Bill Whalen

1 week ago | hoover.org | Bill Whalen

The last time I checked, governors of California serve for four years in Sacramento while US senators serve an additional two in the nation’s capital—in both cases, with longer stays in office subject to voter approval. The beauty of this system is that it allows earnest lawmakers plenty of time to dig deeply into thorny issues, find creative ways to improve society’s welfare, and amass records of accomplishment. Little of which seems to apply to California’s political leadership these days.

1 week ago | hoover.org | H.r. McMaster |Bill Whalen

MyHoover delivers a personalized experience at Hoover.org. In a few easy steps, create an account and receive the most recent analysis from Hoover fellows tailored to your specific policy interests. Watch this video for an overview of MyHoover. Create Account

2 weeks ago | hoover.org | Bill Whalen

MyHoover delivers a personalized experience at Hoover.org. In a few easy steps, create an account and receive the most recent analysis from Hoover fellows tailored to your specific policy interests. Watch this video for an overview of MyHoover. Create Account

3 weeks ago | hoover.org | Bill Whalen

Though the date is nearly seven months away, mark the fourth day of next year on your calendar if you happen to be an aficionado of California politics. Why January 4, 2026? Because it’s the 60th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s announcing his candidacy for governor (here’s a video that, antiquated though it may appear, in black and white, is futuristic in one key regard: Reagan’s kickoff was actually a 30-minute television spot that appeared in multiple California markets).

1 month ago | hoover.org | Bill Whalen

Whoever said April is “the cruellest month” (actually, it was the poet T. S. Eliot) wasn’t familiar with the nuances of California’s state budget, which is revised every May. Which isn’t so much “cruel” as a sad reflection of image-obsessed California’s lack of fiscal fitness. That sadness is made evident with last week’s rollout of the revised version of Gov.