Although still in its infancy, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute has already generated extensive media coverage in connection with its mission and activities.
It's been less than five years since voters approved two critical reforms to California's electoral system. Yet, because of these reforms, we are already seeing significant changes to the state's political landscape - and the changes are positive ones.
One might assume that a legislature that just gained a Democratic supermajority would become more liberal and more combative with business interests. But the opposite happened when Democrats secured two-thirds of all seats in the Senate and Assembly - along with control of the governor's office - in Sacramento in 2013.
One of my proudest moments as governor of California was working with advocates such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters to reform the redistricting process. As in most states, the redistricting process was not serving the people of California, as it was gerrymandered and 99 percent of incumbents were re-elected in the districts they themselves drew. The people of California, as do the people of Indiana and other states, want a political system that benefits the interests of the voters, not one rigged to benefit the interests of politicians.
The theme of a USC Schwarzenegger Institute event last week featuring the former governor, MSNBC political commentator Chris Mathews and Starr was fixing dysfunctional government – whether in Washington or Sacramento.
The USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy and the Sol Price School of Public Policy hosted a conversation between MSNBC host and author Chris Matthews and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday evening in Doheny Memorial Library.
On the University of Southern California campus, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute has worked to bring attention to taking the politics out of policymaking. As part of that mission, Chris Matthews will speak at USC about his book and the importance of learning from Reagan and O’Neil.
The Obamacare rollout in California has been bumpy, but it's running much more smoothly here than in most of America. And for that, we can thank former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
WASHINGTON – Arnold Schwarzenegger made an appearance on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, and the Hollywood actor and former California governor was uncharacteristically disciplined.
Schwarzenegger said his trip to Washington was intended to rally lawmakers against proposed cuts in federal spending for after-school programs.
There is a large and growing body of evidence showing that comprehensive after-school programs help inspire kids to learn and help working families.