George Skelton

Capitol Journal Columnist

Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for more than 50 years and for The Times since 1974. He has been a Times political writer and editor in Los Angeles, Sacramento bureau chief and White House correspondent. He has written a column on California politics, “Capitol Journal,” since 1993. Skelton is a Santa Barbara native, grew up in Ojai and received a journalism degree at San Jose State.

Latest From This Author

California

The jury’s still out on Newsom as California governor — but he did OK his first year

California

The jury’s still out on Newsom as California governor — but he did OK his first year

One question invariably asked over lunch around the state Capitol is: “How do you think Newsom is doing?”
California

In defying Newsom, she tried to protect California from Trump — and showed how legislating should work

California

In defying Newsom, she tried to protect California from Trump — and showed how legislating should work

On Friday, state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) showed us how a healthy, productive legislature works — one that independently pushes its own ideas about public policy and leaves it to the governor to decide whether to sign or veto a bill. Atkins rejected Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request to shelve her landmark anti-Trump environmental protection measure, SB 1.
California

Labor won big with bill to rewrite California employment law — but it’s flawed

California

Labor won big with bill to rewrite California employment law — but it’s flawed

Assembly Bill 5 is organized labor’s biggest legislative victory in years. The bill will reclassify an estimated 1 million California workers as company employees rather than independent contractors, enshrining in law a state Supreme Court ruling.
California

Lawmakers and lobbyists scramble as California’s legislative session draws to a close

California

Lawmakers and lobbyists scramble as California’s legislative session draws to a close

This year’s legislative session still has five days to go and little is certain. It’s when lobbyists earn their pay and legislators fetch their political donations.
California

Will Newsom keep his promise to support California’s vaccine bill? His word is at stake

California

Will Newsom keep his promise to support California’s vaccine bill? His word is at stake

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would back a bill to tighten vaccine exemption rules for schoolchildren. Will he keep his word?

More Coverage

Polio was nearly extinct. Then the anti-vaxx movement reached Pakistan
California

California’s version of C-SPAN is shutting down. It’s a loss for the Capitol — and the public

California

California’s version of C-SPAN is shutting down. It’s a loss for the Capitol — and the public

The California Channel on cable TV has been the public’s eyes and ears on the state Capitol for more than two decades. Now the cable industry is pulling the plug on the Cal Channel
California

Column: Require ethnic studies for California students. But first, rewrite the curriculum

California

Column: Require ethnic studies for California students. But first, rewrite the curriculum

What should Sacramento do with a recently created draft ethnic studies curriculum? That’s an easy answer: Tear the thing apart and substantially rewrite it.
California

Proposition 13 is a political third rail in California. Changing it will be a hard sell

California

Proposition 13 is a political third rail in California. Changing it will be a hard sell

Interest groups are plotting to change Proposition 13. They plan to place a citizens’ initiative on the November presidential election ballot next year that would require commercial property owned by all but the smallest businesses to be reassessed at market value every three years.
California

‘Ghost guns’ let bad guys ignore gun control laws. It’s time to get rid of them

California

‘Ghost guns’ let bad guys ignore gun control laws. It’s time to get rid of them

The gun lobby is fighting California legislation that would eliminate ghost guns by requiring background checks on purchasers of a firearm’s essential part.
California

For 80 years, Frank Fat’s has been ‘home away from home’ for politicians in Sacramento

California

For 80 years, Frank Fat’s has been ‘home away from home’ for politicians in Sacramento

Last week, a bunch of state Capitol old-timers — including ex-Gov. Jerry Brown, former San Francisco Mayor and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, and one-time Senate leader John Burton — packed the iconic Frank Fat’s restaurant to salute its 80th birthday.