Dan Walters

The image that emerges after a recent dustup over a bill seeking to increase penalties for sex solicitation is one of a Democratic Party at war with itself as the governor tries to distance himself from his party’s leftish tendencies.

Gov. Gavin Newsom contrasted federal efficiency cuts with his use of AI to improve state government. But California's record of using technology has been poor.

A bill that would usher in a major change in pension law could cost local governments billions. Yet it is sailing through the Legislature without any opposition.

California lawmakers have a knack for instituting major programs without scrutinizing the potential downsides. A new proposal to create a state infrastructure financing board could become another example.

In the latest installment of the Capitol's "tort wars," a new proposal that would've enabled higher payouts for tax disputes was killed. Meanwhile, larger lawsuit payouts are affecting Los Angeles coffers, creating politically unusual positions.

California's future governor will have to deal with its housing shortage, homelessness, poverty, uncertain water supply, educational deficiencies and budget deficits.

The Cradle-to Career dashboard shows where high school students land after graduation. It could make schools more accountable to parents and taxpayers.

The mileposts on the road to a carbon-free California are beginning to appear, but the state is already falling behind. The just announced closure of another refinery isn't reassuring.

California's high unemployment rate and job losses in private industries predated President Trump's global trade crusade.

Several decades of fighting over how to "equalize" education funding have landed California back where it started, with an inequitable, taxpayer-funded public education system that can't close achievement gaps.