We're in Sacramento today to watch a bunch of good-government types discuss what it will take to return competence and accountability to state government. The event - the California Constitutional Convention Summit - is sponsored by the Bay Area Council, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and others. Speakers [...]

The Press Democrat Editorial Board this morning explains how open primaries could lead to a more responsive and effective state government. You can read the editorial here.To obtain a Republican's vote for last week's budget overhaul, Democrats agreed to a statewide vote on open primaries. Perhaps it was an unlikely [...]

After months of deadlock, the California Legislature early today approved a plan to close a $42 billion shortfall in the state budget. This is welcome news because it spares the state from financial collapse. If, as expected, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees, the state will be able to pay its bills [...]

State government has gone one more day without a budget fix and moved one day closer to an economic collapse. If nothing else, these endless budget impasses in Sacramento should persuade California voters that it's not practical to require two-thirds majorities in both houses of the legislature to pass a [...]

On Sunday, thousands of Santa Rosans braved cold, wet weather to demonstrate their appreciation for the sport of cycling. If you were out there, you know this was a true test of loyalty. Still, the city won't be confused with famous cycling towns such as Davis or Boulder, Colorado. As [...]

Wow, those guys are tough. We just came in out of the rain after watching the finish of this stage of the Tour of California. I can't believe those guys rode bicycles from Davis to Santa Rosa in the cold, wet weather, and I can't believe that many people showed [...]

A funny thing happened in recent days: People started to acknowledge that newspapers matter. With its cover story, "How To Save Your Newspaper," Time magazine is only the latest to offer advice. In a rush of magazine, newspaper and online commentaries, it was variously recommended that newspapers (a) charge for [...]

The California Republican Party and the Service Employees Union International agree: Any state lawmaker who votes for the state budget deal will become their political enemy.There is, of course, one small difference. The official GOP organization hates the deal because it would increase taxes. The SEIU hates it because it [...]

State officials' plan to crackdown on septic tank owners is about what we would expect. Safe in their silos, lawmakers and the folks at the Water Resources Control Board imagined what would be necessary to achieve perfection - without regard to cost, common sense or fairness.The outrage that followed was [...]

Is it just me, or are we all becoming fatalistic about the federal government's capacity to negotiate in ways that protect the best interests of American taxpayers?Gretchen Morgenson, the New York Times business columnist, reported the bad news about bailout funds spent last fall to prop up the largest banks: [...]