Dan Walters

Commentary

Trump pulls California’s chain over auto mileage

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.

By

Dan Walters

• August 12, 2018

Commentary

Weekly Walters 08/10/2018

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

By

Dan Walters

• August 10, 2018

Commentary

Brown’s being tricky about filling Supreme Court seat

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.

By

Dan Walters

• August 9, 2018

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democratic lawmakers are at odds over a budget compromise. Photo by Jeff Turner

Commentary

Big issues mean big trouble at end of legislative session

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.

By

Dan Walters

• August 8, 2018

Commentary

Despite law, politicians use taxpayer funds for campaigns

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.

By

Dan Walters

• August 6, 2018

Commentary

Warm and fuzzy book about Browns falls short

"The Browns of California," a new book about the state's dominant political family, falls short by omitting facts that don't square with the family's images.

By

Dan Walters

• August 5, 2018

Commentary

Weekly Walters 08/03/2018

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

By

Dan Walters

• August 3, 2018

Commentary

Brown talks CEQA reform, but hasn’t done it

Gov. Jerry Brown talks about reforming the California Environmental Quality Act, calling it "the Lord's work." But he and the Legislature have failed to do it, while granting narrow exemptions from its provisions to particular projects, especially sports venues.

By

Dan Walters

• August 2, 2018

Commentary

Two events frame California educational crisis

A new lawsuit alleges that state officials have failed to intervene in low-performing schools, leaving children unable to read. Meanwhile, new high school graduation data tell us that while graduation rates are low in big city districts, rural districts with large numbers of Latino kids are showing high rates.

By

Dan Walters

• August 1, 2018

Commentary

Big changes coming to vital community colleges

California's 114 community colleges play a vital role in post-high school education but often don't get the respect they deserve. Now big changes are coming, some fostered by outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown, others by the colleges themselves.

By

Dan Walters

• July 30, 2018