Huge changes, and a considerable amount of uncertainty, are facing the health care industry as California works to implement the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Hospitals must ensure there are enough beds and services, and health care professionals, to meet the needs of millions of Californians who, for the first time, will be able to
We are in the countdown to a monumental change that will affect the lives of most every American in one way or another. In 308 days, health coverage through the Affordable Care Act begins for tens of millions of Americans, millions in California alone. In 216 days, the doors swing open for enrollment to start.
Unlike a financial collapse or a terrorist attack, the obesity crisis our nation now faces was not triggered by a shocking event, and without a catalyzing shock to trigger a collective sense of urgency, it is nearly impossible to spark political action. As a result, the political response to the nation’s most significant health and
Enterprise zone hiring credits are supposed to help businesses, especially in disadvantaged areas, create jobs. Sounds good, right? The problem is research indicates the enterprise zone program falls woefully short of fulfilling its intended purpose.
The Public Policy Institute of California released a study in 2009 finding that enterprise zones have “no statistically significant
These days, it seems like our leaders in Washington have trouble finding common ground. However, the State of the Union address and the Republican response offered a welcome moment of agreement. Both President Obama and Senator Marco Rubio called for urgent action to reduce violence in our schools and communities. It’s certainly true that Republicans
California is home to the world’s greatest innovation economy. From semiconductors to social networks, the state boasts a rich tradition of supporting new technologies that spawn job-creating companies and industries and provide California consumers with the goods and services that make their lives better. But recent attacks on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard could stifle
It occurs to me that the so-called “reformers” who want to overhaul public employees’ pensions are playing a game of Calvinball.
You remember that game, right? From the Calvin & Hobbs comic strip. The way to play Calvinball is to make it up as you go along. If you feel like you’re losing, you
California was first in the nation to mandate a 10 percent reduction in the overall carbon intensity of fuel sold in the state by 2020. However, we will not assume a real national leadership role in this important endeavor without first stepping back from California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program to reassess critical feasibility,
When Governor Jerry Brown delivered his State of the State address last week, he pointed to renewable energy policy as one of the Legislature’s great accomplishments of the last few years.
The Governor is right. Solar energy is one of California’s biggest success stories. Homes, schools and businesses are going solar in record numbers. The
With California continuing to face one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, citizen energy users were disappointed to read Susan Frank’s column in which she failed to offer any real solutions but focused almost exclusively on attacking California’s oil and gas industry.
Instead of demonizing people, why not have a more constructive