insists that they can pay for bullet trains, stations, maintenance facilit... Will Executions In California Ever Resume?Thursday, February 10th, 2011FEB. 10, 2011 As I write this on Feb. 8, San Jose federal Judge Jeremy Fogel is preparing to tour San Quentin State Prison’s new death chamber, which reportedly cost nearly a million dollars. It was Fogel who, after a previous tour five years ago, stopped all executions in California, ruling th... Brown Turns Blind Eye To WasteThursday, December 23rd, 2010DEC. 23, 2010 I know you’re busy and all setting up a new administration and picking curtains for your hip, new Midtown digs, but I just wanted to drop you a brief note saying Thanks for getting rid of Laura Chick and her staff of auditors at the Office of The Inspector General. Though the offi... Another Reason Pringle Should ResignWednesday, December 8th, 2010DEC. 8, 2010 It’s always tough to get back into the reporting grind after a week’s vacation. Well, nearly always – when the California High-Speed Rail Authority is one of your beats, it’s actually quite easy. Waiting for me in my e-mail inbox was a copy of the independent high-speed ra... Unlikely Activists Against RailThursday, November 4th, 2010NOV. 5, 2010 Elizabeth Alexis and Nadia Naik were lost. Their arms wrapped around folders and laptop computers, they were trying to find Room 447 in the state Capitol. That particular room is in the “old” wing of the Capitol, but they were in the “new” wing, riding the elevator up to the ... Lies, damn lies and union statisticsSunday, October 24th, 2010OCT. 24, 2010 California’s public employee unions have taken the public for suckers for years, so it’s understandable they now think they can play us for fools. A study released Monday by a think tank that specializes in pro-union advocacy purports to show that public employees receive les... Shame To See Wright GoFriday, September 17th, 2010SEPT. 17, 2010 You don’t find the words “state senator” and “indicted” in the same headline very often. But when I saw this Sept. 16 Los Angeles Times story on the eight-count felony indictment of Sen. Rod Wright, D-Inglewood, for perjury and voter fraud, I was surprised. I didn’t kno... |