In 2008, the University of California Regents announced plans to establish a new medical school in the Inland Empire on the U.C. Riverside campus. With capital costs expected to exceed $500 million, the new medical school is an expensive venture for a cash-strapped state. But, despite severe funding challenges, the school has hired key personnel,… Continue Reading
The “tea party” movement has gained momentum throughout the 2010 election season, fueled by economic unrest and the belief that government has become too big, expensive, elitist, and unaccountable. Candidates who embrace tea party principles have won stunning victories in Republican primaries in several states, and tea party energy has contributed to the “wave” that… Continue Reading
On Saturday, October 2nd the Rose Institute of State and Local Government in collaboration with the Kosmont company released its 2010 Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey.  This year’s Survey, a year long production, surveyed 413 cities nationwide to compare the friendliness of their business climates for companies potentially wanting to do business in a… Continue Reading
Just minutes ago, California’s Applicant Review Panel completed its work selecting its pool of 60 finalists for California’s first-ever Citizens Redistricting Commission. The pool, consisting of 20 Democratic applicants, 20 Republicans, and 20 “others,” now advance to the Legislative Strikes phase of the selection process. The 60 finalists are a diverse group. Continue Reading
Rose Institute Fellow Douglas Johnson today wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times online about the influence of the Tea Party in California in 2010. From the piece: The Tea Party’s grassroots organizing occurs primarily by word of mouth (whether in person or through online social media). But California’s electorate is simply too… Continue Reading
An August 15th article in the Victorville Daily Press quotes Rose Institute Fellow Douglas Johnson discussing the role the Tea Party movement will play in the upcoming November elections. The article is titled “Will Tea Party Impact November Elections?” and is the second in a two part series. Continue Reading
In a welcome bit of news for redistricting reform advocates in Florida, that state’s Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that the state legislature’s redistricting  measure will not appear on the November ballot. The court ruled that the title of Amendment 7, “Standards for Legislature to Follow in Legislative and Congressional Redistricting,” misled voters regarding the amendment’s… Continue Reading
Nancy Lyons, citing financial issues which have postponed her planned retirement, is the 5th applicant to withdraw from the applicant pool for California’s first-ever Citizens Redistricting Commission. Ms. Lyons is a white Republican from Roseville with a BA in Sociology from California State University, Sacramento. She currently works as Chief Deputy Director of the Governor’s… Continue Reading
As first reported in the Whittier Daily News, former Los Angeles County Registrar Connie McCormack withdrew her application to become a member of the first-ever California Redistricting Commission. She is the fourth candidate from the pool of 120 to withdraw. The Applicant Review Panel will now choose its final 60 candidates from the remaining 116.… Continue Reading
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission Applicant Review Panel’s job is becoming a little easier. The ARP is almost halfway through its interviews of the 40 Democratic, 40 Republican, and 40 “Other” finalists for California’s first-ever Citizens Redistricting Commission. But, according to the staff for the State Auditor, who provides legal and staff support for the… Continue Reading
