Dan Walters

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Commentary and analysis from veteran journalist Dan Walters, who has covered the state of California for more than six decades. Sign up for his Weekly Walters newsletter.

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Dan Walters
Opinion Columnist
Commentary
Legislature may erase embarrassing boondoggle
The North Coast Railroad Authority has consumed tens of millions of taxpayer dollars but never delivered on its promise to resurrect rail service north of San Francisco Bay. Finally, the Legislature is poised to abolish it.
By • July 12, 2018
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks after a formal endorsement from the California Democratic Party. Environmental policy could play an important role in the gubernatorial race between Newsom and John Cox.
Commentary
A supermajority that hinges on one seat
Democrats are likely to regain their two-thirds "supermajority" in the state Assembly this year. Whether they also enjoy that dominance in the state Senate depends on the outcome of one contest in rural California.
By • July 11, 2018
Image by Thinkstock
Commentary
Unintended consequences of new privacy law?
California legislators passed a hastily drafted bill purporting to protect Californians' personal and financial data from exposure and exploitation. But it could run afoul of the law of unintended consequences.
By • July 9, 2018
Income taxes are 70 percent of California's general-fund revenue. Image via Flickr
Commentary
Coy about taxes and pension costs
As local government officials ask voters for tax increases, they are reluctant to tell them that the extra revenue is needed to cover pension costs. But one city is not being coy about it.
By • July 8, 2018
Commentary
Genteel extortion cancels three ballot measures
Three initiatives that had qualified for the November ballot were dropped last week after their sponsors negotiated deals with the Legislature. Was it extortion? Not in the criminal sense, perhaps, but it was the adroit use of leverage.
By • July 4, 2018
The nine justices of the United States Supreme Court are shown.
Commentary
Supreme Court decision could hit unions hard
The U.S. Supreme Court has declared that compelling non-members of public employee unions to pay dues is unconstitutional. California's unions are now scrambling to avoid an erosion of their memberships, their revenues and their political clout.
By • July 2, 2018
Commentary
GOP’s long slide into irrelevance in California
California once had a strong and successful Republican Party but over the last few decades, it has shrunken to a small minority of voters and if ti loses several congressional races this year, Democrats will have achieved total domination.
By • July 1, 2018

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CalMatters columnist Dan Walters writes about California and its politics. Read his column and sign up for his Weekly Walters email newsletter.
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Dan Walters
CalMatters
California, explained