Economy

If feds dump the estate tax, California may get one of its own

If the estate tax meets is untimely end in Washington D.C., state Sen. Scott Wiener is pushing a bill that would have California enact a state substitute—with the money going to Sacramento.

By

Ben Christopher

• April 11, 2017

From left to right, former California attorneys general Bill Lockyer and Kamala Harris and current attorney general Xavier Becerra. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press; Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press; Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Economy

Why a few sentences of legalese make all the difference in curbing California’s public pension costs

More than 20 times in the last 15 years, political leaders looking to control California’s fast-growing public pension costs have tried to put reform initiatives before the voters. None of the proposals has made it onto the ballot.

By

Judy Lin

• April 7, 2017

A rainy winter caused severe damage to roads and highways throughout California. Photo by Ben Christopher / CALmatters

Economy

Rains cause severe road damage as legislature approves costly repair plan

The legislature’s approval Thursday of a $52 billion road repair plan couldn’t come too soon for rain-battered streets and highways that have already suffered severe damage this year. Since the beginning of the year, California’s state highway system has been buffeted with more than 400 sinkholes, downed trees, and mudslides. Caltrans puts the price tag […]

By

Ben Christopher

• April 3, 2017

Economy

Retirement savings for all? California vows to proceed despite new D.C. obstacle

See correction below California’s grand plan to extend retirement security to millions of workers, a cornerstone of the economic agenda put forward by state Democrats, is looking a little bit less secure. That’s because California leaders are concerned that Republicans in the U.S. Senate will roll back a little-known Obama administration regulation, putting California’s “Secure […]

By

Ben Christopher

• March 30, 2017

Economy

To create affordable housing, lawmakers eye ending tax breaks for vacation homes

Lifelong Californian Lori Thompson is well aware of the state’s dire affordable housing problem. She’s just wondering why she’s the one who has to pay to fix it. After her daughter moved to Reno to escape high rents in the Monterey Peninsula, Thompson and her husband decided last December to purchase a $360,000 cabin in […]

By

Matt Levin

• March 15, 2017

Economy

Trade War: What is it good for? Two economists say “absolutely nothing.”

Two economic forecasts released in recent days warn of dire consequences for California should President Trump’s policies steer the country into a trade war.

By

Ben Christopher

• March 9, 2017

Economy

The withering California Dream—by the numbers

The California dream isn’t dead. It just upped and moved to South Dakota. Less than half of people born in California in 1980 are making more money than their parents did as young adults. That’s the lowest percentage of children out-earning their parents that California has seen since at least 1940. By contrast, 62 percent […]

By

Matt Levin

• February 15, 2017

Economy

Could Trump take away one of Californians’ biggest tax breaks?

With the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress gearing up to make America's tax code great again, one of California's biggest tax breaks might be on the chopping block: the deduction on state and local taxes.

By

Ben Christopher

• February 9, 2017

Economy

A Tale Of Two Sectors

The general assumption for retirement security is a job in the public sector. The trade-off means lower pay, however. Meanwhile, the private sector has strayed from pension promises, but is a 401(k) worth it?

By

CalMatters Staff

• February 9, 2017

Economy

Trump suggests yanking fed dollars if California’s a “sanctuary” — can he do that?

Five things to know about sanctuary status for at-risk immigrants

By

Ben Christopher

• February 8, 2017