Dan Walters

As climate change threatens to affect California's water supply, outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown tries to do a big picture water deal in the final days of his governorship.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

This month's election was good news for those who believe that Californians should pay more taxes. One indication is that about three-quarters of local tax and bond issues were approved by voters.

There's no escaping political fingerpointing as two killer wildfires strike in California.

While Gavin Newsom won't face a budget crisis when he is inaugurated in January, he will find a stack of leftover issues on his desk from outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown.

Gavin Newsom will be only the second governor in the last half-century to begin his first term without a major budget crisis to be solved. But keeping the state in the black may be difficult, particularly as he pursues an expansionist agenda.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

More than $1 billion was spent on California political campaigns this year, but the outcome of this month's election was pretty much preserving the status quo.

Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown has been honored by the Tax Foundation for opposing new tax loopholes. However, his record on tax reform otherwise has been scant.

Contests for down-ballot state offices don't get much media attention, but their winners will affect Californians' lives.