George Skelton

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When private enterprise cannot — or will not — provide a vital public service, then it is government's responsibility to step up. In the last century, a growing California desperately needed reliable water deliveries, so state, federal and local governments responded with massive projects. When we needed...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Let's be clear: The state budget the California Legislature just passed is a payroll protection program — for the Legislature. But it's also much more. And it doesn't mean the budget should cynically be dismissed as a sham, the way it is in much of the media. It's very real with many significant elements — like them or not.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks the federal judge who tossed out California's assault weapons ban is "a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby and the National Rifle Association." Last year, the same judge blocked California's attempt to require background checks for ammunition buyers. The fact that San...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento's vault is overflowing with tax money, and a big chunk of it should be spent on efforts to reduce shooting deaths. A tiny fraction of it will be, under plans by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers who control the Legislature. But a lot more should.

If we really want to reduce mass shootings — all gun violence — we've got to become snitches on our co-workers, family members and maybe exes. When they're acting scary — threatening people, talking about wanting to kill, beating up someone — we've got to rat them out to law enforcement.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – When Sierra snow seeps into the ground or evaporates before it can flow downstream into reservoirs, you know California is facing a severe drought. It's happening this spring up and down the mountain range that is a primary water source for the state. Water from snowmelt that...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom's massive state budget proposal that he has been bragging about all over California is taking hard hits from Sacramento's neutral referee. Every contest needs an unbiased ref. And that role is handled in the state Capitol by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office. No player...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Some California political jockeying last week reminded me of a classic scene from the first Indiana Jones movie. In 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," a scary, robed swordsman whirls his shiny machete-like weapon, preparing to duel the seemingly defenseless Indiana, played by Harrison Ford. Instead, Indiana calmly draws a pistol and drops the flashy swordsman.