In summary

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

Finally, a crackdown on misuse of taxpayer money

Local governments have been blatantly using taxpayer money to campaign for tax and bond measures, but the Fair Political Practices Commission is beginning to crack down on the practice.

California sees slower population growth

California’s once-soaring population growth has slowed to a crawl, which could cost it a congressional seat and will have myriad economic and social impacts.

2019 shapes up as another big political year

Gavin Newsom’s new governorship and California’s bid for relevance in presidential politics are likely to dominate California’s politics in 2019.

Newsom may not be so lucky on the economy

Jerry Brown’s governorship was blessed by an expanding economy, but successor Gavin Newsom may not be so lucky.

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Dan Walters has been a journalist for more than 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. He began his professional career in 1960, at age 16, at the Humboldt Times...