Famously wracked by budget cuts, the UC system has reached a new low in the number of actual Californians it’s admitting. At the same time, out-of-state applicants have had their acceptance levels swell by 21 percent over last year for the coming fall semester. Read More
Categories: Californians, Education, State Budget
“There is no cavalry riding to our rescue,” said Jim Williams, member of the Next Economy Capital Region Prosperity Plan leadership team, as he urged Sacramento business leaders to commit themselves to hammering out a better economic future for the Sacramento region. Read More
Categories: State Budget, Civic Engagement
A recent dispute between Assembly members John Perez and Anthony Portantino highlights a problem that sits at the foundation of California's broken government: a disturbing lack of transparency and accountability. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, State Budget, Accountability, Transparency, Budget Reform
A mid-year economic forecast from the LA Economic Development Corporation shows a moderate recovery for the region, but other California regional economies are still struggling. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, State Budget, Civic Engagement
Another piece of California’s budgetary house of cards is wavering as redevelopment agencies file suit to prevent states from forcing them to give up a portion of their funds to other local government priorities, including schools. Read More
Categories: State Budget
“It didn't take long for California's optimistic budget to fall behind in tax revenues,” said the Sacramento Bee’s Kevin Yamamura. Less than two weeks after the rosy-outlook budget was passed, the projections it was built on have started to come unraveled. Read More
Categories: Fiscal Reform Plan, State Budget, Fiscal Reform Plan, Jerry Brown, State Budget, Transparency
In an era when more and more Californians are demanding accountability and transparency in government, our budgeting process has slid back into the cloaked era of the past. Read More
Categories: State Budget, , Accountability, Transparency
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,
The budget package legislative Democrats are voting on today may solve one problem that has plagued the state in recent years: It will allow legislators to say they passed a budget on time. But that’s about all it does. Read More
Categories: State Budget, , Budget Reform
Perhaps faith leaders who gathered at the state capitol had the right idea -- a prayer -- in response to increasing anxiety about our state budget. The budget deadline comes on the same day as a new Field Poll showing support for both Gov. Brown and his tax extensions slipping. Read More
Categories: State Budget, , Budget Reform
Business organizations from across the state sent an open letter Wednesday to the Governor and legislature, urging them to adopt a five-point financial workout plan that is consistent with the principles put forth by CA Fwd. Read More
Categories: State Budget, , Budget Reform
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
After four consecutive years of budget deficits, Californians are wise to the accounting gimmicks and short-term fillers that keep California lurching from budget year to budget year without the kind of stable system in place that protects the programs they need and want. Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Fred Keeley, Fiscal Reform Plan, State Budget, , Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Fiscal Reform Plan, Fred Keeley, 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
California once again is struggling with how to cure a large budget deficit. The borrowing and the accounting gimmicks used in previous years are no longer an option... Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Tom McKernan, State Budget, Bob Hertzberg, , Bob Hertzberg, State Budget, Tom McKernan
As California confronts another year of wrenching financial challenges, it is time for state legislators to make good on their pledge to make bold changes to the way our state operates... Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, State Budget, , Accountability, Transparency, Budget Reform, Accountability, Budget Reform, State Budget, Transparency
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 California begins another year with a huge budget deficit, let me make some predictions. Before the confetti from the New Year's party hits the floor, the Legislature will slide into its time-honored gridlock... Read More
Categories: Selected Blog Posts, Governance Reform, State Budget, Leadership Council, , Budget Reform, Budget Reform, Governance Reform, Leadership Council, State Budget
Even with the latest tuition increase, a year at Cal is still cheaper than a year at San Quentin. Read More
Categories: Governance Reform, State Budget, , Governance Reform, State Budget