L.A. Times - George Skelton

California budget's going to be dreadful

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:32:00 -0800

Until long-term structural issues are fixed, there is no way legislators can produce an honest spending plan so the state lives within its means.

The Capitol's budget oracle projects $20.7 billion in new red ink for the next 19 months. Here's my projection: More punting, "kicking the can down the alley" and numbers-rigging.

California voters want a no-pork diet

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The water bond proposal written and passed by the Legislature needs a major rewrite, with an emphasis on de-larding it.

No matter how clever and careful the writer, on occasion a work should be ripped up and retooled. That also goes for writers of legislation.

Water still divides the state

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

California's biggest statewide problem is -- and always has been -- how to share water. But it's really a local issue.

Years ago, pundits and pols began redrawing the California political map with an east-west divide, erasing the historic north-south split. Now they can partition it north-south again, at least in mapping the reignited water war.

The Jerry Brown tapes: Never a dull moment

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Transcripts of phone interviews with reporters show the once-and-possibly-future governor is as outspoken as ever. For a politics columnist, they make for fascinating, if somewhat guilty, reading.

It seemed like eavesdropping on a private conversation -- or reading a rival journalist's notes. But I eagerly did it anyway out of curiosity about Jerry Brown.

Taxing our credulity

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Spelling out the state's new 'interest-free loan': T-A-X

The state of California began withholding more taxes from paychecks last week. And don't believe it if you hear this isn't a tax increase.

The big state government that could

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The governor and the Legislature put together a sweeping water package through old-school negotiations, trade-offs and rewards. Now it's up to the voters to ensure funding.

The California Legislature did something right, it would seem. So did Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Poizner sticks to the supply side

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

GOP candidate thinks a state tax cut will solve money problems.

Reduce taxes to increase tax revenue? That seems illogical on its face. But Steve Poizner is banking on it to balance the state's books if he's elected governor.

Meg Whitman's radio whoppers

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Republican candidate for California governor peddles two falsehoods about state spending and taxing in the very first radio ads for the 2010 race.

We instinctively grant latitude to advertisers, whether they're peddling politicians, dog food or miracle paring knives. But we do expect that an ad will not flat-out lie.

Threatened with mass demotion, California lawmakers finally focus

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The new Committee on Improving State Government gets an all-day earful from experts. Advice includes forgoing useless or inane bills and making tougher spending decisions.

At least some legislators get it. They get that they're essentially dysfunctional -- that voters look down on them as lower than slugs.

Go with the flow on water legislation

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

All parties have achieved gains, including construction of a controversial canal and a new dam or two, in their negotiations for major water improvements. Now it's time to make the deal happen.

Negotiators are on the brink of achieving the most comprehensive California water legislation in half a century. They're also in danger of an embarrassing belly flop.