George Skelton

Capitol Journal Columnist

Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for nearly 60 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

State Senate head saved California’s most important housing bill, showing what leadership is made of

California

State Senate head saved California’s most important housing bill, showing what leadership is made of

State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) showed effective leadership when she pulled Senate Bill 50, which targets single-family zoning and would lead to greater housing density, from the chamber’s appropriations committee, giving it a fighting chance at passage.
California

Column: Free tuition at California public colleges helped the state prosper. There’s no reason it can’t again

California

Column: Free tuition at California public colleges helped the state prosper. There’s no reason it can’t again

Full-time community college students are excused from paying course fees of $46 per unit. Let them have two more years free if they transfer to a CSU.
California

Column: Newsom can’t afford to ignore homelessness. It’s the top issue with voters

California

Column: Newsom can’t afford to ignore homelessness. It’s the top issue with voters

As a new poll shows homelessness as California voters’ top concern, Gov. Gavin Newsom is stumping the state promoting a homelessness plan he unveiled in his budget proposal.
California

Column: Newsom has had lots of luck as governor. He’ll need it for his long list of priorities

California

Column: Newsom has had lots of luck as governor. He’ll need it for his long list of priorities

Newsom is lucky because the state treasury keeps overflowing with tax revenue. There’s ample money to spend freely and still save.
California

Column: In his second year, Newsom needs to start producing results and focus on the achievable

California

Column: In his second year, Newsom needs to start producing results and focus on the achievable

Last year, after promising voters the moon while running for election, every issue seemed to be a top priority for the new governor.
California

California is still stuck in the past on medical malpractice payouts

California

California is still stuck in the past on medical malpractice payouts

There will likely be a fiercely fought ballot initiative next November to bring California’s malpractice payouts into the 21st century.
California

Kids walking to school in the dark? Year-round daylight saving time in California makes no sense

California

Kids walking to school in the dark? Year-round daylight saving time in California makes no sense

Making daylight saving time year-round in California would have children walking to school in the dark and would hardly give us more time in the sun, columnist George Skelton writes.
California

Presidential candidates rarely discuss California’s issues. They should at the next debate

California

Presidential candidates rarely discuss California’s issues. They should at the next debate

Candidates should talk California. The state has 12% of the U.S. population. Its well-being is vital to the health of the nation.
California

Bernie Sanders is going to bat for minor league baseball. Will California go to bat for him?

California

Bernie Sanders is going to bat for minor league baseball. Will California go to bat for him?

By standing up for bush league teams all over the country, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is showing wholesome small town values and priorities not always seen on the presidential campaign trail.
California

California’s presidential primary is wide open — but not because Kamala Harris dropped out

California

California’s presidential primary is wide open — but not because Kamala Harris dropped out

Any speculation — and there’s lots of it — about which candidate will benefit most from California Sen. Kamala Harris dropping out of the race last week isn’t worth much.