Dan Walters

The Legislature often wades into questions about who can perform what when it comes to Californians' medical care. Here, a physician assistant examines a patient at a clinic in Bieber on July 23, 2019. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Raw politics determine Californians’ medical care

Medical care is California's largest economic sector, which means it draws much attention in the Legislature, including detailed laws on who can perform medical procedures and how health care insurers cover those procedures.

By

Dan Walters

• June 27, 2022

Commentary

Recession could wreck California’s spending plans

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are negotiating how to spend a huge projected budget surplus, but recession could spoil all of their plans.

By

Dan Walters

• June 26, 2022

Gas prices at a downtown San Jose gas station on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.Photo by Karl Mondon, Bay Area News Group

Commentary

Gas prices trigger Pavlovian political promises

California politicians are vowing to do something about high gasoline prices but what remains very uncertain.

By

Dan Walters

• June 22, 2022

Commentary

Legislature ventures into entertainment industry snakepit

The Legislature is wasting its time by dealing with a squabble between entertainment industry factions.

By

Dan Walters

• June 21, 2022

The United States Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Photo by Amy Sparwasser via iStock

Commentary

U.S. Supreme Court gives business a ‘tort wars’ win

The term "tort wars" is shorthand for the perennial battles in the Legislature and other venues over the rules governing personal injury lawsuits and the U.S. Supreme Court has given business interests a partial win.

By

Dan Walters

• June 20, 2022

Residential single family homes under construction in Valley Center on June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Commentary

A solution that won’t fix California’s low homeownership

California has the nation's second lowest level of homeownership but raising it depends on economic fundamentals, no political tokenism.

By

Dan Walters

• June 19, 2022

A voter fills out their ballot at a voting site at the Hamilton School gymnasium in central Fresno on June 7, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters

Commentary

Will California contests decide control of Congress?

Republicans need to gain five seats to retake control of the House of Representatives and it's possible that a few California contests could be decisive.

By

Dan Walters

• June 15, 2022