It is not an overstatement to say that a supermajority in the California Legislature believes that Proposition 13 must be destroyed. Over the last five decades, Sacramento politicians have become more and more progressive – many now openly embrace socialism – but even still, we have been able to keep most direct attacks against Prop. […]
Last week, and despite the popularity of Proposition 13, the California Legislature passed two proposed amendments to the California Constitution that rip huge holes in that iconic taxpayer protection overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1978. But here’s the good news. These anti-homeowner bills must be approved at a statewide election and, given the anger from […]
Unicorns don’t exist in the real world and taxpayer heroes do not exist in the majority in the California Assembly. Despite warnings from a massive coalition of taxpayer advocates, real estate interests and business groups, 56 members of the California Legislature just passed two of the most destructive bills possible by declaring war on Proposition […]
One of the most closely watched – and hotly contested – pieces of legislation now pending in the Capitol is a direct attack on Proposition 13. Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13, until two weeks ago, was devoid of any substantive language. But it was subject to a “gut-and-amend” maneuver adding language that should alarm every California […]
Less than two weeks ago, radical progressives in the California Legislature launched the most brazen sneak attack on California’s iconic Proposition 13 in its 45-year history. Assemblyman Christopher Ward, backed by the new Speaker of the Assembly, Robert Rivas, introduced Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 (ACA 13). It would amend the constitution to make it easier […]
Prior to the successful passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, Howard Jarvis tried several times to bring property tax relief to beleaguered California homeowners. While coming close, it wasn’t until 1978 when voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 13 over the opposition of virtually every political institution and newspaper in California. As they say, timing is everything. […]
For political observers, the debate between conservative and progressive politicians over the impact of various policies can be entertaining as well as enlightening. Of course, politicians tend to either stretch the truth or cherry-pick various statistics to support their positions. Take, for example, arguments related to poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the official […]
Last week, this column addressed the dilemma facing the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS), California’s biggest public pension retirement funds, involving “Environmental, Social, and Governance” principles. Depending on how it is interpreted, “ESG investing” can simply mean evaluating investments in a broad manner “to assess […]
Over the years, the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) has had its share of problems, including a few episodes of corruption. In 2016, its former CEO was sentenced to 54 months in prison for corruption and fraud charges stemming from a conspiracy to trade official acts for cash and benefits. In 2020, CalPERS’ Chief […]
The increasing rate of people and businesses leaving California is well documented and is slowly being acknowledged by reluctant politicians and legacy media. Arguments from California’s cheerleader-in-chief, Governor Newsom, that everything is fine are growing less credible by the day. For those of us who want to stay in the Golden State – no matter […]
