Bill Bloomfield on Current Issues

The LA Times recently published an Op Ed challenging the merits of the top-two election system.  My letter to the editor in response was published today and follows below: Why the Harris-Sanchez Senate race is a good argument for California’s top-two system Larry N. Gerston is correct that our state is heading toward one-party rule, but his… Continue reading →

Peggy Noonan, three years before 9-11, practically predicted the very tragedy that was to unfold.   In a Forbes magazine article titled “There is No Time, There Will Be Time” published in the fall of 1998, she lamented the fact that a terrorist attack was going to occur in New York or Washington DC, our elected officials knew… Continue reading →

It will be some time before I have great-grandchildren – my eldest grandchild just turned six.  But I know that my great-granddaughter won’t like the Iran nuclear deal for the same reason I don’t like political deals that trade unsustainable pensions for labor peace, nor corporate deals that lay people off in order to meet… Continue reading →

Last Thursday, Steve Glazer was sworn into the California State Senate to represent the San Francisco Bay Area’s 7th Senatorial District. The state’s pundits and insiders had originally predicted this dramatic political event would never happen.  Steve’s election is considered a game-changer by many. Although a life-long Democrat and political ally of Governor Brown, Glazer dared… Continue reading →

Friends, I don’t normally do this, but I want to ask you for an important favor. There is a remarkable and courageously independent reformer named Steve Glazer who is running in a major special election for a California State Senate seat. This contest is considered by many – including me – to be the single most… Continue reading →

Recently the Los Angeles Times editorialized that although the jury was still out on California’s top-two primary, they were encouraged with the results thus far.  My letter to the Times, which was published last Saturday, follows below.   I believe that our top-two system of Open Primaries is transforming this state for the better – and providing every… Continue reading →

There was a lot of press over the holidays about the cyberattack on Sony Entertainment and the effect on their Christmas day release of the Hollywood movie “The Interview.”  Most of the press focused on the celebrity gossip aspect of the released private emails.  But the very important story should not be overlooked:  We are at risk… Continue reading →

Excerpted from the Los Angeles Times Political donor Bill Bloomfield aims to be altruistic ‘counterweight By Jean Merl December 7, 2014 Ask Bill Bloomfield why he lavished…on an assortment of candidates in this year’s elections and the retired businessman brings up the billboard he and his dad had erected on Santa Monica Boulevard back in… Continue reading →

Often times, I have talked about the need for campaign finance reform to prohibit special interests’ influence over our elected officials.  Until that reform happens, we have spent some of our resources to help get the message out for some highly ethical and intelligent candidates who will put the public’s interests ahead of special interests.  We… Continue reading →

I am sometimes asked – usually by reporters or newspaper columnists – why Susan and I are spending so much of our personal resources on political campaigns – especially when it comes to helping two individuals in particular. Here’s why: Our current system discourages good people from running for public office. I think many of… Continue reading →

Take a quick view of the enclosed video – but warning:  it’s not politics as usual!  It’s a bit fresh, certainly entertaining, and even better…it gets the point across on an extremely important subject. (click the video player to view or click here) The choice for California’s Superintendent of Public Schools is a crucial one.  It’s shameful that… Continue reading →

It’s been almost 13 years, and the horror of 9/11 is receding as a memory for many of us. But the latest news from Ukraine and the Middle East is a sobering reminder that we live in a dangerous, and sometimes even barbaric, world. America must be both vigilant and visionary in anticipating and preventing… Continue reading →

Inevitably, you’ve heard news reports showing the violent bloodshed occurring in Gaza & Israel, the brutality of the Syrian civil war, the violent ISIS takeover of Iraqi cities, the conflict in Ukraine and the very real threat of North Korean and Iranian nuclear arsenals.  Many Americans take a (false) sense of security that these things… Continue reading →

We were honored through our family foundation to be able to introduce the ST Math program, a spatial-temporal program that helps students improve their achievement in mathematics, to all of the elementary students in the Azusa school district this past year. An article in the local newspaper interviewed school officials about it and observed students… Continue reading →

For some, politics is a hobby.  For others, it is a career.  For us, it’s much more important than either of those two things.  As we have just finished the “primary election season,” we wanted to share with you why we got so involved in some of our local and statewide races. We believe that… Continue reading →

In January I wrote about the ground breaking civil rights lawsuit, Vergara VS. California, that challenged several statutes as violating students’ constitutional rights to an equal quality education. https://www.billbloomfield.com/a-crucial-civil-rights-case-for-californias-children-jan-22-2014 This morning, the judge ruled in favor of the children on all counts! What this means is simple: Our students not only deserve a quality education, but it… Continue reading →

Why are the Government Unions spending millions to destroy a good man? Because they know Marshall Tuck will stand up to the Sacramento status quo and put kids ahead of their special interests.  Marshall Tuck has a proven track record as an educator and school executive who turned around some of the most troubled public… Continue reading →

The LA Times recently wrote an editorial calling for special tax treatment for the film industry, as the majority of movies are now shot out of state — certainly disappointing for a state famous for being the birthplace and nexus of the film industry. But are we to lament only the loss of this industry when California ranks dead… Continue reading →

There’s no spinning the sad facts about California’s schools. Our students are ranked 45th in the nation in reading and math proficiency. 2.5 million children – one out of every three students in California – aren’t able to read or write at grade level. We’re failing our children, but there is hope. His name is Marshall Tuck. Marshall… Continue reading →

The San Francisco Chronicle recently published an editorial that revealed that the California Teachers Association, one of our state’s most powerful special interest groups, compels candidates to answer yes or no to 39 questions on education before the organization will consider an endorsement. As the paper states, the preferred answers to these questions are obvious in order… Continue reading →

It’s not high profile so it may not seem like it, but California’s Secretary of State is an awfully important office. The Secretary of State office (SOS for short) is responsible for running elections and making sure they are fair and honest, encouraging our citizens to vote and be educated on the issues and candidates,… Continue reading →

Even though I’ve decided not to seek office myself as a candidate this year, I still care passionately about the critical issues that impact all of us and will determine the future of our state, nation and world. Despite all the cynicism about the political system, our votes do count and can make a real… Continue reading →

Two years ago, I decided to run for Congress to fight against the excessive partisanship which has done so much damage to our nation by grid locking progress. I also wanted to 1) set an example as an Independent (No Party Preference) candidate, thus encouraging other Independents in California to take advantage of our open… Continue reading →

Today, one of America’s longest serving public servants unexpectedly announced he is retiring from Congress – an institution he’s been a member of for the past 40 years. Over the last two years, I’ve gotten to know Congressman Waxman – first as his opponent, then a constituent, and finally, on a more personal level through… Continue reading →

President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union to Congress and America earlier this week. Predictably, Democrats cheered the President’s remarks while Republicans denounced them. On some issues, the President offered areas where there’s a real possibility to work jointly across the aisle – immigration, tax reform, retirement accounts, energy and infrastructure. Unfortunately, in… Continue reading →

Next week the ground breaking civil rights lawsuit, Vergara VS. California, will be heard in Los Angeles Superior Court. The stakes could not be higher: Does California’s Constitution ensure all our children have a fundamental right to equality in education? This court case challenges five statutes of California’s education code which prevent many of our… Continue reading →

Last Friday, the government issued the employment report for December. To the surprise of economists, who had expected payrolls to swell by approximately 200,000 jobs, only 74,000 jobs were added to the economy. That’s only 37% of what was forecast by the experts. The unemployment rate dropped from 7 percent in November to 6.7 percent… Continue reading →

In Case You Missed It – Former Secretary Robert Gates has published a new book in which he is critical of American foreign and defense policy in the Middle East. This reinforces my concerns about the continued safety of Israel and even, ultimately, the United States. Please read the article below for more information. Bill… Continue reading →

I’d like to share with you some thoughts on New Year’s resolutions for our country: For President Obama: Less campaigning and more governing. Fire the White House political staff, starting with the pollsters, and do not replace them. You’re not running again, and the endless partisan politics diminishes you. For the Republicans in Congress: Challenge… Continue reading →

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn has just released his annual “Wastebook” which outlines 100 examples of federal government spending totaling $30 billion he calls wasteful. Few on Capitol Hill actually bother to go through the entire federal budget line-by-line to find and summarize these expenditures that Congress has funded. Some of them are ridiculous, and some… Continue reading →

The recent passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela provides us with an opportunity to reflect on powerful lessons about life, humanity, forgiveness and transcending the pettiness of politics. Nelson Mandela’s example is one that all Americans, particularly our elected leaders, should keep in mind during these difficult and exceptionally divisive times in our… Continue reading →

Two years ago, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB109, legislation which was titled “Public Safety Realignment” into law. The legislation was prompted by federal judges ordering a dramatic reduction in the number of state prison inmates. As the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation explained, “The law accomplished this by increasing the ‘good time’ credits for inmates participating… Continue reading →

So, does the deal “cut off Iran’s more likely path to a bomb” as President Obama claims, or does it “make the world a much more dangerous place” as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu claims? While the world hopes and prays the President is right, history is on Bibi’s side. According to Obama, the… Continue reading →

I’m deeply concerned about a potential “bad” deal with Iran on nuclear weapons development that could ultimately endanger both the United States and the safety of Israel. I believe we need even tougher economic sanctions against Iran in order to gain meaningful concessions from Tehran. I thought you might find the following column on this… Continue reading →

It is no surprise to those paying close attention that not everyone was going to be able to keep his or her health insurance once the Affordable Care Act kicked in. After all, one of the perceived benefits of Obama Care was setting a minimal level of benefits that all health insurance plans had to… Continue reading →

Last week I forwarded to you an unprecedented email from the United Way of Greater Los Angeles asking citizens to contact the L.A. Unified Board of Education and urge them to keep education reformer John Deasy on as the Superintendent. According to the LA Times, hundreds of parents, teachers and activists rallied outside of LAUSD offices… Continue reading →

The students of Los Angeles urgently need you to take immediate action. Please see the email below from Elise Buik, the CEO of the United Way of Greater LA. I hope you will join us in reaching out to the school board members listed to demand that they keep the proven education reformer John Deasy… Continue reading →

A default on our national debt was barely avoided and the partial shutdown of the government has ended – for now. Congress and the President reached a temporary deal which funds government through January 15th and raises the debt limit until February 7th. So all too soon, we may be back to dysfunction, gridlock and political brinkmanship by… Continue reading →

Last night, the United States Congress voted at the last minute to avert a default by the American government. Economists warned that failure to do so could have had a negative economic impact larger than the Great Recession of 2008. Who’s responsible for creating a situation where the government shut down for over two weeks… Continue reading →

The shutdown of the Federal government is now in its second week – with no end in sight. Even worse, the United States is in danger of defaulting on its debt as the deadline for Congress to raise the nation’s debt ceiling is fast approaching without any prospects for resolution. Instead of statesmanship and thoughtful… Continue reading →

Once again, excessive partisanship is hurting our nation and damaging our economy. Continued dysfunctional politics in Washington has led to a government shutdown. It’s time to call a truce to the political bickering. No Labels, a bi-partisan political reform organization I helped co-found, is promoting a plan offered by former Republican Governor Jon Huntsman of… Continue reading →

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A recent development in Los Angeles gives new meaning to a question that some have dared ask before: What are each of us willing to do to achieve better schools? This past week, LA Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Jaime Aquino resigned his key position, and according to the Los Angeles Times, called the Los… Continue reading →

The nation’s – and the world’s – attention is focused on the President, Congress and Syria. What the United States decides to do – or not do – could have a significant impact on the proliferation of chemical weapons, the security of Israel, the American role in the Middle East, and our relationship with Iran,… Continue reading →

Regardless of whether you think Congress should support or oppose President Obama’s request for authorization to conduct air strikes against Syria, it seems most of us can agree that this has not been the President’s finest hour. I have supported the President’s handling of a number of issues – but I can’t on this one.… Continue reading →

I appreciate Matt Damon’s acting and many of his movies. He’s a talented actor. But when it comes to improving schools in California and the nation, I don’t know what he’s thinking! Matt Damon made news recently for his opposition to required student testing, even though this testing helps us measure the quality of the… Continue reading →

Do you agree with President Obama that our kids deserve the best teachers so they can get the best education possible? California’s politicians don’t. In fact, California is one of the only states refusing to comply with the President’s efforts to grade the performance of teachers and use that information to reward our best teachers.… Continue reading →

Los Angeles County has long been considered the homeless capital of the nation. That’s a sad distinction we need to change. There are more than 9,000 veterans who are homeless on our streets. This is a shameful fact. These veterans have already sacrificed much. But when they return home, too often they lack the support… Continue reading →

As we prepare to celebrate the 237th anniversary of the day our nation declared its independence, let us remember how blessed we are to live in the greatest democracy in the history of mankind, but also how precious and fragile are those freedoms. Protecting those rights for ourselves and for future generations is a never-ending… Continue reading →

Several years ago I registered as an Independent and was an early member of the non-partisan organization, “No Labels”, which is dedicated to ending hyper-partisanship in Congress, because I believed both major parties were failing the American people. They have been more focused on partisan political games than solving the serious issues challenging our nation’s… Continue reading →

Last year, as a candidate for Congress, I advocated having the United States and its NATO allies establish a “No Fly Zone” over Syria. I believed such a policy to prevent the Syrian government from using its air power to brutally slaughter its own civilians was not only the humane thing to do, but would… Continue reading →

The three scariest letters in the English language are IRS. It’s intimidating enough to have to deal with the IRS on the most mundane of tax matters. But scary takes on a whole new meaning when the possibility exists that the massive power of the Internal Revenue Service could be used in a political manner… Continue reading →

Whether you have a child or know a child who attends a school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, you are affected by what happens in the largest school district in the state. Hundreds of thousands of children attend school in LAUSD. Too many are trapped in a school that is simply not doing… Continue reading →

I want to take this opportunity to update you on some important developments – and Congressman Henry Waxman’s role in them – at both the national and local level in recent weeks that impact our nation’s finances and the quality of California’s public schools. The Good After four years, the United States Senate finally passed… Continue reading →

I’d like to draw your attention to a real victory for reform that occurred this past weekend. The United States Senate finally passed a federal budget after four years of failing to do so. This budget was passed through the Senate after many delays and by only one vote – 50 to 49. Yet, this… Continue reading →

Community leader, local businessman, philanthropist and former Independent Congressional Candidate Bill Bloomfield today announced that he is enthusiastically endorsing Kate Anderson for the District 4 seat on the Los Angeles Unified School Board in the March 5th election. Anderson is a parent, the founder of a non-profit child advocacy organization that works statewide on education… Continue reading →

Last week the Sacramento Bee newspaper ran an opinion piece I wrote about how recent political reforms I worked hard to pass are shaking up California politics and making politicians more accountable. This is good news for all of us, regardless of party. In case you missed it, I’ve included a copy of the op-ed… Continue reading →