http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ en-us grobertson@sacbee.com 2008-02-19T06:50:34-08:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/010654.html Question: I'm hoping you can help me better understand the state budget process. As I see it, the Governor issues a budget in January, and following a few media takes about who it's helping and/or hurting, it drifts into the... 10654@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2008-02-19T06:50:34-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/010058.html Question: I recall a column of yours where you pointed out that California's progressive income tax is actually exacerbating our state budget problems because only a relative few taxpayers (5 percent) pay something like 90 percent of the income tax... 10058@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2008-01-17T09:14:58-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/009934.html Question: While watching Gov. Schwarzenegger's State of the State address, I got to thinking back to covering Gov. Jerry Brown in 1977-78-79 and wondering what he said 30 years ago. Couldn't find his 1978 State of the State online, but... 9934@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2008-01-09T13:34:09-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/009748.html Question: Why was the CDFA allowed to get AB-1735 passed as a concent item and not required to discuss or debate the raw milk issue? Its bill is applied to an industry it regulates. Isn't that also a conflict of... 9748@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-12-26T17:01:18-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/009625.html Question: With the projected state deficit now up to $14 billion, what will the effect of that be on next year's revenue for local cities in California? -- Jon Kaufman, Berkeley Answer: Cities, unlike counties, have relatively little stake in... 9625@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-12-14T13:37:57-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/009542.html Question: On page A9 of the Dec. 10 edition of The Bee is an ad saying "Don't Kill California Jobs" with a payroll tax on health care. Who is the party that is paying for this ad? -- Kevin Hullquist,... 9542@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-12-11T10:23:48-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/009115.html Question: The LAO has projected a $10 billion shortfall for next fiscal year. How might this affect the Governor's health care proposal? Is universal health coverage attainable for state governments, or do you think this is an issue best left... 9115@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-11-14T12:43:02-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/009070.html Question: Would it be possible for the state to pay its bills on time to local small business owners? Why is it that the state never pays interest on late payments to businesses but demands that the same business pay... 9070@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-11-12T10:47:43-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/008970.html Question: If the Democrats want to allow illegal aliens to have drivers licenses, then what kind of argument can they have against having a valid ID to vote since everyone will have one? -- Victor S. Curiel, Los Angeles Answer:... 8970@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-11-07T12:27:00-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/008877.html Question: Regarding the cost of providing health care to uninsured illegal immigrants, would it be possible to invoice the government of the country they came from to cover the costs? -- Terry B., Roseville Answer: It probably would be possible... 8877@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-11-02T12:20:07-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/008426.html Question: In reading some of the proposals for health care reform here in California, the question that comes to mind is, out of the 6.7 million uninsured people in California, how many are illegal? And do they take into account... 8426@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-09-24T12:08:44-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/008336.html Question: If term limit changes are approved, would Nunez gain an extra 6 years as Assembly Speaker? -- Carl Lynch, Napa Answer: Yes and no. The ballot measure that will go before voters Feb. 5 would give him six additional... 8336@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-09-17T10:22:23-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/008236.html Question: Every time I read a piece about funding coverage for the uninsured, I look for some reference to whether the bills address the high cost of health care. I do not assume the rapidly escalating cost of health care... 8236@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-09-08T08:45:48-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/008187.html Question: Will prices (such as housing) continue to increase while our standard of living (paychecks) continue to not keep up? Is the state legislature really doing anything to combat this problem? As an experienced teacher, it is disappointing to know... 8187@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-09-05T06:52:46-08:00 http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/archives/008152.html Question: Being of (mostly) Irish descent, I enjoy a good argument. I have long maintained that things have gone downhill since the state politicos went full-time. I maintain that more considered policies obtained when they had to return to "real-life"... 8152@http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitol/ 2007-08-31T07:48:40-08:00