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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
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Commentary: How would federal tax overhaul hit California?
As we weigh the impact of the federal tax overhaul, now being wrought by President Trump and the Republican Congress, on California, we should keep in mind the first and foremost axiom about taxation. What and who are taxed and the levels of those levies are purely arbitrary decisions that are completely divorced from logic, […]
By • December 20, 2017
Commentary
Commentary: Mayor’s death will expose SF’s complex politics
The first thing to understand about San Francisco politics is with just 7.4 percent of its voters registered as Republicans, the city’s main players are self-proclaimed liberals – or “progressives” in the preferred nomenclature. The second thing, however, is that in San Francisco, politics is a blood sport and careers can be made or lost […]
By • December 18, 2017
Commentary
Commentary: Universal health care doable for less cost
When the Legislature reconvenes and the campaigns for governor heat up next year, Californians will be hearing a lot – and a lot of hot air – about universal health care. Making California the first state to guarantee health care for every resident has become a touchstone issue – and a divisive one – for […]
By • December 17, 2017
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Commentary: The ironic cause of our greenhouse gas decline
Gov. Jerry Brown hopped around Europe for two weeks last month, telling the world that to avoid a climate change Armageddon, it should emulate what California is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As Brown was crusading in Europe, his Air Resources Board issued a report hailing California’s nearly 5 percent reduction in emissions of […]
By • December 10, 2017
Commentary
Commentary: California’s school duel headed for new arena
California’s long-running feud over the direction of its 6-million-student public school system has raged in many arenas, but never in a high-profile campaign for political office. That day, however, may come soon. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, two candidates for governor who run a close 1-2 in the polls, […]
By • December 7, 2017

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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