California Budget

A sign mounted on a beige stucco wall directs visitors to "Alcohol & Other Drug Programs" with an arrow pointing left. The sign belongs to the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services, featuring the county seal with an illustration of redwood trees. Shadows from a nearby structure partially fall across the sign, and a metal conduit runs vertically along the wall.

Commentary

Bridging the urban-rural divide for lifesaving substance abuse treatment

Guest Commentary written by Tracy Nguyen Tracy Nguyen is a student at Stanford University studying political science and public policy. She specializes in state and local governance with a broader focus in health policy. Imagine driving 75 miles one way every day because your life depended on it. That used to be the case for […]

By Tracy Nguyen • March 21, 2025

Lobbyists gather around a television to watch as a bill is voted on before the Assembly at the state Capitol on Aug. 31, 2022. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

Commentary

Lobbyists are a growth industry in a state as complex as California

The number of people registered to petition California's elected and appointed officials and its agencies has tripled in the past decade. California's budget is one reason why.

By

Dan Walters

• March 20, 2025

A person looks slightly to their right side and they stand next to a green bush with small pink flowers on it outside of a home. The person has long black hair, a black leather jacket, a white shirt and a pair of black sunglasses that rests near their forehead.

Justice

California crime victim fund ordered to change course: ‘They didn’t lift a damn finger’

Ruby Marichalar couldn't get an in-person meeting after California's crime victim compensation fund denied her claim. She wasn't the only one.

By

Cayla Mihalovich

• March 18, 2025

A hospital employee enters Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland on August 24, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Health

California’s Medi-Cal shortfall hits $6.2 billion with ‘unprecedented’ cost increases

California is spending billions more than planned for Medi-Cal. Some of the cost drivers include higher enrollment among immigrants without legal status as well as pharmacy costs.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• March 18, 2025

A person, with salt and pepper hair and wearing a black suit with a white collar shirt, stands in front of a black microphone stand overlooking a group of reporters and listeners.

Commentary

Costly health care expansion worsens California’s chronic budget deficit

A phantom budget surplus in 2022 continues to haunt Gavin Newsom and state legislators after lavish spending, including a costly Medi-Cal expansion, has added billions more to California's chronic budget deficit.

By

Dan Walters

• March 18, 2025

A patient with COVID-19 is treated by staff in the intensive care unit at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange on July 23, 2021. REUTERS/Omar Younis

Commentary

With federal public health shakeups underway, California needs to prepare for the next crisis

Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to cut money from state health emergency operations while federal officials slash personnel and money from national health agencies.

By Flavia Mangan Colgan and Eric Schmeltzer • March 17, 2025

Two people, dressed in blue medical scrubs and wearing face masks, face each other while they talk in the hallway of a hospital lined with different medical equipment.

Health

It’s costing California more than expected to provide immigrant health care. Is coverage at risk?

California is spending more than it expected on Medi-Cal and Republican lawmakers are pointing to coverage expansions that benefited immigrant households.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

and

Kristen Hwang

• March 14, 2025

A person in a suit and glasses speaks into a microphone at a podium in a dark room while looking at a teleprompter. In the background is a black curtain hanging on poles to block out the rest of the stage area.

Commentary

California’s cities and schools face big budget gaps, few options

California's major cities and school districts are facing sizable budget gaps. Much like the state, they have few financial options.

By

Dan Walters

• March 13, 2025

Capitol staffers at work on the Assembly floor on April 24, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

California doesn’t need DOGE, but there’s plenty of wasteful spending and bureaucracy to cut

DOGE’s aim to save taxpayers money resonates in California, where taxes soar and deficits loom. The idea of a top-to-bottom audit of every department isn’t radical — it’s overdue.

By Zac Townsend • March 12, 2025

A person, with medium-long, carmel-colored curly hair, stands in front of a gray building as they look on in front of them. She wears a purple-colored shirt with yellow and white words on it that read "Medicaid Saves Lives."

Health

They live in California’s Republican districts. They feel betrayed by looming health care cuts

Several California Republicans represent communities that rely on Medicaid for health care coverage. Their recent budget-cutting votes angered some constituents.

By

Kristen Hwang

• March 11, 2025