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GOP alliances rip over gas tax repeal: Anti-taxers vs. business establishment
Business groups are threatening to wage a pricey campaign to stop California’s Republican officials from trying to repeal a new state gas tax—warning them not to “create new political adversaries.” But the politicians aren’t flinching.
Big Oil pulls Democratic lawmakers through the revolving door
As the oil industry worked to influence a landmark environmental policy in California this year, it had hired Democratic former legislators to lobby on its behalf.
What bills has Gov. Brown signed?
Gimme Shelter Podcast: The Bay Area Housing Crisis, with Kim-Mai Cutler
You can also subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Starting this week, Matt and Liam explore how state housing policy affects different regions of California....
‘Show your taxes’—Could California really make presidential contenders do it?
There’s sometimes a fine line between good governance and trolling. One of this year’s most controversial—if not quite as consequential—state bills is a proposal by Democratic Sen. Mike McGuire of Healdsburg that would require presidential candidates to release their tax returns before they can appear on a California ballot. Proponents insist this is simply about providing voters with necessary information about any and all presidential candidates. Did you have one in mind?
Lawmakers missed a ‘green’ opportunity; could consumers pay the price?
Delay of a plan for more renewable energy in California could carry a price tag for consumers.
Why heads are scratching over California’s standardized test scores
A tale of two Common Core tests and the mind-boggling results of each.
California lags in testing toddlers for lead exposure
A third of young California children at risk for lead poisoning are not being tested despite state and federal laws that require it, according to a new study—a problem at least partly addressed by legislation now on the governor’s desk.
Should California look to Massachusetts to fix its housing crisis?
While California tops the list of states with insane housing costs, it’s by no means a uniquely Golden State phenomenon. Building affordable housing—and particularly getting cities and other localities to permit its construction—is a tough endeavor that has bedeviled state policymakers across the country. So where should Californians look to solve a problem that feels so intractable? Affordable housing experts suggest legislators find inspiration in Massachusetts. For more than 40 years, the state’s signature affordable housing policy—Massachusetts “40B”—has served as a model for how states can motivate and sometimes bully reluctant localities into meeting their fair share of affordable housing.
How sky-high housing costs make California the poorest state
California leads once again in something no state wants to boast about: the highest poverty rate in the country.
Beyond Confederacy: California confronts its legacy of slavery and genocide
California has its own Civil War history, but it also has a painful colonization history—one academics believe ought to be told more in schools. It’s a tale of a state founded by white colonists who wiped out much of the Native American population by bringing disease, forcing relocation, imposing starvation, and carrying out what its more severe critics describe as a forgotten, state-sanctioned genocide of a people.
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Time, Skill, Persistence – That’s What It Takes
Dear Friends, CALmatters. It’s not just our name. It’s what drives our team to produce compelling coverage on how Sacramento works and why it matters. CALmatters was launched two years ago because...
Gimme Shelter Podcast: The Policy of the Package
You can also subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and Overcast. What makes or breaks good housing policy? The wonky details. This week, Matt and Liam break down the ins and outs of all...
Cities get ready for new housing rules—on their own terms
California cities are hoping to tailor new state housing laws to their own needs.
Education foes fight to a draw in Sacramento
A powerful teachers union and advocates of charter schools, battling to shape the future of California schools, ended in a stalemate this year in Sacramento.
Gimme Shelter Podcast: We have a package (with Assemblyman Brian Maienschein)
We have a housing package! It’s such big news, we’re breaking it into two mega-pods: This week dedicated to the politics behind the package, and next week to its crucial policy details....
What a difference three days makes: How voters shook up California’s Legislature
Voters passed a law last year barring lawmakers from acting on bills until they’ve been available to the public for 72 hours. It was a game-changer this year.