Steven Greenhut is western region director for the R Street Institute and was previously the Union-Tribune's California columnist. He is based in Sacramento.
Steven Greenhut
Latest from Steven Greenhut
Supreme Court Maintains Spotty Civil-Liberties Record
The High Court continues to disappoint civil libertarians.
Dorner Manhunt Reveals Police Contempt for Public Safety
It's sad when people are more worried about the police than they are about a murderer on the loose.
Even California Democrats See Need for Regulatory Reform
Golden State lawmakers reluctantly face the economic facts.
Progressive Failure Is On Full Display in California
Don't follow the disastrous example set by the Golden State.
How Big Government Undermines Freedom and Prosperity
The dangers of viewing government as the be-all-and-end-all of our society.
Jerry Brown's Budget Is a Boon to California Unions
The Golden State governor rewards public-sector workers while ignoring the state's tsunami of debt.
Hiring More Cops Is Not the Answer
Public officials need to consider a wider array of crime-fighting options.
Stop Talking About Freedom and Start Protecting It
Lawmakers pay lip service to liberty while trampling it under foot.
Tough Year Ahead for California Taxpayers and Wealth Producers
The Golden State's big government keeps getting bigger.
California Lawmakers Aim to Restrict Gun Rights
Golden State legislators join the gun control chorus in the wake of Sandy Hook.
Big Government Is Not Your Friend
Private industry creates wealth whereas government efforts only consume it.
Are Conservatives Rethinking their Hostility to Criminal Justice Reform?
Tough-on-crime usually means tough-on-taxpayers.
What the Pot Legalization Victories Mean for the Pro-Freedom Agenda
Voters in Colorado and Washington rejected the reefer madness of the Republicans and Democrats.
Conservatives Cope with Electoral Defeat by Seceding from Reality
Secession isn't the answer to last week's defeat at the ballot box.
California's Deadly Embrace of Big Government
Golden State voters open the gates to an endless flood of tax increases.
Civic Duty Vies With Cynicism as the 2012 Election Approaches
H.L. Mencken said "every election is a sort of advanced auction in stolen goods." He was right.
Police Union Intimidates California City Council
The latest shameless tactics from California's notorious law enforcement unions.
How Government Workers Profit at Taxpayer Expense
The purpose of government is to provide services to the public, not enrich the people who work for it.
The Latest Scam from California's Public-Sector Unions
Golden State lawmakers prepare to shovel more money to well-compensated government workers.
California's Failed Policies Are Driving Away Businesses and Residents
The Golden State needs to mend its ways before it's too late.
Unhappy Californians Still Embrace the Failed Status Quo
High taxes and a union-dominated discourse won't fix the Golden State
California Lawmakers Refuse to Accept Any Limits on Their Power
Only a return to constitutional principles can save the Golden State.
Police Unions Cross Line While Bullying Public Officials
California cops employ mafia-style tactics against their critics.
California Still Refuses to Face Fiscal Reality
What the Golden State can learn from the Badger State
Even in Bankruptcy, Unions Get Special Treatment
The pension-debt time bomb detonates in bankruptcy court.
Why Asset Forfeiture Abuse Is on the Rise
It's time to build a wall of separation between government power and the profit motive.
What the Anaheim Riots Can Teach Other American Cities
It's time to reform the police and cut bureaucratic red tape.
Anaheim Riots Spotlight Need for Broad Police Reform
The city's law enforcement culture values aggressiveness over community policing.
California Goes Bankrupt
One California city after another becomes insolvent as the state's economic crisis worsens.
California's Latest Misguided Attempt to Solve the Housing Crisis
The Golden State's bizarre new mortgage "solutions" won't fix the the problem.
Supreme Court Upholds Fairness in Union-Dues Case
The high court gets it right in Knox v. SEIU
California Lawmakers Push Back Against Police Secrecy
Even the police union-friendly California Senate says enough is enough.
California Ushers In a New Era of Bipartisan Plunder
The Golden State descends to a new low.
The Real Lesson from the Wisconsin Recall
When the issues were clear, voters were rational.
Why Real Progressives Should Support Scott Walker
The case for putting the public good before what's good for public employees
When Government Privileges Trump the Rights of Citizens
California creates a two-tiered system, with government workers on top.
Jerry Brown's Broken Budget
The California governor betrays his promise to deliver an "honest" budget.
How the Kelly Thomas Killing Sparked a Citizen Revolt
The bipartisan movement to reform a broken California city
How Big Government Makes Life Worse
Another day, another story of government waste, fraud, or abuse.
How Big Government Is Killing California
When you've lost the entrepreneurs, free-spirits, and dreamers, you've lost the Golden State.
Are We Sliding Toward a Police State?
Law enforcement officials should not behave like an invading army.
California's Public Transportation Sinkhole
Thanks to labor unions and big-government activists, transportation has become another form of social engineering.
America's Bipartisan Reefer Madness
Both Democrats and Republicans support the pointless federal crackdown on medical marijuana
California Schools Need Radical Reform, Not Tinkering
It's time to redesign the system from the ground up.
