Dr. Frates was quoted recently in the San Bernadino County Sun on the subject of the effect of the state withholding welfare payments to counties during the current budget crisis. Dr. Frates believes that counties have little recourse in this conflict: Whether counties sue the state or withhold revenue from it, the state ultimately has… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Rose Report
VA Governor and DNC Chair Calls for Redistricting Reform in VA
Tim Kaine, Governor of the state of Virginia and President Obama’s recent choice to be head of the Democratic National Committee recently called on members of the Virginia House of Delegates to pass a bill that would create an independent redistricting commission according to a report by WHSV Channel 3 in Virginia. The Virginia Senate… Continue Reading
Editorial Blasts Virginia House of Delegates Vote Against Redistricting Reform
A recent editorial in the Washington Post takes issue with a vote in the Virginia Legislature against redistricting reform. A subcommittee of the Virginia House of Delegates Privileges and Elections committee voted along partisan lines, with Republicans in the majority, to put a stop to bills that would change who draws congressional and state legislature… Continue Reading
Frates on the California Budget
Dr. Frates was recently quoted in the Orange County Register about what he thinks of the California budget crisis. Dr. Frates provides his analysis of how the situation might move forward: Sacramento’s choices almost always boil down to “tax increases or a decrease in the rate of increase of expenditures,” Dr. Steven B. Frates, senior… Continue Reading
Frates on the Power of Rolling Hills Estates
Dr. Frates weighs in in a recent Daily Breeze article about the fact that Rolling Hills Estates’ political leaders are well represented in influential statewide groups like the League of California Cities and the California Contract Cities Organization. “It’s unusual and it’s probably a reflection of the fact that these individuals are held in high… Continue Reading
Wisconsin Supreme Court Abdicates on Redistricting
The Wisconsin Supreme Court, which had been developing protocols for use in case of a redistricting court battle, recently decided to stop doing so according to the Associated Press. During the last round of redistricting in the state, the legislature asked the court to get involved in breaking a legislative deadlock, but it declined to do… Continue Reading
Doug Johnson on City Council Districts
A recent San Gabriel Valley Tribune article on the subject of how West Covina’s city council is elected features some astute analysis from Doug Johnson. Johnson points out the risks to West Covina of maintaining their current at-large districts because of a recent court case: Douglas Johnson, a fellow at the Claremont-based Rose Institute, said… Continue Reading
California Cities May Follow Vallejo's Lead
A recent Wall Street Journal article mentions that the California cities of Isleton and Rio Vista may be forced to follow in Vallejo’s steps and declare bankruptcy. The cities are currently being crushed under increasing costs from wages and benefit for city employees while sales tax revenue is decreasing. The cities have already contacted the… Continue Reading
Rose turnout prediction confirmed by SoS
On November 7th, just three days after election day, the Rose Institute calculated California voter turnout at 79.5 percent. We are happy to report that this weekend, over a month later, the Secretary of State released the final count:79.42 percent. Continue Reading
Douglas Johnson looks behind the election numbers
Rose Fellow Douglas Johnson recently gave a presentation on the trends behind this year’s election results to the Apple Valley Rotary club. While not all of the substance is on the slides, those interested in looking at the California election in an historical contest, or how the 2001 bipartisan gerrymander of California has saved much… Continue Reading