The latest studies, editorials, and investigative reports on issues affecting California’s democracy, economy, and opportunities.

February 7, 2020
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** ENVIRONMENTAL ALARMISM AND FISCAL IDEALISM
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Good morning!

Last Thursday, a group of students marched from the state Capitol to the headquarters of CalSTRS, which runs California’s teacher pension fund. Drenching themselves in fake oil, the student activists called on the fund managers to divest from fossil fuels. Elliot Ingle, a 14-year old from Berkeley, told ([link removed]) the Sacramento Bee that climate change will primarily affect his generation, “while the people currently in charge of CalSTRS and oil companies will be dead by then.” If only California’s youngsters shared similar concerns over the state’s long-term fiscal outlook.

On Monday, California State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced ([link removed]) a plan to convert PG&E into a public utility. Blaming PG&E for putting profit over public safety, Wiener neglected to mention the recommendations made by the California Public Utilities Commission that led to huge forest fires in the first place. Namely, the mandatory investments in green technologies and the ban on tree trimming. However, the Commission is not the only entity to blame for recent forest fires. CPC contributor Chris Reed examines how Cal Fire has promoted ineffective fire suppression tactics. Read more ([link removed]) .

Meanwhile in Scott Wiener’s district, Mohammed Nuru—the Director of Public Works in San Francisco—was arrested and charged by the FBI on allegations of bribery, wire fraud, and contract corruption. Mr. Nuru supervised a $500 million budget, and earned ([link removed]) a $250,548 annual salary in 2017, according to OpentheBooks.com. The San Francisco Chronicle notes ([link removed]) that “Nuru could still lose his roughly $91,000 a year pension, even if he resigns.”

California’s government unions spent ([link removed]) this week gathering signatures for the “California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act of 2020.” Once again, the unions are expecting voters to pay no attention to the people behind these government spending schemes. CPC fellow Edward Ring examines the content of this ballot initiative and describes the harm it would have on California residents. Read more ([link removed]) .

In addition, CPC contributor Larry Sand writes about another state initiative on March 3rd ballots. Known as the “School and College Facilities Bond,” the measure would not only raise taxes but also inefficiently allocate money to school districts that are already mismanaging their funds. Read more ([link removed]) .

This week, the Bakersfield Californian covered California Policy Center’s efforts to inform state workers about their Janus rights to stop paying all associated union dues: “A U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2018 has caused a significant dip in the membership of one local union…. From June 2018 to May 2019, membership in the Bakersfield chapter of the Service Employees International Union dropped from 745 to 507, according to the California Policy Center.” The article highlights how CPC’s educational “efforts raise the possibility that even more union members could drop out in the near future.” Read more. ([link removed])

And last weekend, The San Diego Union-Tribune featured CPC President Will Swaim’s perspective on the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which could increase school choice by allowing public funding for religious schools. “‘The conversation around vouchers might actually become real again in California,’ Swaim said.” Read more ([link removed]) .

Silicon Valley giants Twitter and YouTube are cracking down on free speech online. Twitter announced ([link removed]) last week that it will allow users “to report tweets with misleading information about how to participate in the forthcoming U.S. election.” A few days later, YouTube stated that it plans to ([link removed]) remove misleading election information that can cause “serious risk of egregious harm.” Sounds similar to China’s crackdown ([link removed]) on “rumors” in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

CPC President Will Swaim and CPC Board Member David Bahnsen discuss SB50's failure, public utilities, and the California budget in the latest National Review Radio Free California podcast. Listen here ([link removed]) .

Finally, are you affected by AB 5, California’s new law that harmed the ability of people to work as independent contractors or in the gig economy? If you have been hurt by AB 5, we would like to know your story. Please contact me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=AB%205%20Story) .

Upcoming Events:

Franklin and Washington: The Founding Partnership
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward Larson will speak at the Commonwealth Club on Monday, February 10 and discuss his joint biography of our two most influential Founding Fathers. Tickets are $20 for non-members and will include a book-signing as well. For more information, and to register, click here ([link removed]) .

Mary Ball Washington Book Talk
Presidential historian Craig Shirley will speak at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Thursday, February 13 about his new book, Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washington’s Mother. The event is free and there will be a book signing. To register, and to pre-order the book, click here ([link removed]) .

Presidents Day at the Nixon Library
There will be half-priced admission to the Nixon Library and Museum on Monday, February 17 in honor of Presidents Day. The first 1,000 visitors receive a free slice of cherry pie compliments of Polly’s Pies and visitors will have an opportunity to meet and take pictures with Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. A special “Meet the Presidents” program will begin at 1PM in the historic White House East Room. Click here for more information ([link removed]) .

Documentary Screening and Book Signing
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum will host Dennis Prager and Hollywood producer Mark Joseph for a screening and discussion of the documentary No Safe Spaces on Tuesday, February 18. Admission to this event includes the purchase of one copy of No Safe Spaces. Additional copies of the book may be purchased during registration or at the event. To register for the event, click here ([link removed]∣=7210265&jb=528) .

The Real Class Privilege: Community and Connection
The Pepperdine School of Public Policy hosts Timothy P. Carney, who is a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse, for an evening conversation on Wednesday, February 19. For more information, and to register for this free event, click here ([link removed]) .

Reagan’s Emergence as a World Statesman
The Pepperdine School of Public Policy hosts Reagan historian Dr. Gene Kopelson on Wednesday, March 4 for an evening conversation about Ronald Reagan's first quest for the presidency in the late 1960s. Kopelson’s book, Reagan's 1968 Dress Rehearsal: Ike, RFK, and Reagan's Emergence as a World Statesman ([link removed]) , will be available for purchase. To register for this free event, click here ([link removed]) .

Art Laffer & Emmanuel Saez Debate the Wealth Tax at Pepperdine
Art Laffer, Presidential Medal of Freedom award recipient and inventor of the Laffer Curve, will square off against Emmanuel Saez, UC-Berkeley economist and Elizabeth Warren advisor, in a debate over the wealth tax at Pepperdine University on March 12th. The event is hosted by The Steamboat Institute ([link removed]) as part of its Campus Liberty Tour, which brings debates on big issues to college campuses across the country. Find out more and register for free here ([link removed]) .

If you have any upcoming events in the state, please send them to me!

As always, if you’d like to join our movement to save California, we invite you to support us. Click here to donate to CPC ([link removed]) .


** ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA POLICY CENTER
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The California Policy Center promotes prosperity for all Californians through limited government and individual liberty.

Learn more at CaliforniaPolicyCenter.org.
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