Tag: Loren Kaye

Loren Kaye

Revenue Windfall Provides Opportunity for More UI Funding, Tax Credits for COVID Sick Leave...

California’s mighty work-from-home economic engine continues to create massive value for workers, employers and entrepreneurs—and not incidentally for the state treasury. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst...

Restraint Key in Handling New, Post-Pandemic Normal

The enduring lesson for policy makers as California recovers from the Pandemic Era should be restraint. California enjoys a bountiful budget surplus, but nobody...

Legislature Taking Up Governor’s Tax and Leave Proposals

The Legislature will take its first actions on Governor Newsom’s proposed 2022 budget and policy proposals next week, after negotiating a package deal to...
Loren Kaye

Governor Newsom has Proposed the Fourth State Budget of His Term, and It’s a...

The proposed budget tops out at more than a quarter-trillion dollars, larger than the entire economies of Vietnam, the Czech Republic or Portugal. The...
Loren Kaye

State Leaders Should Use Budget Surplus to Restore Tax Incentives, Repay UI Debt

Only 18 months ago, expecting a massive pandemic-induced collapse of economic activity, California finance officials predicted a staggering $54 billion state budget deficit. The...

The People’s Voice: Drought and Wildfire Dominate Climate Issues

Californians strongly agree about the importance of addressing climate change, but are not convinced that costly, disruptive policies are the right approach. The seventh...
House Property Tax, Calculator

The People’s Voice: Housing Affordability Frustrates Voters

Californians are deeply anxious about the cost of living and working in the Golden State. The seventh CalChamber poll, The People’s Voice, 2021, found...
Man working in office

The People’s Voice: Voters Prefer Better Rules for Telecommuting

The pandemic has changed how we live and work, certainly in the short term and probably longer. The seventh CalChamber poll, The People’s Voice,...

The People’s Voice: What Do Voters Want?

"There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader." – Likely apocryphal quote attributed to French Revolutionary. Voters and their representatives often...
Safety public guard

The People’s Voice: Voters Anxious About Public Safety

Last week we reported about California voters’ deep concerns over an increasing cost of living and the fear of falling further behind. Eighty-five percent...
House Property Tax, Calculator

Voice of the People: Economic Security Top of Mind for Voters

Increasing cost of living and fear of falling further behind add up to California voters apprehensive about their future. The seventh annual CalChamber poll,...
Loren Kaye

Student Advocates Submit Education Initiative to Attorney General

Frustrated by years of deteriorating education quality in California public schools, a coalition of advocates for students submitted a ballot measure to the Attorney...
Loren Kaye

Is Direct Democracy Under Attack in California?

Sometimes it seems that nobody likes California’s direct democracy — except the voters. Some legislators seem to resent it. During the last legislative session (and...
Loren Kaye

People’s Referendum Power Under Attack from Legislature

California voters are well acquainted with the initiative and recall, two of their three venerable political accountability powers. The former is a common feature...

Clock Is Ticking On Legislative Action to Avert Employer Tax Increase

Like the rest of California society, employers are cautiously hopeful the worst of the pandemic has passed. The wreckage of human life, family health,...

It’s Time to Rebalance the Power Dynamic in California’s Schools

The best guess by state leaders—and fondest hope for parents—is that California public schools will fully reopen their campuses this fall to all students....
Loren Kaye

Legislature Passes Budget, Clearing the Way for Real Budget Negotiations

The Legislature fulfilled its constitutional obligation this week by approving a state budget just ahead of the June 15 deadline. But meeting the formal...
Loren Kaye

Everybody Talks About California’s Housing Crisis, But Nobody Will Solve It

There isn’t a politician, economist, social justice advocate or journalist who hasn’t viewed with alarm the unrelenting climb in housing prices and rents, the...
Loren Kaye

Uncertainty Hurts R&D Investment That’s Key to State Competitiveness

California’s innovation-based economy pays economic dividends not only in our traditional technology hubs, but in every region of the state and in a wide...

Revenue Surge Permits Huge Hike in Budget Plan

Relying on a “once in a lifetime” surge in state revenues, Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a revised state budget for 2021–22 roughly $40...