blog post The 100th Anniversary of Women in the California Legislature By Mark Baldassare, Deborah Gonzalez May 10, 2018 It has been 100 years since the first women were elected to California's legislature, yet men still vastly outnumber women in the state government.
blog post Diversity in the California Statehouse By Jennifer Paluch Dec 17, 2020 White lawmakers account for a disproportionately large share of the legislature, while Latinos are underrepresented. But the legislature has gotten more diverse in recent years.
blog post California–State of Change By Mark Baldassare Dec 8, 2014 As leaders from government, business, and philanthropy gathered last week to discuss California’s future, we were reminded once again that these are exciting times in our state.
blog post PPIC Turns 25 By Mark Baldassare Jan 7, 2019 Through recessions, earthquakes, drought, a gubernatorial recall, and a "blue wave"—PPIC has provided objective, nonpartisan, evidence-based research to California policymakers and the public for 25 years.
At Issue, Report Legislative Reform By Eric McGhee Dec 3, 2007 PPIC's At Issue series focuses on issues important for California now and in the future. In this issue, PPIC research fellow Eric McGhee discusses three charges often brought against the California Legislature—loss of competence, increasing partisan gridlock, and declining efficiency—and three types of reform aimed at addressing those shortcomings: relaxing term limits, transferring redistricting from the legislature to an independent commission, and reducing the supermajority requirement for the budget. He also offers some recommendations for policy design and briefly discusses alternative reforms.
press release Fed Up With State Leadership, Californians Want Change But Approach Reform Cautiously Sep 10, 2009
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha Mar 7, 2012 Some findings of the current survey: A slim majority of likely voters support Governor Brown's proposed tax initiative when read the ballot title and a summary; seven in 10 oppose the "trigger cuts” that public schools would face if the measure fails. Despite positive economic news, an overwhelming majority of likely voters say the state is in a recession. Term limits and cigarette tax initiatives on the June ballot have the support of two in three likely voters; half would vote for the water bond on the November ballot. Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [PDF] Governor Brown [PDF] California State Legislature [PDF] U.S. Congress [PDF] Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President Obama [XLS] Governor Brown [XLS] California State Legislature [XLS] U.S. Congress [XLS] Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in California [PDF] Economic Outlook for California [PDF] Time Trends for the Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in California [XLS] Economic Outlook for California [XLS] This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek Mar 28, 2007 Some findings of the current survey: The legislature’s approval ratings among all adults (41%) are nearing their highest point in recent years (43% in October 2004). A term limits reform initiative proponents hope to put on the February 2008 primary ballot is opposed by a strong majority of likely voters (64%). Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi garners the approval of a majority of likely voters (53%). Among likely voters, Hillary Rodham Clinton is the favored Democratic presidential candidate (35%), while Rudy Giuliani (33%) holds an early lead on the Republican side. This is the 75th PPIC Statewide Survey and the 22nd in the Californians and Their Government series. It is made possible with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.
