Dan Walters

The state government's budget situation is quite rosy, as Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor points out. But school districts are facing a financial squeeze as enrollment drops and costs, especially pension costs, rise.

President Donald Trump said he wanted this month's election to be a referendum on him and in California, it certainly was, leading to a massive Democratic sweep.

This year's votes are still being counted in California, but political pros are looking to 2020 and the state's earlier presidential primary. A flock of would-be candidates could make California a player.

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.