Sacramento Bee

In his state of the state address, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked for a "21st century government to match a 21st century world." He challenged Californians to bring him "big ideas to match our future." But his plan to redraw the lines for new political districts is not a "big idea." It's an improvement, because it would achieve a less polarized and more representative government. But voters have rejected new methods for redistricting before and -- even if it passed this time -- it would leave in place a 19th century Legislature.

We can all agree $1.3 billion is a lot of money. Divide it among 750,000 working poor Californians and it's still a lot -- about $1,700 per family. That's how much the IRS estimates eligible Californians missed out on last year from our country's largest resource for low-income people -- the Earned Income Tax Credit. With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget threatening significant cuts in social programs, California should do much more to let people know about this critical resource. It can -- without spending a lot of money.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is right. California needs a government that's less partisan and better reflects the many voices in its diverse population. The disconnect between the government and the governed threatens the state's ability to solve its problems and plan for the future.

California's Republicans may be feeling, well, a little blue, particularly compared with their more successful counterparts elsewhere. Yet despite the John Kerry victory here, and the landslide re-election of Democrats from Barbara Boxer on down, some strong red veins may be running underneath California.

The drive to get California's taxpayers to fund stem-cell research, the heavily backed Proposition 71, represents the ultimate triumph of narcissism and cynicism over sound public policy and social justice. It epitomizes much that is wrong with the new brand of "progressivism" that has entranced much of the media, academic and corporate elites in the state.

In early February, California State Treasurer Phil Angelides unveiled an initiative called "GreenWave," designed to help the state's public pension funds -- initially CalPERS and CalSTRS -- become more environmentally responsible. He effectively challenged California's pension funds to stand up and be counted on one of today's most important issues and, in so doing, he highlighted the historical silence of these sleeping financial giants.

As Congress finalizes its budget resolution for next year, there is one item you won't see: the taking, via eminent domain, of tens of billions of dollars worth of your airwaves rights.

You know what eminent domain is. The government comes and takes away your property for the sake of the "greater good." Usually, citizens fight such takings of their property kicking and screaming. And even if they lose, at least individuals have a constitutional right to compensation.

Congress has spent the summer in the thrall of a weird kind of giddiness.

The discovery that the budget surplus may be a trillion dollars larger than previously believed has prompted visions of a kind of domestic End of History. No more scrimping and scrounging: There is talk of new tax cuts, paying off the national debt, new prescription drug coverage, and, well, pretty much anything anybody wants.