News

In November 2022, a former public employee union leader filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) alleging that GFC violated state campaign finance laws. Earlier this week, the FPPC closed the matter…

Believe it or not, California’s top income tax rate is scheduled to decrease by three percentage points after 2030 upon the expiration of a temporary tax increase, which started as a seven-year increase passed by voters in 2012 via a ballot measure entitled “Temporary Taxes to Fund Education” and was extended to 2030 by a subsequent ballot measure.

Last year, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature took nearly $5 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to cover excessive spending.

Last week we pointed out that, contrary to his claims, Governor Newsom’s proposed budget is not balanced. Today we examine his claim on page 85 to “government efficiency and cost saving measures” that produce a savings of $618 million from eliminating vacant positions.

Governor Newsom’s proposed budget includes a paragraph entitled “GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND COST SAVING MEASURES” but the measures mentioned there are a tiny fraction of the inefficiencies and costs added under Newsom.

Last Monday Governor Newsom issued a press release previewing a “balanced” budget for 2025-26 so imagine our surprise when his proposed budget released today disclosed that balance was achieved by transferring $7.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund.

Before there was DOGE there was Arnold Schwarzenegger who when elected governor in 2003 hoped to implement big reforms and sweep cronyism from the State Capitol.

Later this month Daniel Lurie will take office as mayor of San Francisco and in April Oakland will hold a special election to elect a new mayor. Both will contend not only with deficits but also with the problem of spending on current services being crowded out by spending on past services.

My heart sank last week when Congress added $200 billion in debt by passing legislation with broad support from both Republicans and Democrats that expands a financial windfall for retired state and local employees.

As you know, we are desperately in search of candidates for governor in 2026 who will challenge powerful interests even when doing so could jeopardize their political prospects.