In today's Sacramento Bee, former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry takes a closer look at some of the substantive and reformative bills that did not make it off the governor's desk, including SB 14, which would have helped stabilize the fiscal process, hold lawmakers accountable to the people they serve, and restore some trust in government. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Jerry Brown, Budget Reform
The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley chose a single-word theme for last week’s summit: “Elevate.” In one sense, the word reflects progress in improving the region's quality of life. In another, it meant more hard work lies ahead to lift the Valley's fortunes. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Civic Engagement, Restructuring
California faces enormous challenges – making essential public programs work with fewer dollars, helping young people prepare for an uncertain future, and reviving our sick economy. That's why we are so disappointed that Governor Brown vetoed SB 14 (Wolk), a critical cornerstone to the kind of governance changes that could restore opportunities for Californians -- and maybe even confidence and trust in their elected officials. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Jerry Brown, Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Governance Reform
California voters remain fed up with their legislature, as seen in the latest Field Poll, which finds that people have little confidence in the body charged with passing laws and budgeting taxpayer dollars. Their support for the governor, however, remains steady. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Jerry Brown, Accountability, Transparency, Restructuring
Coming off a tough budget battle in Sacramento, Gov. Jerry Brown gave a Fresno audience a straightforward assessment of the fractured political climate in the state's capital – but also a dose of optimism that change can happen. Read More
Categories: Jerry Brown, Restructuring
When California Controller John Chiang decided on Tuesday that legislators would not be paid, he based that decision on the fact that the budget they passed last week was not in balance as outlined by voter-approved Proposition 25, even though the budget was passed on-time. Read More
Categories: State Budget, Jerry Brown,
The big question now surrounding California’s budget is whether or not lawmakers will receive pay after passing a budget by last week’s deadline and then having that budget vetoed by the governor. Read More
Categories: State Budget, Jerry Brown,
Californians say they want a special election to decide for themselves on Governor Brown’s plans to help bring the state’s budget into balance, and they are inclined to support tax extensions... Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, State Budget, Jerry Brown, , Jerry Brown, State Budget
The California Forward Action Fund joined 18 other civic leadership organizations around the state in urging Governor Brown to enact long-term fiscal reform as part of any budget solution addressing the immediate fiscal crisis. Read More
Categories: State Budget, Jerry Brown, , Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Jerry Brown, State Budget
In his eighth state of the state address and first since returning to the office of governor, Jerry Brown forcefully advocated for the budget reforms, spending cuts, and tax extensions he introduced just after taking office. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Jerry Brown, , Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Jerry Brown
California Forward has been named a top "California Influencer" by Campaigns & Elections magazine for its work to repair a broken state government... Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leadership Council, , Civic Engagement, Speak Up CA, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Civic Engagement, Governance Reform, Jerry Brown, Leadership Council, Speak Up CA
California, as we know, is awfully complex, with a Gross Domestic Product eclipsing that of all but seven world nations and a culture lurching ahead of perhaps all formal political entities... Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Fred Keeley, State Budget, Jerry Brown, , Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Fred Keeley, Jerry Brown, State Budget
As he inherits California's chronic budget problems, Gov. Jerry Brown says he wants to try a new approach to dealing with the state's massive deficits: a broad restructuring of the relationship between the state and local governments... Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Jerry Brown, , Governance Reform, Jerry Brown
California voters demonstrated their famed misdirection on Nov. 2, stopping the Republican tsunami at the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but also sending a strong message about the size and reach of government, and just how far they will trust politicians, once elected to office. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Proposition 14, Jerry Brown, , Citizens Redistricting Commission, Citizens Redistricting Commission, Governance Reform, Jerry Brown, Proposition 14
It's hard to argue with the decisive majority (54 to 41 percent) of Californians who chose Jerry Brown as their next governor Tuesday. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, Jerry Brown, , Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Governance Reform, Jerry Brown
The notion that California is the place to “invent the American dream” may have been conjured up by real estate hucksters, but Californians largely accepted this romantic ideal during the 20th Century, thanks not only to the Mamas and the Papas and scores of other Hollywood musicians and movie-makers, but to the Progressive leaders who created a ballot initiative process that gives voters enough clout to act like a Fourth branch of government. Read More
Categories: Elections, Jerry Brown, , Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Elections, Jerry Brown