Editorials and other writings

This is a list of my other professional writings, including newspaper editorials and research summaries for online webpages.

“Political Parties Create the Conditions that Mobilize Interesr Groups – Especially on the Left.” American Politics and Policy Blog at the London School of Economics, 2025.

“New California Law will Set Valley Water Targets. Can We Meet the Goal?” (with Laura Ramos and Cordie Qualle) Fresno Bee and Sacramento Bee, November 1, 2025.

“Using Floodwaters to Combat Groundwater Loss in Fresno and the Central Valley” (with Laura Ramos and Cordie Qualle) Fresno Bee, July 17, 2025.

Review of Hearings on the Hill: The Politics of Informing Congress by Pamela Ban, Ju Yeon Park, and Hye Young You (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2024). Interest Groups & Advocacy 14(2): 159-161.

“Often-Criticized SGMA is State’s Response to Ag’s Overpumping of Groundwater” (with Laura Ramos and Cordie Qualle) Fresno Bee, October 27, 2024.

“Red Tape is Getting in the Way of Storing More Water Underground. The State Must Lead“ (with Laura Ramos and Cordie Qualle) Sacramento Bee and Fresno Bee, July 27, 2024.

“California’s Antiquated Water Laws Need Updating to Make Use of Flood Flows” (with Cordie Qualle and Laura Ramos) Fresno Bee, Valley Voices, December 28, 2023.

“California’s Historic Water Rights Come Under Scrutiny, and That’s a Good Thing.” (with Cordie Qualle and Laura Ramos) Fresno Bee, Valley Voices, August 13, 2023.

Review of How Policies Make Interest Groups: Governments, Unions, and American Education, by Michael T. Hartney. Interest Groups & Advocacy 12(1): 112-114.

“America’s Politics are Awash in Money. Duty for Wise Choices Falls to Voters.” Fresno Bee, Civics 101 Series, April 2, 2022.

“Our Lobbyists Don’t Always Advocate for What We Want Them To.” American Politics and Policy Blog at the London School of Economics and Politics, 2022.

“Why Congress is Our Most Dysfunctional Branch.” Fresno Bee, Civics 101 Series, January 16, 2022.

“With latest COVID surge, CSU must require students, staff to get vaccinated before the fall.” (with Melanie Ram, Blain Roberts, and Ethan Kytle). Fresno Bee July 23, 2021.

“Neopluralism” in Palgrave Encyclopedia of Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Public Affairs, eds. Phil Harris, Alberto Bitonti, Craig Fleisher, and Anne Skorkjaer Binderkrantz. London: Palgrave, 2020.

“Pluralism” in Palgrave Encyclopedia of Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Public Affairs, eds. Phil Harris, Alberto Bitonti, Craig Fleisher, and Anne Skorkjaer Binderkrantz. London: Palgrave, 2020.

“Why We Should Blame Elected Officials, Not Interest Groups, for Spiraling State Spending and Debts.“  American Politics and Policy Blog at the London School of Economics and Politics, 2019.

“Academics, Athletics Rise Together, but Academics come First at Fresno State” with Kevin Macey-Ayotte.  Editorial in the Fresno Bee, April 12, 2018.

“Lobbying is Growing in the US – More Information May Be the Best Regulation” with Timothy M. LaPira.  American Politics and Policy Blog at the London School of Economics and Politics, 2017 (reprinted in Newsweek and Lobbying Italia).

“Draining the Swamp or Cultivating the Wetlands? Toward Evidence-Based Lobbying Regulation and Reform” with Timothy M. LaPira.  Introduction to a special issue of Interest Groups & Advocacy 6(October, 2017): 195 – 198.

“Lobbying” and “Iron Triangle” definitions in the Encyclopedia of Money in Politics, ed. David A. Schultz.  Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2017.

“‘Dark Money’ Political Speech Should be in the Public Square.” Editorial in the Fresno Bee, May 29, 2016.

“Money, Speech, and Oligarchy in U.S. Politics.”  Editorial in the Fresno Bee, September 30, 2015.

“Without Reforms, Ethical Lobbying in Congress May Remain the Exception.“  American Politics and Policy Blog at the London School of Economics and Politics, 2015.

“Let’s Shine a Light on Dark Money Matters.”  Editorial in the Fresno Bee, January 2, 2015.

“Being a Member of an Interest Group Stimulates Political Participation, or At Least Makes It Easier.“  American Politics and Policy Blog at the London School of Economics and Politics, 2013.

Review of Lobbying and Policy Change by F. Baumgartner, J. Berry, M. Hojnacki, D. Kimball, and B. Leech in the Journal of Politics 73(December, 2010).

“Foundations and Future Directions: An Exploration of Competitive Interest Group Politics” in the VOX-POP Newsletter for Political Organizations and Parties, 2009.

“Housing Policy” and “Rider” definitions in the Encyclopedia of American Government and Civics, eds. Lori Cox Han and Michael Genovese.  Facts-On-File, 2008.

“Political System” and “Pressure Groups” definitions in the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd edition, ed. William A. Darity.  Farmington Hills: Thomas-Gale, 2008.

“Exploring Competition and Bargaining Among Interest Group Lobbyists in Washington.”  PS: Political Science and Politics XXXVIII(October, 2005): 811.