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The Latest Articles by George Skelton

George Skelton: Trump's promise to do away with mail voting shows how out of touch he is with America

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — If reelected, former President Donald Trump promises to ban mail balloting, allow only one day for voting and finish counting on election night.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Trump running in 2024 is a dream come true for Democrats. He's the weakest candidate out there

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Our long national nightmare is … continuing.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Being mayor is different from being a legislator. But Bass has shined in every political job

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Back when she was a legislative leader, one rare quality that impressed me about Karen Bass was her candor in admitting ignorance about a complex subject.

Los Angeles Times

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George Skelton: After Democratic infighting and a tense election, Robert Rivas will be California's next Assembly speaker

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — One of California's most important elections last week was held behind closed doors with only 63 voters. They elected the next state Assembly speaker.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Newsom's resounding win shows he didn't even have to run a race for governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — What Gov. Gavin Newsom did was truly unprecedented. He handily won his reelection race without running.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Newsom said 'It's time to stop pointing fingers and join hands' on homelessness. That means him too

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As he approaches a second term, Gov. Gavin Newsom is scolding local governments for failing to conquer homelessness. But he should be pointing his finger in a mirror.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: 'Eye-popping' new survey on Americans' acceptance of political violence should be a wake-up call to leaders

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Roughly 5 million Americans would be willing to kill someone to achieve a political purpose, according to a new UC Davis study.

Los Angeles Times

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George Skelton: Yes to abortion rights and arts education: How I'm voting on California ballot propositions

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Here is a final unvarnished, admittedly biased summary of the seven propositions on the state ballot.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: California voters don't like where the state's headed. But they still want Newsom in office

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Most California voters think the state is headed in the wrong direction, yet they intend to reelect the governor who's leading us there. That seems wrongheaded.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Propositions 28 and 31 are the easiest 'yes' votes on the California ballot. They both benefit kids

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two propositions on the state ballot may be the easiest "yes" votes you'll ever find. Both help kids.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: De Leon embodied the American dream. After racist audio leak, he's living a political nightmare

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Back when he led the state Senate, currently disgraced Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León acknowledged growing up with "a chip on my shoulder," thinking "I wasn't good enough, maybe."

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: In the hands of politicians, redistricting can be poisonous. The cure is an independent commission

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The hateful, racist conversation secretly recorded among Los Angeles City Council members illustrates a reality: Self-interest redistricting brings out the worst in politicians.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: De León and Cedillo abetted Martinez's racist talk. Now they're paying the political price

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The first step toward purging racism from our midst is to not talk like a racist.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Proposition 29 would stiffen requirements for California dialysis clinics. It's also political extortion

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Political extortion was not what reformers intended when they created California's system of direct democracy 111 years ago.

Los Angeles Times

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Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Newsom wants to tax oil companies for soaring gas prices. It'll be a bumpy road for motorists no matter what

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When gas prices rise, it instantly fuels political rhetoric about price gouging and the need to help motorists pay at the pump. It's as automatic as pushing the starter button and hearing the engine crank up.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Republican Dahle is likable, level-headed and highly respected. But he won't win California governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The first thing to know about the Republican candidate for California governor is that he's a good guy, not a jerk or a crackpot.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Newsom breaks from fellow Democrats and aligns with the enemy on Lyft-backed Prop. 30

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This is very rare: a California governor on the opposite side of his state party on a major public policy issue.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Optometrists, ophthalmologists square off over bill to expand role of primary care eye doctors

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — There's a nonsensical disconnect in California's efforts to provide universal health care. There aren't enough doctors willing to accept the state's small fees for treating low-income patients.

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Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Voters are turned off by Props. 26 and 27. Racing tracks should pick a better horse next time

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — You'd never know it from the incessant TV ads, but troubled horse racing would greatly benefit from a sports betting initiative on the November ballot.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Unexpected humor and 'a spot of gin': Queen Elizabeth II's Sacramento visit remembered

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The tale about Queen Elizabeth II sipping gin in California's state Capitol needs some fleshing out. And here it is:

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: When Reagan hosted Queen Elizabeth and Jerry Brown met with 'cool' Prince Charles in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Americans reject monarchism. It's in our DNA. But Queen Elizabeth II was one monarch most Americans respected and admired. She had grace and grit — lifelong characteristics that were brightly displayed on a venturous trip to California in 1983.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Newsom enjoys his most successful legislative session yet with wins on climate, Diablo Canyon

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Despite lots of private grousing about him, Gov. Gavin Newsom emerged a big winner at the end of the California Legislature's two-year session.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Newsom skipped meeting with UFW leaders. Now he should sign California's farmworker union bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In 1966, Gov. Pat Brown made a politically tone-deaf mistake with Cesar Chavez's farmworkers union. This year, Gov. Gavin Newsom repeated the goof. Brown redeemed himself. Newsom probably won't.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: California legislators push politics aside to get a big housing deal done

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When a legislature operates the way it should, big things can happen.

Los Angeles Times

George Skelton: Pour more money and planning into renewable energy — and keep Diablo Canyon running if needed

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The dust-up at the state Capitol over nuclear power is the direct result of politicians either setting unrealistic goals or failing to plan — or both.

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