Thomas D. Elias
State Funding of U.C. Plunges 54 Percent in 19 Years
It’s almost as if the Board of Regents that runs the University of California can't wait to fire a warning shot across the figurative bow of Gov. Schwarzenegger, the state Legislature and the candidates now running for those positions.
Jerry vs. Meg, Carly vs. Barbara —The Differences Are Gaping
Any voters worried about not having meaningful choices in the fall election can now rest easy: Rarely have there been as many contrasts in California's top-of-the-ticket races for governor and U.S. senator as this year.
So You Think This Is Going to Solve the Problem...
Now we know for sure: California voters are fed up with the status quo in Sacramento and want state government fixed. They want an end to the ideological gridlock that has long afflicted the Legislature and they want state lawmakers who are not beholden to extremist elements of either political party.
Meg’s 40,000-Layoff Threat Sounds Scary in a Replay of ‘68’s Reagan-Pat...
When finances turn questionable for a big business, there are layoffs. From General Motors to General Electric and even the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Chronicle, that is how it’s done.
Under Arnold’s Departing Thumb, the Poor Suffer and His Pals Prosper
All through his almost seven years as governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most basic priority has always been clear: As much as possible, feather the nests of his largest political donors.
Shame on Arnold for Committing Still Another Shortsighted Act
It may not have been the unkindest cut made last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he blue-penciled more than $500 million from the state budget before signing. It may also not have been the most inefficient or deadly one.
Boxer Is Vulnerable, but She Remains Favored to Win Again
Just about a month ago, one of the leading political rating services in Washington, D.C. lowered Barbara Boxer’s reelection status from “likely” to “leaning.” This was one indicator of the general, and seemingly perpetual, sense that the three-term Democratic U.S. senator is vulnerable.
Oil Tax by Nava May Vault Him into More Serious...
[Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Nava will lead tomorrow afternoon’s oil-drilling hearings in City Hall, from 1 to 4 o’clock. See The Lowdown.]
How Arizona’s Anti-Illegal Immigrant Law Is Harsher Than Prop. 187
These days, the Grand Canyon state is the place to go if you’re looking for the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.
The Insurance Deception Behind Prop. 17 on the June Ballot
It’s never hard to find self-serving propositions on the California ballot. But even in a time that sees Pacific Gas & Electric Co. sponsoring a measure to force cities to get a two-thirds popular vote before they can set up or expand a public electric utility, a measure sponsored by Mercury Insurance takes this year’s prize for sheer gall.
