Los Angeles Times Columnists

As a member of Congress, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) is proud to stand up for the principles of limited government and individual responsibility. The first-term congressman expresses skepticism about such safety-net programs as food stamps, regarding...

The U.S. economy is improving, yet Congress seems still to be in the grip of the delirium that shrinking the deficit in the near term is still a matter of paramount urgency. That's what's prevented lawmakers from dealing with their real task, which is...

Tommy Davis, whose name oozes excellence and tradition among Dodgers fans, doesn't go to Dodger Stadium much these days. "I like my refrigerator too much," he says. But the 74-year-old Davis, once the gold standard of left fielders, will be on the...

It's news when government identifies a genuine problem and takes reasoned steps to solve it. So here's news: The Obama administration has a plan to fix the broken U.S. patent system. The White House outlined the plan last week in a presentation...

There may be lots of questions yet to be answered about Southern California Edison's permanent shutdown of its San Onofre nuclear plant, but here are a couple about which there's no doubt. Who's responsible? Edison, 100%. Accept no argument that it...

BALTIMORE — Horse racing's Preakness is a place of history and a bubble of hope. If you come here with a Kentucky Derby victory under your belt, as trainer Shug McGaughey and Orb have, you have little time to appreciate that history. You are...

CHICAGO — When the Angels got Josh Hamilton following the Dodgers' signing of Zack Greinke, owner Arte Moreno emerged from hiding, took a bow and told everyone: "Think about how much fun it's going to be. Dodger fans and Angels fans get to argue...

Whatever Mike Scioscia is being paid to manage the Angels, it isn't enough. He has to watch them play every game. And as bad and disappointing as they have been, going on four years now, it's baseball. Have you tried watching it recently? Have you...

RATHOLE, Tenn. — Made it. Got a ride back to the hotel Thursday night after the Clippers' collapse, the final 10 yards covered on foot in a dash to the door. It was touch and go, but bravery won out. On Friday, there was daylight here. So I took...

It's beginning to look like there's nothing Wendy Greuel wouldn't do to become the next mayor of Los Angeles. Her boatload of big-money backers seems fond of trash-talking gibes so slimy, they're apt to backfire and turn voters off. -------------------...

AUGUSTA, Ga. — In the aftermath of Friday's controversial slow-play penalty at the Masters, there were many dueling opinions. We'll go with "Bravo, John Paramor." He is the rules official from England, affectionately (or otherwise) known as Big...

Washington's tug of war over the federal budget has many wonders, but the biggest one of all must be the lengths to which politicians and pundits will go to deprive Granny and Grandpa of $30 a month. That's the amount by which benefits for the average...