Center for Governmental Studies
Founder and President of the recently closed Center for Governmental Studies, a nonprofit research organization that looks at ethics and campaign financing; co-author of California Proposition 208, a November 1996 campaign finance reform initiative
Prop 54: last-minute lawmaking A discussion about Proposition 54, which, if approved, would end the practice of last-minute lawmaking by California legislators.
Who Is Really Funding Your Candidate? Over $24 million has been spent on this year's election by special interest groups. The record breaking independent expenditures are far more than the $16.7 million spent two years ago. But not every candidate is happy with the backing.
Shining a Light on Dark Money Last week, California's Fair Political Practices Commission — the FPPC — adopted new restrictions for what's called "dark money" in political campaigns. Next year, voters will be asked to crack down even harder.
Ron Calderon Surrenders State Senator Ron Calderon turned himself in today in Los Angeles. The Montebello Democrat faces 395 years in prison on 24 counts of fraud, wire fraud, honest services fraud, bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and aiding in the filing of false tax returns — all lodged against him by Federal authorities.
Is California's Initiative Process Out of Control? California's initiative process was designed 100 years ago by progressive Governor Hiram Johnson. The goal was protection of voters against the predatory practices of the so-called railroad barons, who controlled the legislature.
What's Behind the Fight over Proposition 32? Proposition 32 on next month's ballot is generating big money and deluge of campaign commercials. One supporting Prop 32 cautions, "Money and politics, corporations and unions give politicians millions in contributions. They get tax breaks and big pensions and we get higher spending.
New Rules Raise New Questions about California Politics The turnout currently stands at 24 percent, although that could rise to 30 percent once late mail-in and provisional ballots are counted. So it's still not certain that Proposition 29, the tax increase on cigarettes, has been defeated, but it’s a very close call. Is that a surprise given California’s record on regulating tobacco?
The Right to Speak to Elected Officials Last month, it was Zev Yaroslavsky's turn to chair the meetings of LA County's Board of Supervisors. He set off a firestorm by proposing to reduce the available time set aside for public comment. Reaction was fierce. But Board members complain that so-called "gadflies" often dominate meetings. What about people who want to bring up real issues?
Center for Governmental Studies Closes For 28 years, the Center for Governmental Studies has been examining how public policy is made in California and how it can be made more democratic, with a small "d." Since the Watergate era, it's been one of the state's most successful, bipartisan institutions of political reform, advocating what former LA Times City Editor Bill Boyarsky…
A Rumble in West Hollywood Since it was incorporated 27 years ago, West Hollywood has been known worldwide as a "gay destination." Some 37% of its residents are gay or lesbian. Now its reputation for enlightened self-government is under challenge. In next month’s city council election, veteran incumbents are accused of selling out to developers. Would term limits make…
In Tomorrow's Elections, Follow the Money About $120 million has been spent on nine ballot propositions collectively, with most of the money often coming from just one side. They're all initiatives, which means that special interests put them on the ballot. Kim Alexander and Bob Stern remind us what the measures would do and where the money's coming from.
Campaign Spending: Trial Lawyers and the Insurance Industry California's Insurance Commissioner is an elected official who overseas a $124 billion market of automobile, home and life insurance. Federal healthcare reform could provide even more power to Sacramento Democrat Dave Jones or Mike Villines of Fresno.
Ballot-Box Budgeting on the November Ballot Proposition 21 would establish an $18 surcharge on vehicles when they’re registered every year, commercial vehicles and trailers excepted. The fee would raise $500 million a year to be spent on 278 state parks.
Proposition 23 Dissected Los Angeles businesses are divided over Proposition 23 , a measure that would postpone the implementation of AB 32 , the greenhouse gas law that Governor Schwarzenegger sees as his legacy. Different polls show different results for where it now stands with the voters.
How Tiny Cities like Bell End Up with Giant Salaries The City of Bell has been up in arms since the LA Times disclosed that City Manager Robert Rizzo makes almost $800,000 a year, while council members pull down $100,000 for their part-time jobs.
GOP Goes for Whitman, Fiorina; Ups, Downs of the Propositions Republican Meg Whitman spent almost $90 million to win the Republican nomination for Governor over Steve Poisner , who spent $30 million. Today, Democrat Jerry Brown called that "a billionaire's demolition derby" that set "a national record for excessive spending." (Tomorrow, we'll talk about the upcoming race for Attorney General.)
What charter school growth has to do with the LA teachers strike The Los Angeles’ teachers strike has lasted a full school week . Class sizes and school staffing remain key sticking points in the impasse between United Teachers Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Trump‘s Wall and the Politics of ‘Us Versus Them’ Politically, Trump’s great wall may not be worth the government shutdown. But it appeals to his base, including evangelical Christians.
A vote to end sheriff elections Californians are either really bad at choosing county sheriffs, or the system isn’t working. Maybe it’s both.
Who are the political players in the LA teachers strike? Thousands of LA public school teachers are going to be back out on the picket lines for a second day. They walked off the job Monday after failing to reach a contract agreement with the LA Unified School District, despite months of negotiations.