“Dwindling property values are slamming the counties and, in turn, the state. Is it time, finally, to repeal Proposition 13?”
An interesting question if doing so meant property taxes would go down. If nothing else, it’s time to repeal how Prop. 13 has frozen property taxes for businesses/commercial properties.
Absolutely not. Raising taxes will increase
“What’s your take on the independent redistricting commission? Court fights, VRA problems, partisan criticism, communication issues, etc., but is it doing its job and will we be better off because of it?”
Commission was a great idea but has had poor execution. They have spent all their time determining communities of interest and have yet
“CSU raised its tuition for the second time in less than a year and approved a $100,000 salary boost for a new chief at the San Diego State campus. UC is recruiting out-of-state students because they pay more. What’s wrong with this picture?”
It’s often said that you get what you pay for. San Diego
“How about a report card for Gov. Brown after six months in office? No pass-fail here: looking for a letter grade of A through F.”
B for legislative relations, D for communications, and an E for effort.
A solid D. He spent the entire first five and a half months in office closeted in Sacramento
“A question that arises with the passage of the latest budget and next year’s elections: Are California Republicans irrelevant?”
They are close to irrelevant – and richly deserve to be so. They had a chance to negotiate some real reforms with Brown, but their ideological blinders wouldn’t let them see that in politics, you have
An amazing move: The controller, on his own dime, blocks lawmakers’ pay. A great decision and a boon for Brown or the first move in a constitutional crisis?
The only decision. Legislators: Shut up and deal.
Neither, the controller was in a proverbial box. No clear deal in sight, but certain litigation follows.
Given
The new redistricting maps will be released Friday. Assuming – a big assumption – that more districts will be competitive, what does this mean for 2012? Will Democrats get a two-thirds control of the Legislature?
The maps do not guarantee the Dems two-thirds; they could get to two-thirds but they would have to do it
A “paycheck protection” initiative is brewing for next year’s ballot. If it qualifies, what impact do you think it will have on the election?
Unleash the hounds.
Ironically, “paycheck protection” will motivate the Democratic base to turn out more than the Republican base.
The same impact it always has: to rev up and turn
“Whither Arnold Schwarzenegger? Does he do Terminator 4 and have success in the public arena or does he slink off into the sunset?”
Arnold Schwarzenegger “slink off into the sunset?” That’s like asking if a peacock will stop preening because he got dust on his tail feathers. Like a peacock, Arnold’s DNA is wired
“Is 2012 the year that Democrats win two-thirds majorities in the Assembly or Senate – or both?”
It all depends on two things: redistricting and the Top Two election format. If the Gaines race is any indication, all-cut budget types in the GOP will have a tough time selling their extremism, especially with Obama and