Water, Water Everywhere IV: The Bond That Ties
by Sheila Kuehl
January 19, 2010

This is the fourth in a series of four essays describing the five separate pieces of water legislation passed by the California legislature in late 2009 and signed by the Governor.  In total, the legislation amended the oversight structure of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, extended water conservation mandates, set up some groundwater measurement procedures, amended penalties for illegal diversion of water, authorized the use of funds from a past water bond and set up a new bond for voter approval next year.

In the first essay, I provided an overview of some of the problems created by the legislation, and described the bill affecting the monitoring of groundwater.  In the second, I described the central role of the Delta and the bill that crafted a new governance and oversight structure.  In the third, I described the contents of a bill dealing with water rights, penalties for illegal diversion of water and expenditures authorized from an existing bond, and a second bill dealing with urban water conservation.
    
In this fourth, and last, essay, I analyze the proposed 11.14 billion dollar bond to be placed on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

Water, Water Everywhere III: A Diversion
by Sheila Kuehl
December 4, 2009

This is the third in a series of four essays describing the five separate pieces of water legislation recently passed by the California legislature and signed by the Governor.  In total, the legislation amended the oversight structure of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, extended water conservation mandates, set up some groundwater measurement procedures, amended penalties for illegal diversion of water, authorized the use of funds from a past water bond and set up a new bond for voter approval next year.

In the first essay, I provided an overview of some of the problems created by the legislation, and described the bill affecting the monitoring of groundwater.  In the second, I described the central role of the Delta and the bill that crafted a new governance and oversight structure.

This essay presents two more bills: one dealing with water rights, penalties for illegal diversion of water and expenditures authorized from an existing bond, and one dealing with urban water conservation.  In the fourth, and last, essay, I will present and analyze the proposed 11.14 billion dollar bond to be placed on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

Water, Water Everywhere II: What the Heck is a Delta?
by Sheila Kuehl
November 23, 2009

This is the second in what was going to be a series of three essays, but will now be four (could have been fifty, given the complexity of water politics in California), describing the five separate pieces of water legislation recently passed by the California legislature and signed by the Governor.  In total, the legislation amended the oversight structure of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, extended water conservation mandates, set up some groundwater measurement procedures, authorized the use of funds from a past water bond and set up a new bond for voter approval next year.

Water, Water, Everywhere, But Now We Stop and Think
by Sheila Kuehl
November 19, 2009

This is the first in a series of three essays describing the five separate pieces of water legislation recently passed by the California legislature and signed, in many public events, by the Governor.  In total, the legislation amended the oversight structure of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, extended water conservation mandates, set up some groundwater measurement procedures, authorized the use of funds from a past water bond and set up a new bond for voter approval next year.

In this essay, I provide an overview of some of the problems created by the legislation, and describe the bill affecting the monitoring of groundwater.  In the next essay, I will describe the bills related to conservation, Delta governance structure, water rights and expenditures authorized from an existing bond.  In the third essay, I will present and analyze the proposed 11.14 billion dollar bond to be placed on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

As Ye Judge, So Should Ye Be Judged
by Sheila Kuehl
September 26, 2009

This is one in a series of occasional essays on topics other than the budget process.  In this essay, I'm looking at the record of a former legislative colleague who, despite a long history of voting against civil rights legislation, was recently confirmed to the California Appellate Court.  This essay asks the question: if legislative experience qualifies someone for an appointment to the California Appellate Court, shouldn't that same experience be examined for bias?

Budget Essay #13: Women & Children First! oops: no lifeboats....
Line Item Veto Blue(pencil)s:Women and Children First (into the drink)

by Sheila Kuehl
August 5, 2009

This second of two essays presents further information on the budget amendments passed by both houses in late July and the consequent line item vetoes by the Governor. In this essay, I describe the line-item changes made by the Governor without agreement by the legislature and how his decision to increase the deep cuts already contained in the amended budget is impacting women, children, seniors, people with AIDS and the poor.

Budget Essay #12: The Hard Line
California's July Budget Blues: ...For A Man May Smile and Smile and Still Be A Villain
by Sheila Kuehl
August 1, 2009

This first of two essays sets out the latest revisions to California's tattered budget, and comments on its even more tattered budget process. In this essay, I describe the Governor's stance of adamant non-negotiation and his insistence on dismantling the already fragile safety net.

Healthcare Reform: Single Payer and the Public Option

by Sheila Kuehl
June 11, 2009

This is the second in a series of new essays on the current (May-June 2009) state of budget considerations and analyses on contributing factors.  In this essay, I set out the magnitude of the gaps and the Governor's proposals for cuts, cuts, cuts to the 08-09 and 09-10 budgets. >>

by Sheila Kuehl
May 26, 2009

It had been my intention to write my next essay on Prop 1A, not Prop 8, and to analyze poll results from voters who opposed 1A, and to go from there to present some possible approaches to a balanced budget.

But the California Supreme Court ruled this morning that Prop 8 could, in fact, be adopted by a simple majority of those voting in an election.  After reading the opinion, I decided to write this essay.

The entire opinion dangled from one very weak premise: that, somehow, even though the Court insisted, in the Marriage Cases opinion last year, that the word "marriage" was so important it couldn't be denied without violating the State Constitution, they suddenly decided, this year, (with the exception of Justice Moreno, writing in dissent) that marriage is nothing but a word and that denying such a word to same sex couples did not represent a "revision" rather than an "amendment" to the Constitution.  Below, language from the opinion (which also upheld the validity of the 18,000 marriage performed before the election, creating an interesting apartheid in California) and some thoughts. >>

Props 1D, 1E and 1F
by Sheila Kuehl
May 5, 2009

This is the second of two essays presenting the contents of, and analyses on, the six propositions on the May 19 ballot.  Props 1D and 1E have absolutely nothing to recommend them.  Prop 1F was a throwaway so that the last Republican to vote for the budget could say he extracted some cosmetic punishment for the legislature.  I recommend a no on all of them.  >>

Props 1A, 1B and 1C
by Sheila Kuehl
May 4, 2009

This is the first of two essays presenting the content of, and analysis on, the six propositions on the May 19 ballot.  A number of people have asked me to write a quick summary of the propositions and to make recommendations as to votes.  I think the arguments on both sides of 1A, 1B, 1C and 1F are, in their own ways, supportable and try, below, to set out information so you can judge for yourselves.  At the same time, I've indicated my opinion on all of them, because, after all, you have to end up somewhere..... >>

California Budget Part 5: How Abel Raised Cain
by Sheila Kuehl
May 2, 2009

This is the last in a series of five essays on the legislature's actions related to California's 08-09 and 09-10 budgets from the time 08-09 was adopted in September of 2008 until both were finally modified and adopted in February of 2009.  My first four budget essays described the torturous path of California budget negotiations up to the second to last vote in February.  This essay describes how the last Senator to agree to vote for the budget extracted some last minute promises in exchange, as well as further cuts by the Governor wielding his "blue pencil" after the passage of the budget. >>

California Budget Part 4: The One Vote Short Budget
by Sheila Kuehl
March 31, 2009

This is the fourth in a series of five essays on the legislature's actions related to California's 08-09 and 09-10 budgets from the time 08-09 was adopted in September of 2008 until both were finally modified and adopted in February of 2009. >>

California Budget Part Three - The Magical Mystery Majority Budget
by Sheila Kuehl
March 21, 2009

This is the third in a series of essays on the legislature's actions related to California's 08-09 and 09-10 budgets from the time 08-09 was finally adopted in September of 2008 until both were finally modified and adopted in February of 2009.  >>

California Budget Part Two - December Doldrums

California Budget - What Happened Last Fall

 

 

 

 

This essay analyzes the historical and current push by the Governor and conservative lawmakers in the California state legislature to eliminate state boards responsible for oversight and enforcement of state laws.  >>

A New Day In Health Access?
by Sheila Kuehl

January 25, 2009

(note, this essay was, of course, written before Mr. Daschle took himself out of consideration.  It may have relevance concerning the approach that the new Administration is taking to health reform)

 

This is my first health related essay of 2009.  This first essay presents some thoughts on Tom Daschle, President Obama's nominee to head the Health and Human Services Agency. >>