Political Reform

Europe's Promise

Erin Drankoski — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:16:00 -0500

A quiet revolution has been occurring in post-World War II Europe. A world power has emerged across the Atlantic that is recrafting the rules for how a modern society should provide economic security, environmental sustainability, and global stability. In Europe's Promise, Steven Hill explains Europe's bold new vision. For a decade Hill traveled widely to understand this uniquely European way of life. He shatters myths and shows how Europe's leadership manifests in five major areas: economic strength, with Europe now the world's wealthiest

Better and Cheaper Elections for Vancouver

Erin Drankoski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:32:00 -0500

The most expensive mayoral race in Vancouver's history is over. The bad news: It took two elections, hundreds of thousands of dollars and a fair amount of mud-slinging to produce a winner. The good news: Vancouver has the ability to cut election costs and campaign spending as well as restore civility to the electoral process in one fell swoop.

California's Revolutionaries | Le Monde

Erin Drankoski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:05:00 -0500

On the docket: "Proposition 13," the referendum by which the people of California, in 1978, voted to amend the constitution of the state to limit taxes. The text of the referendum caps the property tax to 1% of property value. To raise taxes, there needs to be a super-majority vote of two thirds in the legislature. "California is the only state where it takes a two-thirds majority vote to pass a budget and raise taxes, comments Steven Hill

'Change Has Come' ... or Has It?

Erin Drankoski — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:07:00 -0500

"We thought we were getting a man of action. Instead, we got someone who'll spend six hours chasing a white ball around a park," Joe Mathews, a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, said, with tongue planted only partly in cheek. "If voters had known about the golf, they would have been less surprised by his lack of urgency on many issues." ... Original Article

A Radical Solution for California's Intractable Woes

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:37:00 -0500

"Are you ready to put on your white wigs?" That is a question I have been posing lately to many everyday Californians, as the Golden State considers if a constitutional convention composed of regular folks might hold the solution to California's ongoing political and budgetary woes.

Newsom's Departure Is All About Brown | San Francisco Business Times

Erin Drankoski — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:55:00 -0500

Forget the issues with cash and the polls, says New America Foundation senior fellow Joe Mathews, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s decision to leave the Democratic race for governor boils down to one thing. ... Original Article

Election Week | New York Times

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:22:00 -0500

“This fact should have been disclosed during the campaign,” wrote Joe Mathews, a senior fellow at the New American Foundation. “We thought we were getting a ...

Why Newsom Dropped Out

Erin Drankoski — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:56:00 -0400

Don't mess with Moonbeam.

The most striking thing about San Francisco Gavin Newsom's decision to withdraw from the race for California governor is that no one else is in the race. Newsom's only opponent-Jerry Brown, the former governor and attorney general-may be the frontrunner in the polls, but he isn't a declared candidate. Brown only recently set up an exploratory committee.

CA's System of Initiative and Referendum | KOGO

Erin Drankoski — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:01:00 -0400

Direct Democracy | The Oregonian

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:04:00 -0400

Yet there are some interesting reform ideas now floating around California. In an oped in Monday's Los Angeles Times, Joe Mathews, a senior fellow at the New American Foundation, offers several possible changes in California's system. Here are three of Mathews' proposal. ... Original Article