Dan Walters

The two leaders of the California legislators, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, want to re-establish centralized power in the Capitol and are sponsoring legislation that would give them vastly more power to raise and spend campaign funds.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

California is one of the few states that don't require comprehensive reports on students' academic achievement, which makes it impossible for policymakers to know what's working in the schools and what's not.

State legislators complain about hours-long waits at Department of Motor Vehicles offices, but refuse to audit the agency to determine causes and enjoy having a private DMV office to serve their needs. The situation fuels public disdain for state and local officials.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles is being sharply and justifiably criticized for hours-long waits for service, but intervention by Gov. Jerry Brown's office blocked a study of DMV operations by the state auditor's office.

California and President Donald Trump are at war again, this time over the administration's plan to freeze nationwide auto mileage standards and withdraw California's ability to set its own auto emission rules.

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

A seat on the state Supreme Court has been vacant for 17 months and Gov. Jerry Brown has been coy about filling it. He seems to be waiting until an Aug. 30 deadline for placing names on the ballot, thus shielding his appointee from facing voters until 2022.

Californians should be wary when the Legislature makes big decisions in the hectic last days of its annual session and this year is no exception.

California law bars state and local officials from using taxpayer money for political campaigns. But it's become a common practice, especially when voters are being asked to raise taxes.