Waste, Fraud and AbuseWhen the media become the storyMonday, April 2nd, 2012 April 2, 2012 By Katy Grimes By now everyone in America knows the name of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year old tragically killed on February 26 by a Florida neighborhood watch captain. While the details of the case are still suspicious at this point, and have even been altered in some reports, one ... CA Wins if Obamacare LosesFriday, March 30th, 2012March 30, 2012 Kamala Harris must be chagrined. The California attorney general filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to uphold the constitutionality of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. But after three days of oral arguments this week, ... Another Black Eye for CA CleantechFriday, February 10th, 2012 FEB 10, 2012 A California company is held out as a model for the new green economy. It works its political connections in Washington to score a half-billion-dollar taxpayer subsidy from the Obama administration. It fails to deliver its much-hyped “clean energy” product. It shutters its manufa... The 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... |