Dan Walters

California has a big, recession-caused budget problem, but its true dimensions are open to debate.

A perennial issue in the California Legislature is the scope of personal injury lawsuits, known to insiders as "tort wars." This year's skirmish is over using lawsuits to go after alleged tax cheats.

A pot of special state school aid is supposed to close the "achievement gap," but has often been diverted to other purposes. A new bill aims to close one loophole.

The Capitol's perennial jousting over workers' compensation has been jolted by Gov. Gavin Newsom's order extending eligibility for benefits to all workers deemed to be essential who are infected with coronavirus.

Gov. Gavin Newsom uses the term nation-state to describe California. Could it make it as a separate nation? And should it try?

As recession hammers state and local government budgets, the state Supreme Court is weighing a case that could reveal how much, if any, their pension obligations could be reduced.

Republican Assemblyman Jay Obernlte is a dogged champion for accountability and transparency in local tax and bond measures and is trying for win No. 2.

Gov. Gavin Newsom must maintain credibility to succeed as the state's coronavirus czar, but he's his own worst enemy in that regard.

California's budget will take a big hit from the pandemic-induced recession, but the size of the impact is still up in the air.

California may be headed to all-mail voting but there are worrisome aspects such as delayed election results and controversy about "ballot harvesting."