Joe Mathews, Journalist

How Campaigns Crowd Out Governing

2009-07-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here's my piece in the Daily Beast on how the Era of Hyper Politics leaves no time for governance.

What Did I Say?

2009-07-04T10:09:00.001-07:00

I'm quoted in this piece on California's troubles in the German magazine Stern. (The interview was conducted in English--I don't speak more than a couple dozen words of German, and those are Austrian German at that.)

Pick Up

2009-07-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

That's the old newspaper term for when your story gets picked up elsewhere. Today, I'm quoted in this Sacramento Bee story on IOUs (I take the pessimistic view that the state's leaders are incapable of negotiating a way out of the budget predicament).

And my recent story in the Washington Post got a mention Wednesday during the governor's press briefing in Sacramento. From the transcript:
QUESTION: This budget situation is getting a lot of attention nationally. People are saying that California is a laughing stock. Are you embarrassed for California?
GOVERNOR: I'm proud of California, even though we have our crisis. But no one should point fingers, because as you can see, there are more than 30 states right now that have their fiscal year starting today that also don’t have a budget. So let's not go and get carried away and just look at California, as we are the only state that cannot manage the budget.
And also, on top of it, people always say that the United States maybe has to bail out California and all of those things. And I think that Joe Mathews had a good story just recently in the paper where he talked about who is to say that the United States should bail us out? We are actually in much better shape than the United States, because if you look at us we have only 4 percent of debt of our GDP and look at what the United States has -- it is $14 trillion of GDP and we have $11 trillion debt. So that's a whole different ballgame. So we are in much better shape than the United States is.
So all we need to do is just really deal with reality and deal with those cuts, that are very painful for some people here in this building and then move on. And we will get the loans and then try to get out of this financial crisis. OK?

Was Pete Wilson Right?

2009-06-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a description (with video) of my interview with former Gov. Pete Wilson Monday night at RAND, as part of a Zocalo Public Square event. The page also includes a pre-show interview with Wilson. Among the highlights were Wilson describing how he handled a budget predicament similar to the one we currently face, and Wilson answering "hell, yes," when I asked him if he'd like to run for governor again next year. (He's prevented from doing so by term limits).

What Does Armageddon Look Like?

2009-06-30T15:08:00.001-07:00

Please join me July 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the California Endowment in Los Angeles (1000 N. Alameda--yes, that's right, Jake, it's Chinatown) for a panel discussion of the human costs of the big cuts to the state budgets for social services programs. It's free and open to the public (with a reception afterwards, with free drinks). You can reserve a seat here.

I discussed a similar subject Monday night on Warren Olney's KCRW show, "Which Way, LA?" A link to audio is here.

Radio Update on California Budget

2009-06-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to audio of my appearance on NPR's "Diane Rehm Show" this morning. We discussed the California budget.

Credit Rating Agencies and California

2009-06-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

On Warren Olney's show, "Which Way, LA?", I talked more about unfair federal attacks on California and question the credibility of rating agencies who have ranked the state's credit lower than that of many corporations. (My appearance is the third item on this list, below Iran and Mayor Villaraigosa, about 38 minutes into the show on the audio).

If California Catches Cold, Does Oregon Get Sick?

2009-06-22T13:21:00.001-07:00

I was interviewed by Oregon Public Radio this morning on the question of how California's economic and budgetary troubles could hurt our neighbors to the north. A link to the audio is here.

This Californian to Feds: Drop Dead

2009-06-19T09:31:00.001-07:00

Writing in this Sunday's Washington Post (story already posted online here), I push back at national critics of California and its request for federal loan guarantees. Main lesson: California would be better off as its own country.

Mate the Press

2009-06-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

Writing in The Daily Beast, I tackle the relationship between LA's mayor and a local news anchor, and wonder whether the media should have done more with the story -- at least in the name of getting the attention of Angelenos, who simply refuse to pay much attention to politics.

Recent Fox & Hounds Daily Columns

2009-06-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few highlights from my twice weekly columns on the California business and politics site, Fox & Hounds Daily. A full list of my columns is here.

-So If We Take Your Terrorists.... I propose a way that President Obama and California can help each other.

-The State of California Owes Me Money. I appeal for legislative pay.

-Memo to California Reformers: Breathe. Some skepticism on the many plans to save the state, including a constitutional convention.

-Why Meg Is Right to Lay Low. On why the failure of the former eBay chief to ask questions is Ok for now.

-"Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall..." I ask whether California really is the most dysfunctional state.

Failing State?

2009-05-29T15:10:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to my appearance on "Forum" on KQED (Northern California's NPR station) this morning.

Can Gay Marriage Truly Win In California?

2009-05-28T23:10:00.001-07:00

At the Daily Beast, I suggest that marriage equality can't be won in California, and that same-sex marriage advocates should focus their time and resources on other states.

Quoted in Oregonian

2009-05-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

On signature gathering reform in Oregon.

In the NYT: How Federal Assistance to California Should Work

2009-05-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

I don't care for the headline the New York Times put on my May 22 piece suggesting why federal loan guarantees for California might be a good idea -- and explaining how they should work. It's not a "bailout" I'm proposing. California shouldn't receive any cash from the feds. The only cash in the deal will be the cash California sends Washington as a fee for the guarantees.

Boiled down, here's what I'm arguing. California is a big place that can't govern itself. In the short term, it has cash flow problems. The federal government can help California manage those cash flow problems -- at virtually zero risk and at no cost. So the feds should step in and help -- but use that leverage to force California to adopt a plan to fix its structural budget problems. The feds could force California to submit a plan as a condition of issuing the guarantee--and lock the plan in by making it part of the guarantee (and by including financial penalties if the state doesn't make its budget targets in the plan).

Will the feds do this? Right now, they say no, as they should. California doesn't run out of cash until July, and by refusing to help now, the feds keep the pressure on the legislature and governor to address the problem first. But I think it's a safe bet California leaders won't be able to resolve this, and the feds will have to offer the guarantees this summer.

USA Today Thinks I'm Smart

2009-05-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

All evidence to the contrary. Here's a link.

On Point

2009-05-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

California treasurer Bill Lockyer, LA Times columnist Sandy Banks and yours truly discuss California's troubles today on NPR's On Point.

To the Point

2009-05-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

More on California's troubles: I joined historian Kevin Starr, political scientist Bruce Cain, and SF Chronicle political writer Carla Marinucci on NPR's "To the Point" with Warren Olney today. A link to audio is here.

The Curious Case of California's Stem Cell Board

2009-05-20T12:31:00.001-07:00

In the Scientific American, I report on the benefits -- and perils -- of establishing a major scientific research enterprise -- California's stem cell agency and its board -- by ballot initiative.

The Armageddon Tease

2009-05-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

In the Daily Beast, I examine how Schwarzenegger's rhetoric undermined him politically.

Let's Vote More

2009-05-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

My proposal for statewide quarterly elections (in place of our current system) appears in today's Los Angeles Times.

NPR's Morning Edition

2009-05-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to an NPR "Morning Edition" piece on California's budget predicament in which I'm quoted.

On KPBS, Talking Budget

2009-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to podcast of my appearance on KPBS, San Diego's NPR affiliate, this morning.

Link to Audio of My KCRW Appearance

2009-05-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

If you listen, my appearances on "Which Way, LA?" offer a sort of increasingly dark, increasingly bleak view of California's finances.

Angelenos, See Me Monday

2009-05-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

Channel 35 is replaying my roundtable on the future of the Republican Party (to the extent there is one) on Monday, May 11 at 1:30 and 8 p.m.