Reforming California’s recall system gets close look

by JOHN HOWARD posted 09.15.2021

A woman casts an early ballot in the recall election at L.A.'s Union Station. (Photo: Ringo Chiu, via Shutterstock)

The word “recall” dominated California politics this year, but it’s not over: The recall may go before voters again, this time in the form of a reform measure placed on the statewide ballot by lawmakers. The proposed reform stems, in part, from complaints — mostly, but not entirely from Democrats — that California’s recall process is deeply flawed, allowing a replacement candidate with scant voter support to become governor.

Opinion

California must protect unaccompanied immigrant children

Demonstrators at a 2019 protest in San Francisco show photos of immigrant children who died in custody without adequate care. (Photo: Suzette Leg Anthony, via Shutterstock)

by MARIA RAMIU, CINDY LIOU and JACKIE GONZALEZ posted 09.17.2021

OPINION: The California Legislature has taken an important to protect unaccompanied immigrant children by passing AB 1140, the Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Protections Act. The bill guarantees that unaccompanied migrants cared for in California-licensed residential facilities and homes are safe and have the same rights as all other children in these facilities.

News

Stem cell ‘magical miracles’ possible — but at a hefty price

An illustration of DNA being injected into a stem cell. (Image: Spectral-Design, via Shutterstock)

by DAVID JENSEN posted 09.13.2021

The folks in Orange Cove in California’s agriculturally rich Central Valley care about the cost of health care. It is part of their struggle each day as they try to live on $27,000 a year, the lowest median household income of any town in the Golden State. Over in Oakland at the headquarters of the $12 billion state stem cell agency, the folks there are also worried about the cost of health care, particularly cell and gene therapies that may well cost upwards of $2 million.

Opinion

California a key player in federal health care debate

by ANTHONY WRIGHT posted 09.16.2021

OPINION: Health care is once again front and center in Congress. And once again Californians will play a critical role in the federal budget debate that could result in the biggest expansion of help to access, afford, and improve health coverage since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act.

News

Poll: Voters back recall provision in state law, but reforms needed

Official paperwork for California's recall election.(Photo: Matt Gush, via Shutterstock)

by MARK DiCAMILLO posted 09.13.2021

Institute of Governmental Studies: By a resounding three-to-one margin (75% to 24%) voters describe the recall provision as a good thing. This view is held by majorities of all political stripes, although Democrats and liberals express somewhat greater reticence, with greater than one in three viewing it as a bad thing.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: The Recall – Jonathan Brown predicts

by Capitol Weekly Staff posted 09.12.2021

We sat down on Friday for a chat about the looming Recall election with Jonathan Brown, president of Sextant Strategies & Research, a Democratic polling firm based in Southern California. He offers his thoughts on the state of the race, what the Recall says about the parties and even offers his estimate on the final numbers.

Opinion

When It comes to wildlife crossings, California must catch up

A mule deer with sunflowera in a mountain meadow. (Photo: Tom Reichner, via Shutterstock)

by TIFFANY YAP posted 09.14.2021

OPINION: Roads and development create massive barriers for wildlife. Mountain lions, desert tortoises, California tiger salamanders and many other creatures have watched their home turf shrink. Building or upgrading wildlife crossings and preserving existing habitat can go a long way toward saving the state’s most imperiled species.

News

Recall poll: Motivated Democrats flex political muscle

Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at a Sept. 5 anti-recall rally at Culver City High School. (Photo: Max Elram, via Shutterstock)

by MARK DiCAMILLO posted 09.10.2021

Institute of Governmental Studies: The tide of likely voter preferences in this year’s gubernatorial recall election has turned. The latest Berkeley IGS Poll, completed earlier this week among a sample of nearly 10,000 registered voters across California, finds just 38.5% of those most likely to participate in the recall election now intending to vote Yes to recall Governor Gavin Newsom, while 60.1% say they will be voting No to support his retention.

News

‘Religious’ exemptions complicate looming vaccine mandates

The Mission Carmel Church in Monterey County. (Photo: jejim, via Shutterstock)

by MARK KREIDLER, Kaiser Health News posted 09.09.2021

In Northern California, the pastor of a megachurch hands out religious exemption forms to the faithful. A New Mexico state senator will “help you articulate a religious exemption” by pointing to the decades-old use of aborted fetal cells in the development of some vaccines. And a Texas-based evangelist offers exemption letters to anyone — for a suggested “donation”