Investigation-Budget and FinanceBrown’s new budget attacks producersMonday, May 14th, 2012 May 14, 2012 By John Seiler Gov. Jerry Brown's May Revise to his 2012-13 budget proposal, released today, only will club more producers into leaving the state. It calls for $8.5 billion in tax increases from the initiative he is placing before voters on the November ballot. Most of the tax inc... Los Angeles teeters on the brink of bankruptcyMonday, April 30th, 2012 April 30, 2012 By Brian Calle Taxpayers in Los Angeles are facing a major crisis if Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials do not begin to address the systemic, structural issues putting the city on the fast track to economic upheaval. The situation is similar to that in other Califo... Warning for CA: Harrisburg confronts bankruptcyTuesday, April 17th, 2012Editor’s Note: This is the seventh in a CalWatchDog.com Special Series of 12 in-depth articles on municipal bankruptcy. In a warning for California, it examines the bankruptcy of Harrisburg, Pa. April 17, 2012 By Tara Leo Auchey What happened in Harrisburg, Pa.? One day there was nothing ... Four New California Cities Might DissolveTuesday, March 13th, 2012 Editor's Note: Correction Below MARCH 13, 2012 By WAYNE LUSVARDI Newspapers across the United States have told of the financial plight of three cities in northern California facing possible bankruptcy: Stockton, Hercules and Lincoln. However, many may not be aware that four newly for... Special Series: Bankruptcy Didn’t Make the Sky Fall In Orange CountyTuesday, March 6th, 2012 Editor's Note: This is the first in a CalWatchDog.com Special Series of 12 in-depth articles on municipal bankruptcy. MARCH 6, 2012 BY CHRIS REED Overwhelmed by enormous unfunded liabilities for retired employees’ pensions and health care, local governments throughout California are incr... New Chart: More Spending ImpossibleWednesday, December 7th, 2011Warning: imagecreatefromstring() [function.imagecreatefromstring]: Data is not in a recognized format in /var/www/vhosts/calwatchdog.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/media.php on line 258 Warning: imagecreatefromstring() [function.imagecreatefromstring]: Data is not in a recognized format in /var/www/vhosts/calwatchdog.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/media.php on line 258  DEC. 8, 2011 By JOHN SEILER This week, Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled his new proposal to increase taxes $7 billion to support higher state spending. The Think Long group of the rich and famous is proposing $10 billion in higher taxes to back more spending. Other tax increases are on being cooked u... Bond Party Hangover Strikes Calif.Monday, December 5th, 2011 DEC. 5, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI That pounding headache in California's head is from chugging too many municipal bonds. The newest financial crisis afflicting the state could be the most serious, threatening the easy-money financing of such boondoggles as the California High-Speed Rail Author... Public Funds No Boon To Stem CellsWednesday, November 23rd, 2011 NOV. 22, 2011 By WAYNE LUSVARDI On May 4, 2011, the Los Angeles Times reported that the California Stem Cell Institute (aka California Institute for Regenerative Medicine - CIRM) loaned $25 million to the Geron Corp. in Menlo Park to conduct a clinical trial of embryonic stem cells to cure s... Brown Pension Plan Band-Aids Gut WoundThursday, October 27th, 2011 OCT. 27, 2011 By JOHN SEILER Due to the pension crisis, the California state budget is bleeding profusely from a gut wound. Yet in his pension-reform proposal announced today, Gov. Jerry Brown applied a Band-Aid. The 12-point plan does include some worthy components, such as increasing reti... Last-Minute Bills Turn State Upside DownMonday, September 12th, 2011 SEPT. 12, 2011 By KATY GRIMES The California Legislature's last-minute bill binge upended the state. The battle in the Legislature wasn’t just about improving California’s financial stability. It was about establishing Democratic dominance and control over nearly every aspect of California... |