Collective Bargaining For Public Employees, Fiscal Affairs, Pension Spending
State lawmakers in the pockets of government unions have re-submitted AB 1383, which would boost pensions for safety employees without setting aside sufficient funds to meet those promises.
David Crane
Budget, Fiscal Affairs, OPEB, Pension Spending
SF Standard: By law, California can’t declare bankruptcy. Trump and Congress should change that
With all the headlines about billionaires fleeing California because of a proposed — and self-harming — wealth tax, our disastrous state budget has escaped the grim headlines it merits.
David Crane
Budget, Fiscal Affairs
Newsom’s 2026-27 Budget Proposal
Last Friday Governor Newsom presented his proposed budget for the next fiscal year that starts July 1. As usual, the revenue forecast is not reliable since no one can successfully predict stock market performance, which determines CA’s marginal revenues.
David Crane
Updates
GFC’s “Johnny Appleseed” Activities
After our note last week some readers asked about GFC’s “Johnny Appleseed” activities. By that we mean actions to help other political organizations to succeed…
David Crane
Updates
Every year around this time, my wife asks me what I want for Christmas. And every year since GFC launched in 2011, my response has been: “An uncaptured California Legislature and Governor.” I will be disappointed again this year.
David Crane
Budget, Calls to Action: Citizens
Earlier this week the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) issued its annual Fiscal Outlook. This year’s edition is the gloomiest I’ve read during an economic expansion.
David Crane
Ballot Measures, Budget, Taxes
SF Standard: California’s worst addiction: Tax increases that don’t fix what’s broken
No sooner had Gov. Gavin Newsom spearheaded Proposition 50, the congressional redistricting measure that defuses the bomb tossed by President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, than he found himself dealing with two other explosive devices.
David Crane
Calls to Action: Citizens, Updates
When and When Not To Support GFC
Occasionally I get inquiries from donors asking how they should respond to requests for support from other organizations that they worry might duplicate what GFC does. Recently I responded to one such request as follows…
David Crane
Ballot Measures, Calls to Action: Citizens
New Wealth Tax Initiative Filed
Earlier this week in Sacramento, a wealth tax initiative was filed that would impose an excise tax in 2026 on “excessive accumulation of wealth,” which is defined as $1 billion or more.
David Crane
Budget, Calls to Action: Citizens, Updates
Yesterday was the deadline for CA Governor Gavin Newsom to take final action on bills passed by the 2025 Legislature. He signed 794 and vetoed 123. Since taking office in 2019, Newsom has now signed 5,710 bills and $1.942 trillion of budgets. How has California performed since he took office?
David Crane
