Biography
Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for The Times since 1974.
Through the years he has been a political ...
California Hall of Fame inductees range from excellent to just OK
November 26, 2009
It's now the holiday season, so let's start this by being positive: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver got it exactly right when they named filmmaker George Lucas to their California Hall of Fame.
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Schwarzenegger's heavy-handed threat is justified
November 25, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to kill hundreds of bills unless the Legislature delivers one bill on water. Is that heavy-handed? No question.
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California budget's going to be dreadful
November 22, 2009
The Capitol's budget oracle projects $20.7 billion in new red ink for the next 19 months. Here's my projection: More punting, "kicking the can down the alley" and numbers-rigging.
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California voters want a no-pork diet
November 19, 2009
No matter how clever and careful the writer, on occasion a work should be ripped up and retooled. That also goes for writers of legislation.
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Water still divides the state
November 16, 2009
Years ago, pundits and pols began redrawing the California political map with an east-west divide, erasing the historic north-south split. Now they can partition it north-south again, at least in mapping the reignited water war.
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The Jerry Brown tapes: Never a dull moment
November 12, 2009
It seemed like eavesdropping on a private conversation -- or reading a rival journalist's notes. But I eagerly did it anyway out of curiosity about Jerry Brown.
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Taxing our credulity
November 9, 2009
The state of California began withholding more taxes from paychecks last week. And don't believe it if you hear this isn't a tax increase.
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The big state government that could
November 5, 2009
The California Legislature did something right, it would seem. So did Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Poizner sticks to the supply side
November 2, 2009
Reduce taxes to increase tax revenue? That seems illogical on its face. But Steve Poizner is banking on it to balance the state's books if he's elected governor.
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Meg Whitman's radio whoppers
October 29, 2009
We instinctively grant latitude to advertisers, whether they're peddling politicians, dog food or miracle paring knives. But we do expect that an ad will not flat-out lie.
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Threatened with mass demotion, California lawmakers finally focus
October 26, 2009
At least some legislators get it. They get that they're essentially dysfunctional -- that voters look down on them as lower than slugs.
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Go with the flow on water legislation
October 22, 2009
Negotiators are on the brink of achieving the most comprehensive California water legislation in half a century. They're also in danger of an embarrassing belly flop.
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Two nuggets of political wisdom for the Golden State
October 14, 2009
Two profound observations about state government and politics have been uttered in recent days. One is destined to become a classic. The other sounded an alarm for all Californians to wake up and look in the mirror.
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What if Tom Campbell had money?
October 12, 2009
Tom Campbell is one of those "what if?" political candidates with intriguing potential scenarios.
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The arrogance may be Whitman's
October 5, 2009
One of the more damning and insulting words in the family dictionary is "arrogant." It's normally used behind the subject's back. In public, it should be deployed guardedly, even by a politician.
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California tax reform plan much too bold for Capitol
October 1, 2009
Sure, you can't please everyone. That's a given on anything controversial. But come on! Maybe at least a few people?
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GOP's 'leverage' is tantamount to extortion
September 17, 2009
In his former life, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the action-thriller "Collateral Damage." Last week, he had only a bit role in the collateral damage inflicted by fellow Republicans in the state Senate.
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Don't let the Sacramento sex scandal fool you
September 14, 2009
The Legislature had just wrapped up its annual session when a top aide invited me to a post-adjournment party across the street from the Capitol. I went.
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State help for firefighters 'a heavy lift'
September 10, 2009
You'd think that with half the state charred -- and wildfires seemingly getting worse every year -- a top priority in Sacramento would be to improve California's firefighting capability. But it hasn't even been on the Legislature's agenda.
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California Legislature on the verge of major achievements
September 3, 2009
The Legislature is on the verge of two major achievements -- on prisons and water -- if lawmakers can be calm and rational during the final week of this year's regular session.
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Charting a way out of the mess in the Capitol
August 27, 2009
Here's a way to start fixing the state Capitol. Maybe also repair some city halls and county courthouses.
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There's revenue in those hills -- and offshore
August 6, 2009
Republican politicians want to drill offshore. Democrats want to tax oil onshore. Both sides are right.
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Schwarzenegger is unpopular but undaunted
August 3, 2009
The fact that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's poll numbers have plummeted to where Gray Davis' were when Schwarzenegger booted him from office might humble an ordinary politician. He'd probably lower his sights. But not Schwarzenegger.
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Winners and losers in the budget battle
July 30, 2009
Who are the winners of the California budget battle? Yes, there are some, even though there are many more losers.
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Send the legislators home at night
July 26, 2009
Here's another Sacramento reform for the long "to do" list -- one that wouldn't require a vote of the people or even the governor's signature.
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Budget's a mess, but it's our mess
July 23, 2009
Sacramento's latest budget product may be the worst ever -- and the very best possible given the reality of California politics.
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Schwarzenegger should be talking to himself
July 20, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been chanting this mantra since he first landed in Sacramento: Sacramento must learn to live within its means.
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In Sacramento, they all dropped the ball
July 16, 2009
They whiffed a fat batting practice pitch. Blew a gimme putt. Inexplicably clanked a slam-dunk.
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To fix the budget, first fix the state
June 29, 2009
Once again, Capitol politicians are fighting over how to fix the chronically bleeding state budget. And again, the answer should be clear: It's unfixable.
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Budget patch job is better than IOUs
June 25, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature are down to two options: Compromise or watch in embarrassment as the great state of California issues IOUs. Also known as scrip.
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California has no money and few options
June 22, 2009
Call it the Dance of Death, the Kabuki or the Summer Follies -- the performance they're about to give in California's Capitol is a necessary ritual. But it shouldn't be taken very seriously by the outside world.
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Democrats are going to need prodding to reach budget accord
June 15, 2009
Animal analogies come to mind when somebody asks, "What is going on in Sacramento with the budget deficit?"
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Note to budget doctors: Don't spare the knife
June 11, 2009
Bill Lockyer has some simple, blunt advice for Democratic legislators struggling to make painful budget cuts: Just assume you're not going to get reelected. Then dig in and slash.
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Nightmares come true for the neediest
June 8, 2009
Jean called the other day from her desert condo near Palm Springs. She'd been notified that the state was cutting back again on aid for the disabled and she was worried.
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Lawmakers must pass redistricting ballot measure this year
August 27, 2007
If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature get anything else done this year, it most likely will be -- and should be -- political redistricting reform.
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Losing faith in an unfaithful mayor
July 9, 2007
Actor Tom Hanks had a great line in the movie "A League of Their Own." Playing the crusty manager of a women's baseball team, he berates one member into tears and shouts: "There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball."
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Tahoe fire shows cost of paradise still rising
June 28, 2007
Sacramento — ANOTHER natural disaster, another lesson. But not the predictable lesson.
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Schwarzenegger Is Running on Comeback Trail, but Bush Could Still Trip Him Up
July 6, 2006
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's comeback continues: A new poll finds him leading his Democratic challenger, with voters happier about both his job performance and the state's direction.
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Money, Attack Ads Talk; Good Candidates Walk
June 5, 2006
It's all Sen. Dianne Feinstein's fault. That's what I figure.
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Memory of '94 Ad Follows Angelides
May 29, 2006
Former Senate leader David Roberti says, "I'm not sitting around with a 2-by-4 in hand waiting to hit Phil over the head."
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