Susannah Kopecky

News maven interested in politics, history, language, law, and information organization. Has contributed to numerous publications and served as copy editor and editor-in-chief for several news publications.

Schwarzenegger fights Democrats over Maldonado confirmation

The old animosity between the governor and state representatives was on full display again over the nomination and confirmation of Santa Maria Republican State Senate representative Abel Maldonado to the

By Susannah Kopecky

February 15, 2010

Sin tax reduces smoking, but creates deep deficit for key public health program

Extra taxes on such goods as alcohol and tobacco are sometimes referred to as “sin taxes,” since, as the name suggests, they are seen as vices. When buying a loaf

By Susannah Kopecky

February 12, 2010

University of California Fall 2010 admission rates set to rise

Are things looking slightly better for incoming undergraduates next fall? Perhaps, if early findings are to be believed. According to the University of California, the preliminary estimate that 2,300

By Susannah Kopecky

February 8, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger praises California and promises recovery

What’s your favorite state in the nation? The answer is California! That is the message Governor Schwarzenegger has been trying to send out to potential business owners and investors

By Susannah Kopecky

February 5, 2010

Republicans may surprise Democrats in 2010 elections

California, a Republican bastion?! Don’t act so shocked, it’s happened before. Remember a certain two-term, incredibly popular Republican President of the United States, whose name is still

By Susannah Kopecky

February 1, 2010

Considering the potential consequences of marijuana legalization

Do you think California has reached the point where it’s not only OK to turn a blind eye to drug use, but drug use should be legalized? It’s

By Susannah Kopecky

January 29, 2010

Does campaign finance favor the wealthy?

Do the rich really get an advantage in the typical political race? A recent editorial pointed to Tom Campbell's dropping out of the California gubernatorial race as a

By Susannah Kopecky

January 25, 2010

$10,000 tax credit for homebuyers

Did you expect taxes to increase or decrease for 2010? If you are a homeowner and/or formerly unemployed, and the governor is successful in a new initiative, you may

By Susannah Kopecky

January 18, 2010

The Budget and what's fair

It is officially Mid-January 2010, and California is still nearly $20 billion short in budgetary funds. $19.9 billion is a lot of money, and so it makes sense

By Susannah Kopecky

January 11, 2010

Congress's Irritable Earmarks

In the quietly passed omnibus spending bill (say goodbye to billions and billions of your tax dollars!), more than a half million was dedicated to... research equipment for Los Angeles&

By Susannah Kopecky

December 15, 2009

Still Not In the Clear…

On Thursday, December 10, a California judge declared null a pact which would have allowed Imperial Valley water suppliers (such as the Imperial Irrigation District) to sell up to 100

By Susannah Kopecky

December 13, 2009

Debate, Not Vandalism, To Address University Budget

During the late evening hours of Friday, December 11, somewhere between 40 and 70 protestors rallied outside of UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau’s home, leaving such damage in their

By Susannah Kopecky

December 13, 2009