Dan Walters

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

Commentary

California’s unemployment insurance mess laid bare

The massive failings of California's Employment Development Department are laid bare, and could have political fallout.

By

Dan Walters

• January 27, 2021

Commentary

California employment takes a downturn

California lifted a COVID-19 stay-at-home order Monday, just after it was revealed that unemployment had spiked in December to 9%, one of the nation's highest rates.

By

Dan Walters

• January 26, 2021

Commentary

California’s big stake in immigration reform

California has a tortured history of conflict over immigration, giving it a huge stake in President Joe Biden's effort to overhaul immigration policy.

By

Dan Walters

• January 25, 2021

Commentary

Will reducing criminal penalties reduce crime?

California is testing whether easing up on penalties for crime will result in less crime in the long run.

By

Dan Walters

• January 24, 2021

Commentary

After COVID-19, drought threat still looms

Looking past COVID-19 and recession, California still faces the threat of prolonged drought.

By

Dan Walters

• January 20, 2021

Commentary

California still lags behind in vaccinations

California sped up its vaccinations for COVID-19 last week, but the state still has one of the nation's lowest rates of vaccine utilization.

By

Dan Walters

• January 19, 2021

Commentary

A big data system for public education?

Having failed so many times to effectively use technology in state government, should California try again with a school data system?

By

Dan Walters

• January 18, 2021

Commentary

Democrats overreach on recall, miss valid point

California Democrats overreach by comparing the recall campaign against Gov. Gavin Newsom to the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol but could have had a legitimate point.

By

Dan Walters

• January 17, 2021

Commentary

California’s technology woes deepen

California Gov. Gavin Newsom envisions a technology-heavy government that's transparent, responsive and efficient. So far, it's going backwards.

By

Dan Walters

• January 13, 2021

Commentary

Newsom’s vaccination plan bogs down

California Gov. Gavin Newsom promised a rapid rollout for COVID-19 vaccinations but it's falling well short.