Dan Walters

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

Commentary

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing a big overhaul of Medi-Cal, California's health care program for the poor, and it could be a precursor to a single-payer system.

By

Dan Walters

• March 5, 2020

Commentary

Finally, a school data system emerging

California has been a laggard in tracing how students progress through its educational systems but Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing for a new data system that would do that.

By

Dan Walters

• March 4, 2020

Commentary

The gig worker battle continues

Assembly Bill 5, which tightens up the legal definition of employee and codifies a state Supreme Court decision, is still highly controversial and the last word on its effects has yet to be spoken.

By

Dan Walters

• March 2, 2020

Dan Walters

State losing its war on carbon

California officials want Californians to buy more zero-emission cars and use mass transit more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but so far Californians are not cooperating.

By

Dan Walters

• March 1, 2020

Commentary

Climate change and water supply

A new state report explores the effects of climate change on California's water supply and says more storage and other infrastructure is needed to cope.

By

Dan Walters

• February 27, 2020

Commentary

California getting tough on homeless?

California may be on the verge of adopting a tougher attitude about dealing with its ever-increasing crisis of homelessness.

By

Dan Walters

• February 26, 2020

Commentary

Trump reignites California water wars

President Donald Trump says he's making good on promises to deliver more water to California farmers, reigniting the state's decades-old water wars.

By

Dan Walters

• February 24, 2020

Commentary

Newsom makes big political wager

Gov. Gavin Newsom is staking his political career on solving California's housing and homelessness crises.

By

Dan Walters

• February 23, 2020

Commentary

A strange bedfellows alliance on bail

An informal alliance of opposites is forming to oppose Senate Bill 10, the 2018 legislation that eliminates cash bail for criminal defendants and creates a new risk assessment program.

By

Dan Walters

• February 20, 2020

Commentary

Two crises should not be wasted

California has a housing crisis but another, much smaller crisis near the Capitol could demonstrate how the housing shortage could be addressed.

By

Dan Walters

• February 19, 2020