Sept. 10, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO -- The main problem with the California Legislature is not that it spends your money far faster than it comes in, or that much of it is squandered on absurd programs and on the enrichment of those Californians who work for the state. Those are sympt...

Sept. 3, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO -- City officials across California typically spare police officers from even modest reductions in the pay and pension packages that are a leading cause of municipal budget problems, even when the alternatives are reduced public services or even muni...

Aug. 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...

Aug. 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...

Aug. 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...