Biography
Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for The Times since 1974.
Through the years he has been a political ...
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Beware of Sacramento's crash tax
February 14, 2011
Travel tip: if you're thinking about driving to Sacramento, don't. Cancel the hotel reservation. Skip the big convention.
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Give Brown points for killing ill-advised state property sale deal
February 10, 2011
It was a big, early test for Gov. Jerry Brown. And he passed with an "A."
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Celebrating Ronald Reagan the centrist
February 7, 2011
Call me the skunk at the picnic, but as conservatives celebrate Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, I'll remind them that their icon often governed as a moderate.
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GOP lawmakers and Jerry Brown have faulty logic
February 3, 2011
By Republican legislators' logic, Democrat Gray Davis should never have been recalled as governor. After all, he had just been reelected the previous year.
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Capitol Journal: Chipping away at community colleges
February 2, 2011
California's community colleges always have been among the best bargains in America. But too often these days that's like saying land's cheap on Mars.
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Poll numbers back California Gov. Jerry Brown
January 27, 2011
So far OK for Gov. Jerry Brown. Californians are cautiously optimistic about him and mildly supportive of his plan to plug the flow of red ink.
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The budget perils of mixing government and politics
January 20, 2011
It's often said that good government is good politics. Example: State politicians passing a balanced budget on time. But the opposite is not always true. Good politics can lead to lousy government.
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Polls illuminate Brown's path
January 17, 2011
Gov. Jerry Brown must clear several hurdles before Californians will accept his tax plan to balance the state books. Four tactical moves will be particularly critical.
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An older, bolder Jerry Brown deserves kudos for his budget plan
January 13, 2011
It's a different Gov. Jerry Brown we're seeing these days — a subtle but significant difference between Brown I and Brown II.
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Selling state assets would be folly
January 10, 2011
Gov. Jerry Brown has an unexpected opportunity to kill perhaps the worst real estate deal the state of California has ever concocted.
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At the end of Schwarzenegger's term, cronyism won
January 6, 2011
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor who promoted himself as a reformer, made a mockery of reform on his way out the Capitol door.
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From the start, Jerry Brown appears to have a big helping of realism
January 4, 2011
The state Capitol appears to be back under adult supervision.
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A few resolutions for 2011
December 30, 2010
What's New Year's without resolutions? Just bowl games that are mostly boring.
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A salve for California's financial woes -- if voters will buy it
December 23, 2010
The spending lobby, the tax haters and a ticked electorate all fouled up in 2009. But Gov.-elect Jerry Brown may give everyone a chance to redeem themselves next year.
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Whitman paid a high price for Latino distrust of GOP
December 20, 2010
Meg Whitman's former lead spokesman is starting to speak up about the candidate's losing race for governor. And he's shouting about the need for Republicans to stop the demagoguery over illegal immigration.
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Jerry Brown reflects as Pat Brown gets his due at the Hall of Fame
December 16, 2010
Gov.-elect Jerry Brown recalled that his late father, Gov. Pat Brown, was "a go-getter" who would "just keep going, keep pushing."
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Give Brown credit for a good week
December 13, 2010
So far, Jerry Brown has been exhibiting the traits of a wizened old pol that led Californians to elect him governor.
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Capitol Journal: Parks vs. ballot box budgeting
September 26, 2010
California's magnificent state parks are falling apart fast.
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Parents have the right to know
August 23, 2010
SACRAMENTO -- Grading teachers based on how much their students learn should be a no-brainer.
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Democrats would do right to do right by Abel Maldonado
December 7, 2009
Within a few weeks, the embattled and belittled California Legislature will take one of two actions:
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California tax reform plan much too bold for Capitol
October 1, 2009
Sure, you can't please everyone. That's a given on anything controversial. But come on! Maybe at least a few people?
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GOP's 'leverage' is tantamount to extortion
September 17, 2009
In his former life, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action-thriller "Collateral Damage." Last week, he had only a bit role in the collateral damage inflicted by fellow Republicans in the state Senate.
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Don't let the Sacramento sex scandal fool you
September 14, 2009
The Legislature had just wrapped up its annual session when a top aide invited me to a post-adjournment party across the street from the Capitol. I went.
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State help for firefighters 'a heavy lift'
September 10, 2009
You'd think that with half the state charred -- and wildfires seemingly getting worse every year -- a top priority in Sacramento would be to improve California's firefighting capability. But it hasn't even been on the Legislature's agenda.
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California Legislature on the verge of major achievements
September 3, 2009
The Legislature is on the verge of two major achievements -- on prisons and water -- if lawmakers can be calm and rational during the final week of this year's regular session.
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Charting a way out of the mess in the Capitol
August 27, 2009
Here's a way to start fixing the state Capitol. Maybe also repair some city halls and county courthouses.
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There's revenue in those hills -- and offshore
August 6, 2009
Republican politicians want to drill offshore. Democrats want to tax oil onshore. Both sides are right.
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Schwarzenegger is unpopular but undaunted
August 3, 2009
The fact that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's poll numbers have plummeted to where Gray Davis' were when Schwarzenegger booted him from office might humble an ordinary politician. He'd probably lower his sights. But not Schwarzenegger.
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Winners and losers in the budget battle
July 30, 2009
Who are the winners of the California budget battle? Yes, there are some, even though there are many more losers.
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Send the legislators home at night
July 26, 2009
Here's another Sacramento reform for the long "to do" list -- one that wouldn't require a vote of the people or even the governor's signature.
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Budget's a mess, but it's our mess
July 23, 2009
Sacramento's latest budget product may be the worst ever -- and the very best possible given the reality of California politics.
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Schwarzenegger should be talking to himself
July 20, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been chanting this mantra since he first landed in Sacramento: Sacramento must learn to live within its means.
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In Sacramento, they all dropped the ball
July 16, 2009
They whiffed a fat batting practice pitch. Blew a gimme putt. Inexplicably clanked a slam-dunk.
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To fix the budget, first fix the state
June 29, 2009
Once again, Capitol politicians are fighting over how to fix the chronically bleeding state budget. And again, the answer should be clear: It's unfixable.
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Budget patch job is better than IOUs
June 25, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature are down to two options: Compromise or watch in embarrassment as the great state of California issues IOUs. Also known as scrip.
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California has no money and few options
June 22, 2009
Call it the Dance of Death, the Kabuki or the Summer Follies -- the performance they're about to give in California's Capitol is a necessary ritual. But it shouldn't be taken very seriously by the outside world.
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Democrats are going to need prodding to reach budget accord
June 15, 2009
Animal analogies come to mind when somebody asks, "What is going on in Sacramento with the budget deficit?"
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Note to budget doctors: Don't spare the knife
June 11, 2009
Bill Lockyer has some simple, blunt advice for Democratic legislators struggling to make painful budget cuts: Just assume you're not going to get reelected. Then dig in and slash.
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Nightmares come true for the neediest
June 8, 2009
Jean called the other day from her desert condo near Palm Springs. She'd been notified that the state was cutting back again on aid for the disabled and she was worried.
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Lawmakers must pass redistricting ballot measure this year
August 27, 2007
If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature get anything else done this year, it most likely will be -- and should be -- political redistricting reform.
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Losing faith in an unfaithful mayor
July 9, 2007
Actor Tom Hanks had a great line in the movie "A League of Their Own." Playing the crusty manager of a women's baseball team, he berates one member into tears and shouts: "There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball."
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Tahoe fire shows cost of paradise still rising
June 28, 2007
Sacramento — ANOTHER natural disaster, another lesson. But not the predictable lesson.
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Schwarzenegger Is Running on Comeback Trail, but Bush Could Still Trip Him Up
July 6, 2006
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's comeback continues: A new poll finds him leading his Democratic challenger, with voters happier about both his job performance and the state's direction.
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Money, Attack Ads Talk; Good Candidates Walk
June 5, 2006
It's all Sen. Dianne Feinstein's fault. That's what I figure.
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Memory of '94 Ad Follows Angelides
May 29, 2006
Former Senate leader David Roberti says, "I'm not sitting around with a 2-by-4 in hand waiting to hit Phil over the head."