California Forward
As is always the case, nothing this complex, involving billions of dollars of funding and a shift of tens of thousands of prisoners across 58 counties, is strictly black and white.
read moreCampaign finance disclosure is a critical pillar in the overall discussion of transparency in government during Sunshine Week
read moreWe begin with this historical context of the Brown Act and the open government movement in California
read moreOne week from Monday marks the start of Sunshine Week, a global recognition of transparency efforts and an opportunity for watchdog organization to issue scorecard reports on local municipalities, states, and countries. Examples are all around us as to why such a week is necessary. It’s an ideal as a standard but the gap between desire and reality is quite large.
read moreThe country’s eyes are trained squarely on the election process in 2013. President Obama’s State of the Union speech confirmed as much when he announced a bi-partisan commission to conduct election oversight across the country.
read moreWe had a chance to sit down for an extended and very frank conversation with Ann Ravel, Chair of California’s Fair Political Practices Commission.
read moreGov. Jerry Brown made a bold yet calculated play this week to challenge the Federal Court’s continued jurisdiction over the California prison system as part of a ruling that mandated a reduction in the state prison population.
read moreThe fiscal outlook this year is better, thankfully, and there is great momentum carrying over to 2013 in oyher areas as we look to determine the big issues we’ll need to face as a state.
read moreLooking back over the past year, the citizenry of California scored some wins in government accountability with upgrades like citizen redistricting and online voter registration. But the halls of state government are still being obscured by dark campaign money and shady legislating, such as the infamous gut-and-amend. Will 2013 be the Year of Transparency?
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