Failed State Update: Budget Baloney

Dan Walters at CalMatters: [All] of the versions of the budget, including the semi-final one unveiled this week, would fill the gaps for another year with payment deferrals, loans, accounting gimmicks and raids on reserves meant to cushion the effects of genuine...

Failed State Update: The Budget Hole

Eric He, Rachel Bluth and Lindsey Holden at Politico: Ten people briefed on the matter said state lawmakers are being told to brace for a shortfall of at least $10 billion when Newsom presents his revised budget next week. In early January, the governor’s Department...

Failed State Update: Overview

Allysia Finley at WSJ: California is losing jobs—54,800 during the first three months of this year. Valero this month announced plans to close a major refinery, portending gasoline shortages and price spikes. Insurance and electricity rates are soaring. Fifty-four...

Failed State Update: Blown Deadline

Kristen Hwang at CalMatters: California voters told lawmakers last fall that they wanted doctors to get paid more to see low-income patients. But officials for the Newsom administration blew past a federal deadline to make that happen through Medi-Cal Monday,...

Big Government in California

Alexei Koseff at CalMatters: [In] his six years in the governor’s office, Newsom has steadily guided California’s government to expand its mission and scope: launching flashy initiatives, creating new departments and offering more services to more people, even during...