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Articles by Frank Russo

The California Progress Report was created and is published by Frank D. Russo, an Oakland attorney who has been active in California politics for 40 years and has served as Chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party. In the 1970’s and 80’s, he worked in the Capitol for Democratic legislators in prominent positions including serving as Legal Counsel to the Speaker of the Assembly. He led a statewide advocacy organization of over 1,000 attorneys in the 1990’s, and has testified on hundreds of bills, proposed regulations, and gubernatorial appointments. Over these years, many of the proposals he has drafted have become California law. He has extensive relationships with statewide officeholders, candidates, organizations, and activists, as well as the media. Mr. Russo graduated cum laude from Yale University with a degree in Political Science and from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

Governor Schwarzenegger: Please Don’t Declare 2009 the Year of Anything
Monday, 1 Dec, 2008 – 12:00 | No Comment
Governor Schwarzenegger: Please Don’t Declare 2009 the Year of Anything

by Frank D. Russo –
For the past several years here in California about this time we begin to learn through leaks or otherwise what our dear Governor’s theme is for the upcoming year. Like the …

Field Poll Released Today Still Shows Prop 8 to Eliminate Same Sex Marriage Rights in California Behind 44% to 49% Despite Massive Advertising Blitz
Friday, 31 Oct, 2008 – 18:00 | No Comment
Field Poll Released Today Still Shows Prop 8 to Eliminate Same Sex Marriage Rights in California Behind 44% to 49% Despite Massive Advertising Blitz

The California Field Poll showing Proposition 8 behind with 44% support and 49% opposition that was released earlier today is making the headlines of the state’s newspapers—and in fact is national news. These results are …

Obama Landslide Predicted in California Field Poll—Largest Margin Since FDR—And There’s More—Effects Seen in Downticket Races
Friday, 31 Oct, 2008 – 14:00 | 3 Comments
Obama Landslide Predicted in California Field Poll—Largest Margin Since FDR—And There’s More—Effects Seen in Downticket Races

The California Field Poll released today shows Barack Obama has widened his lead to a 55% to 33% margin over John McCain with 4% voting for other candidates and 8% undecided amongst likely voters. If …

California: Fade the Red and Cue the Blue—Newly Registered Democratic Voters and Enthusiastic Turnout for Obama May Turn Heads–Downticket Races Ready to Flip
Wednesday, 22 Oct, 2008 – 16:00 | No Comment
California: Fade the Red and Cue the Blue—Newly Registered Democratic Voters and Enthusiastic Turnout for Obama May Turn Heads–Downticket Races Ready to Flip

It is happening across the country, and California is no exception. Democratic voter registration is up, a record turnout of voters is expected, and polls show independent voters trending Democratic and districts once thought safely …

They’d Attack Mother Teresa for Not Having a Real Job to Get Elected—And They Don’t Put Their Country or the Truth First
Thursday, 4 Sep, 2008 – 13:00 | 3 Comments
They’d Attack Mother Teresa for Not Having a Real Job to Get Elected—And They Don’t Put Their Country or the Truth First

An iconic figure in California politics, the Progressive Republican Governor almost a hundred years ago, Hiram Johnson, coined the phrase, “The first casualty of war is the truth.” Well, in reigniting the cultural wars of …

A Bad Time for Budget Cuts to California’s Aged, Disabled, Poor, and Uninsured
Tuesday, 26 Aug, 2008 – 15:43 | No Comment
A Bad Time for Budget Cuts to California’s Aged, Disabled, Poor, and Uninsured

by Frank Russo –
The latest numbers are just in from the United States Census Bureau. According to analyses from the California Budget Project (CBP) they show that for low and middle income Californians there has …

Schwarzenegger Acting the Tough Guy to Cover for His Weakness? Both Houses of California Legislature Meeting This Morning—But Don’t Hold Your Breath
Thursday, 7 Aug, 2008 – 12:03 | No Comment
Schwarzenegger Acting the Tough Guy to Cover for His Weakness? Both Houses of California Legislature Meeting This Morning—But Don’t Hold Your Breath

I was at the Governor’s press conference yesterday afternoon to see and hear directly his announcement that he would veto any bills sent to him before a state budget is passed. You can read his …

Why Service Workers Are On Strike at University of California Campuses and Medical Centers
Tuesday, 15 Jul, 2008 – 18:00 | 2 Comments
Why Service Workers Are On Strike at University of California Campuses and Medical Centers

Over 8,500 service workers represented by AFSCME Local 3299 began striking at ten UC campuses and five medical centers yesterday. They have been negotiating for almost a year for a fair contract, but have remained …

A Banner Year for California Democrats: Better Than the Post Watergate 1976 Election?
Tuesday, 8 Jul, 2008 – 12:00 | No Comment
A Banner Year for California Democrats: Better Than the Post Watergate 1976 Election?

Some astute political observers are seeing a parallel between this year’s general election in California and the elections of 1976 when the Republican Party cratered in the aftermath of Watergate.
I remember 1976 very well. …

California Assembly Passes Foreclosure Reform Bill But More Needed to Protect Future Borrowers from Predatory Loan Practices
Tuesday, 1 Jul, 2008 – 12:41 | 2 Comments
California Assembly Passes Foreclosure Reform Bill But More Needed to Protect Future Borrowers from Predatory Loan Practices

Legislation that would reform the foreclosure process in California for the benefit of homeowners trying to hold on to their homes passed the Assembly today on a 55 to 18 vote, just one vote above …

Digital Divide Most Pronounced With Latinos
Friday, 27 Jun, 2008 – 7:47 | No Comment
Digital Divide Most Pronounced With Latinos

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has released a massive survey today that shows just how important the internet has become to most Californians’ lives and has major implications as to how Californians are …

Failure on California High School Exit Exam Can Be Predicted as Early as the Fourth Grade
Saturday, 14 Jun, 2008 – 8:00 | No Comment
Failure on California High School Exit Exam Can Be Predicted as Early as the Fourth Grade

As we celebrate graduations from high schools all across California, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has released a sobering study, “Predicting Success, Preventing Failure: An Investigation of the California High School Exit Exam,” …

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