Watch out for massive state debt avalancheA well-established economic principle, called the "wealth effect," holds that consumers' spending is influenced more by their sense of well-being than by their incomes.
It's a cruel summer this year in CaliforniaThis is, it could be said, Californians' summer of discontent, to wit:
State GOP has hardly been fiscally responsibleRepublicans are largely bystanders in a Legislature controlled by liberal Democrats except when it comes to the state budget.
Democrats restless as stalemate drags onThis is shaping up as a make-or-break week not only on the long-stalled state budget but other major issues, such as water bonds, that are tied to the Nov. 4 ballot.
Irony seen in Democrat's solar energy tax breakThe central focus of Sunday's four-hour Assembly debate over the long-stalled state budget was the Democrats' $6.7 billion package of new taxes.
Would sales tax increase further hurt economy?California's unemployment rate soared to 7.3% in July, with nearly 400,000 more workers in the jobless ranks than a year earlier, indicating that we still haven't hit bottom in this recession.
Deadline for ballot may spur budget dealIt's still a long way from being fully cooked, but the fuzzy outline of a deal on the much-delayed, deficit-ridden state budget is becoming visible as the deadline for placing measures on the November ballot draws near.
State could lose one of its 53 seats in House
Do ballot initiatives hurt or help make policy?
Democrats' taxing plan loaded with gimmicks
Governor's political stunts keep flopping
Local officials taking steps to boost taxes

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