Dan Walters

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Would fed change make higher state taxes more likely?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and six other governors want the $10,000 limit on deducting state and local taxes to be repealed.

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• April 7, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

James Mills personified a long-past era

Sen. James Mills, personified a long-gone era of cordiality and bipartisanship in the California state Senate.

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• April 6, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Despite favorable poll, Newsom faces recall test

A new poll finds that just 40% of California voters now favor recalling Gov. Gavin Newsom, but six months is an eternity in politics.

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• April 5, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

California sheriffs are feeling the heat

California's elected sheriffs are feeling the heat in an era of heightened activism on criminal justice reform.

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• April 4, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Worker’s comp conflict heating up again

California's system of compensating workers for job-related disabilities is due for another decennial battle and it may be happening.

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• March 31, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Is California driving business away?

California's perpetual debate over whether it is hostile to business is heating up again and needs a rigorous analysis.

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• March 30, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Attorney general selection was pre-ordained

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's selection of Assemblyman Rob Bonta as attorney general was an inevitable result of identity politics.

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• March 29, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Modular housing could be an answer

Factory-built modular housing could solve one of the most vexing aspects of California's housing crisis, but will politicians embrace it or strangle it?

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• March 28, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

California and the political food chain

California offers two examples of how the intergovernmental food chain works.

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• March 24, 2021

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Newsom hurts himself with unforced errors

California Gov. Gavin Newsom faces a recall election and contributes to his problem by committing unforced errors.

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• March 23, 2021