Budget

Mr. Newsom’s Public Employee Budget

Despite a healthy national economy, California has a budget deficit that Governor Newsom proposes to close in the main by drawing on budget reserves, borrowing money, shifting funds, and deferring spending — ie, steps normally taken only during recessions.

David Crane

Calls to Action: CitizensUpdates

Succor For San Francisco

As recent election results demonstrate, San Francisco has become ground zero for the effective political philanthropy movement. Next up is the November General Election, which will offer an all-important opportunity to elect a majority of pragmatists to the Board of Supervisors, protect a public-safety-oriented District Attorney, and enact important changes to the city’s charter.

David Crane

BudgetK-12 Education

Mr. Newsom Postpones State of The State Address

Governor Newsom postponed the annual State of the State address scheduled for today, apparently (according to Politico) until the final results of Proposition 1 are known.

David Crane

Budget

Sacred Cows and Sacrificial Lambs In Sacramento

State taxpayers got more bad news this week when the State Senate released its proposed early action plan for addressing California’s budget shortfall in which we can find nothing of substance that differs from Governor Newsom’s plan.

David Crane

BudgetUpdates

The San Francisco Standard: Newsom’s national ambitions backed by special interest money

Why have corporations, unions and associations put up more than $10 million that Gov. Gavin Newsom is using for state and national advertisements featuring him? The answer is that Newsom has delivered billions of state dollars to them.

David Crane

Updates

All Eyes On San Francisco

While there wasn’t much on the statewide ballot yesterday, there was plenty on the San Francisco ballot and the results look to be a resounding endorsement of that city’s vibrant ecosystem of political philanthropies.

David Crane

Budget

SF Chronicle: Reading between the lines of Newsom’s ‘deferred’ budget: Screw the kids

Shohei Ohtani is the only major league baseball player who can hit and pitch at an elite level.

Perhaps he should manage California’s state budget, too.

Govern For California

Budget

Mr. Newsom Makes My Case

The Newsom Administration is circulating a rebuttal to my criticism of the Governor’s Proposed 2024-25 Budget. As a reminder, that criticism is that Mr. Newsom proposes to draw on the Rainy Day Fund even though the country is not in a recession and doing so would seriously impair the state’s ability to preserve public services in a recession.

David Crane

K-12 EducationPrison Spending

Some Questions For Your Leaders

It’s election season. Citizens looking for questions to ask of candidates or state officials might consider the following two.

David Crane

Budget

The Kounalakis Tax Increase

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and every other candidate for governor in 2026 should be paying very close attention to the Multiyear Forecast in Governor Newsom’s Proposed Budget.

David Crane

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Mission

To counter special interest influence and to support like-minded organizations.