2012 Essays - NEW!
2012 Budget Essay #1: This Ain't Roy Rogers' Trigger
Two Triggers: One Stuffed, One Deflated
by Sheila Kuehl
January 6, 2012
Since
Governor Brown's staff mistakenly posted his proposed budget on his
website, rather than keeping it under wraps till Tuesday, the budget
debate season got off to an early, if wobbly, start. Analysis of the
budget will take a few days, so I wanted to begin by bringing you up to
date on the triggers that were pulled last month in the 2011-12 budget.
This essay describes what circumstances forced the first trigger to be
pulled, how the second trigger was not fully set into motion, and who
lost what. Read more >>
2011 Essays
2011 Budget Essay #9: Maybe I'm In For Cryin the Blues
by Sheila Kuehl August 8, 2011 This
is the ninth and final essay in a series setting out the many twists
and turns in the road toward passage of California's 2011-12 budget.
This essay identifies a few of the winners and some of the many losers. More>>2011 Budget Essay #8: Realignment is good for cars, but.... by Sheila Kuehl August 4, 2011 This
is the eighth in a series of essays presenting the roller coaster ups
and downs of California's 2011-12 budget history. This essay presents
the concept of "realignment", one of the ways in which the budget signed
by the Governor on June 30th "found" sufficient revenues to avoid cuts
to K-12 education. The real name for it should probably be "we'll
transfer responsibility to cities and counties for a number of big
programs and then maybe we'll also provide enough money to carry them
out." Because local entities are thought to provide incarceration and
probation services (i.e.) more cheaply than the state, this transfer is
assumed to leave more revenue in the budget for other expenditures. More >>2011 Budget Essay #7: The Final Final We Really Mean It Budget
by Sheila Kuehl
July 31, 2011
This
is the seventh in a series of essays exploring the Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
nature of California's 2011-12 budget. Recovering from a first-ever
gubernatorial veto of a state budget, Democrats rallied and presented a
balanced, on-time budget with a scattering of rosy assumptions and a
hailstorm of additional cuts. More >>
2011 Budget Essay #6: And I'll Huff and I'll Puff
Plan B Is A House of Cards
Blow It Up-Blow It Down
by Sheila Kuehl
July 25, 2011
This
is the sixth in a series of essays exploring the wild Indiana Jones
adventure of California's 2011-12 budget. In this exciting installment,
finally drinking a dose of "we're not going to get any Republican votes
to put tax extensions on the ballot, are we?" reality therapy, the
Democrats send a majority vote budget to the Governor on June 15th.
Apparently suffering from some mistaken notion that Brown had signaled
approval of the inclusion of a number of --- uh --- creative ways of
balancing the budget, Democratic members who had worked round the clock
to finish it were visibly shocked and amazed when he almost immediately
vetoed it, throwing everything back to square one, with only 15 days
left to bring home a budget. Under an initiative passed last year,
legislators began to lose never-to-be-recovered pay, without regard to
whether each individual had worked out the budget or not, or whether
they had voted to put it on the Governor's desk or not, which is a bit
like withholding your paycheck because the guy next to you refuses to do
his work. More >>
2011 Budget Essay #5: April $howers=May Flowers (But No Bouquet)
by Sheila Kuehl July 21, 2011 This
is the fifth in a series of essays reviewing the 2011 history of
California's 2011-12 budget development. This essay presents the
changes contained in the "May Revise", which is an amended budget
proposal made by the Governor to the Legislature every May following the
collection of April tax money. The May Revise reflected the Governor's
continuing efforts to get four Republican votes to put a tax extension
on the ballot, as well as a slight uptick in state revenues due to a
mini-recovery from the recession. The Governor and the Legislature
focused on where a few dollars might be restored to education and
healthcare, while continuing to try and convince California voters that
the tax extensions were still critical. More>>
2011 Budget Essay #4: The Hot Sun and Cool Winds of March
by Sheila Kuehl July 17, 2011 This
is the fourth in a set of essays reviewing the history of California's
2011-12 budget development from January to June. This essay analyzes
the measures taken in March in a continuing breakneck attempt to finish a
budget and put a tax "continuation" measure on the ballot before
temporary taxes would expire. Following presentation of separate
Assembly and Senate budgets in February, the Conference Committee, with
members from both houses, reconciled the differences and adopted a final
budget, as well as a number of "trailer" bills. Five Republican
Senators made a show of meeting with the Governor about the possibility
of providing votes to put the tax extensions on the ballot, if certain
demands were met. The trailer bills containing cuts were sent to the
Governor's office and signed. The budget, as passed, was held in the
Legislature. More >> 2011 Budget Essay #3: February--All Rush and No Goldby Sheila Kuehl July 13, 2011 Now
that California's 2011-12 budget has gone into effect, at least until
the first revenue assumption proves wrong and triggers more cuts, this
set of essays reviews the history of budget development over the last
six months, culminating in a report on the final budget, as signed.
This essay is the third in the series, and sets forth the breakneck
attempt to finish a budget and put a tax "continuation" measure on the
ballot before the June 30th expiration of the 2009-11 temporary taxes.
In February, the Assembly and the Senate each held scores of hearings
and finished separate versions of a preferable budget, both including
the assumption that the Governor would be able to get sufficient
Republican votes to put the continuation measure on the ballot in time.
The two budgets were then scheduled to go immediately into a Conference
Committee. More >>2011 Budget Essay #2: How To Make A Mess
Deficits Up, Revenues Down, The History of a Mess
by Sheila Kuehl
July 9, 2011
Now that California's 2011-12 budget has gone into effect, at least
until some revenue assumption proves wrong and triggers more cuts, this
set of essays reviews the history of that budget's progress over the
last six months, culminating in a report on the final budget, as
signed. This essay is the second in the series, and sets forth a short
history of decisions made in the first ten years of the 21st century
which have brought California to the brink of fiscal crisis. More >>
2011 Budget Essay #1: Would You Like Taxes With That Budget?
by Sheila Kuehl
July 6, 2011
Now
that California's 2011-12 budget has gone into effect, at least until
some revenue assumption proves wrong and triggers more cuts, this set of
essays reviews the history of that budget's progress over the last six
months, culminating in a report on the final budget, as signed. This
essay is the first in the series, and describes the provisions of the
original budget, as presented by Governor Brown in January of this
year. The Roman god, Janus, for whom January is named, had two faces,
looking both backward and forward. Like Janus, the Governor's January
budget had two faces, one with the tax extensions he was seeking, with
little damage to education, and one that was all cuts, if the tax
extensions failed. More >>Dogs In the Manger Who Bite the Hands that Feed Themby Sheila Kuehl May 10, 2011 Since the Governor had insisted on a budget solution in February in order to get a tax extension on the June ballot, I had thought, by now, I might be writing essays about California's new budget for 2011-12. However, since there were no Republican votes to put the tax extension on the ballot, the budget, which passed both houses earlier in the year, now waits in limbo. In the meantime, I regularly receive questions and requests on a whole host of issues at my website address and decided to write a series of non-budget-related essays while we wait. This essay is about the dismantling of California's once-premier system of higher education caused by a constant downward spiral in funding. It also reports the cynical acts of legislators (all, interestingly, from one party) whose education was made possible by the low levels of tuition in those same public colleges and universities but who now persist in denying those same opportunities to new generations of students.
Archived Essays
2010 Budget, Final Essay: The Blue Pencil Blues
by Sheila Kuehl
January 8, 2011
In
just a few days, Governor Brown will unveil his budget for 2011-12.
This last essay reports on the Governor's extensive line item vetoes
which both added to the reserve and drastically slashed monies for the
poor, child care, mental health, the elderly and people with
disabilities.
by Sheila Kuehl January 4, 2011 As
California awaits the first budget of our newly inaugurated Governor,
this set of essays reviews the budget situation over the last eighteen
months, culminating in these last reports on the 2010-2011 budget
finally adopted on October 8th, 2010. 2010 Budget Fixes, Part Six: Using Oil To Ignite The Lamp of Jobs
by Sheila Kuehl
December 27, 2010
As
California awaits the January unveiling of Governor Brown's first
budget, this set of essays reviews the budget situation over the last
eighteen months, culminating in a report on the new budget. This essay
is the sixth in a series describing the continuing budget struggles from
2009 to the present.
2010 Budget Fixes, Part Five: The Unmerrymerry Month of May- A Modest Budget Revision Proposal
by Sheila Kuehl
December 20, 2010
As
California awaits the January unveiling of Governor Brown's first
budget, this set of essays reviews the budget situation over the last
twelve months, culminating in a report on the new budget when it is
presented.
This essay is the fifth in a series describing the
continuing budget struggles from 2009 to the present. My first essay
described the budget situation in the middle of fiscal 2009-10. The
second set out the Governor's proposed 2010-11 budget. The third
described the first "fixes" proposed by the Democratic majority. The
fourth presented the "fix" bills sent to the Governor, his vetoes and
the compromises finally enacted at the end of March. This essay details
the proposed budget revisions sent by the Governor to the Legislature
in May of 2010. Further essays will describe struggles throughout the
summer and final passage of the budget in October, as well as problems
that arose immediately after that passage.
2010 Budget Fixes, Part Four: March Solution or March Hare?
by Sheila Kuehl
December 17, 2010
As
California awaits the January unveiling of Governor Brown's first
budget, this set of essays reviews the budget situation over the last
twelve months, culminating in a report on the new budget when it is
presented.
This essay is the fourth in a series
describing the condition of the 2009-10 state budget at the beginning of
2010, the 2010-11 budget introduced in January of 2010, the many
Special Legislative Sessions called by the Governor to address the
problem of escalating deficits and the tug of war between the
Legislature and the Governor on solutions.
by Sheila Kuehl
December 15, 2010
As
California awaits the January unveiling of Governor Brown's first
budget, this set of essays reviews the budget situation over the last
twelve months, culminating in a report on the new budget when it is
presented. This essay is third in a series describing the condition of
the 2009-10 state budget at the beginning of 2010, the 2010-11 budget
introduced in January of 2010, the many Special Legislative Sessions
called by the Governor to address the problem of escalating deficits and
the tug of war between the Legislature and the Governor on solutions.
Go Ahead - Blame the Governor
by Sheila Kuehl
July 29, 2010
These
essays have historically presented facts about past and current
California budget decisions, with an occasional detour into water bills
and other substantive issues. While we wait for a California budget
solution, however, my next two essays are pure opinion, looking at
tenets that seem to be increasingly embraced by many in the citizenry
without very much analysis.
The first will look at whether we can, indeed, blame the current
Governor for the downward fiscal spiral in the California budget.
Two broken budgets, Part Two: The Gov Proposes a 2010 Bludgeont
by
Sheila Kuehl
May 1, 2010
This is the second in a series of
essays describing the condition of the 2009-10 state budget at the
beginning of 2010, the new 2010-11 budget introduced in January, the
Special Legislative Sessions called by the Governor to solve the problem
of escalating deficits and the tug of war between the Legislature and
the Governor on solutions.
More Wimper for your Buck
Two Broken Budgets: Starting Off in 2010
by Sheila Kuehl
April 28, 2010
This is the first in a series of essays describing the condition of the
2009-10 state budget at the beginning of 2010, the new 2010-11 budget
introduced in January, the Special Legislative Sessions called by the
Governor to solve the problem of escalating deficits and the tug of war
between the Legislature and the Governor on solutions. You have
received this essay either because you joined my general essay list or
someone forwarded it to you.
In this first essay, I provide an overview of the budget situation at
the end of 2009, in the middle of the fiscal 2009-10 year and the
problems foreseen by the Legislative Analyst as the year began. In the
essays that follow, I will present the 2010-11 budget proposed by the
Governor in January, as well as the "fixes" to the 09-10 budget
proposed, rejected, passed, vetoed, passed and signed in March, to meet
the crisis of plummeting revenues and shaky budget assumptions that were
the "solutions" adopted last year for the 09-10 budget. As you read
this, the Legislature is holding hearings on the various provisions of
the 2010-11 budget, which is due to be passed (if a 2/3 vote can be
achieved) by the end of June.
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 29, 2009
As many of you may know, I was the author of a bill to establish a Medicare-like, single payer program in California. The bill passed both houses of our state legislature in 2006 and, again, in 2008, and was vetoed both times by the current Governor. Since I termed out of the Legislature at the end of last November, the bill is being carried this year by Sen. Mark Leno (SB 810).
In 2008, not-yet-President Obama proposed, as a part of his healthcare reform package, the establishment of a "public option"---an insurance plan offered by the federal government as an alternative to private health insurance, and against which the private companies, left in place, would compete.
I have been asked how those who support single payer should respond to this proposal and how those who want health reform for the country might express their opinions. >>
by Sheila Kuehl
June 22, 2009
This is the third in a series of new essays on the current (May-June 2009) state of California budget considerations and analyses on contributing factors. In this essay, I describe how the Republicans force an all-cuts budget and then vote against the cuts, what the next series of Floor votes means, and options for a majority-vote budget fix. >>
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
June 1, 2009
This is the first in a series of new essays on the current state of budget considerations and analyses on contributing factors. In this essay, I report the Governor's opinion that Prop 1A failed because everyone voted against new taxes, and a subsequent poll on the subject which came to a different conclusion. >>
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
by Sheila Kuehl
March 11, 2009
This is the second in a series of essays on the legislature's actions related to California's 08-09 budget from the time it was finally adopted in September of 2008 until it was finally modified in February of 2009. My first essay on this subject detailed steps taken in October and early November because of the need to immediately amend the budget adopted in September of last year. This essay sets out the failure to adopt an amended budget in November, the urgent consequences of this failure in December and the continuing partisan tug of war. >>
California Budget - What Happened Last Fall
by Sheila Kuehl
March 6, 2009
This is the first in a series of essays on what happened to California's budget from the time it was finally adopted in September of 2008 until it was finally modified in February of 2009. This essay reports on what happened in October and early November, following the adoption of the '08-09 budget (finally) in September of last year. >>
A few last thoughts on the proposed elimination of state oversight boards
by Sheila Kuehl
February 14, 2009
This is a follow-up to the essay on proposed elimination of state boards. Several readers of my first essay on the push to eliminate state boards wrote to make a few additional points, which I think are worth sharing. >>
No Boards -- No Oversight
by Sheila Kuehl
February 8, 2009
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. >> |
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