Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo by Associated PressLooking at the last month, it seems Newsom is capturing attention with his new media strategy, and building momentum with his push for mid-decade redistricting. Of course, much of this excitement and enthusiasm has been online and in podcasts – both of which can be different than what is translating down to real California voters.
Image by peterschreiber.mediaA quarter century after the California energy crisis, some supporters of energy deregulation have taken to a new idea: turning over control of the state’s energy grid to a West Coast nonprofit.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We’re joined by Assembly Minority Leader-Elect Heath Flora, who will take over as head of the lower house’s Republican caucus later this month, succeeding Asm. James Gallagher. The collegial, no-drama GOP leadership transition stood in stark contrast to the last two Dem leadership fights – owing at least in part to Flora’s reputation as one of the most well-liked members of the legislature.
Rules an regulations. Image by Bet_Noire.Did you know that the Assembly and Senate Daily Files actually list some rule suspensions (often referred to as “rule waivers”)? While the respective Daily Files contain calendars, tables of information, committee hearings, and legislative measures on the two Floors, they each contain one set of rule suspensions.
Photo by Sundry Photography. Design by Ted AngelHello everyone and welcome to the 17th edition of the Capitol Weekly Top 100. Unlike the heroine of Janis Ian’s classic song about the cruelties life can visit upon us at such a tender age, I’m looking at the seventeenth edition of this list with a sense of optimism.
Photo by Sundry Photography. Design by Ted AngelOur sophomore class for the Capitol Weekly Top 100 Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is our way of honoring a few folks each year whose impact on the Capitol community has been so significant that we must permanently acknowledge and honor them for all they have accomplished in their stellar careers.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Last night we published the 17th edition of Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 – our annual analysis of the unelected political power structure in California. KQED’s Marisa Lagos, co-host of the Political Breakdown podcast and radio show joins us to chat about the list. Lagos has been reporting on California politics for nearly two decades, and is intimately familiar with the Golden State’s political power players – elected and not.
Lobbyist, professor, and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
Cut down day. Image by :Pla2na. The two Appropriations Committees in the California Legislature have a unique procedure they each use called the “Suspense File.” Basically, any bill which has been keyed “fiscal” by the Legislative Counsel is referred to the fiscal committee in each house, called the Appropriations Committee. The vast majority of those bills are placed on the Suspense
Sen. Henry Stern, photo by AP. There seems to be general agreement that it is a good thing to teach students about the horrors of genocide. But SB 472, Sen. Henry Stern’s genocide education bill currently making its way through the Legislature, illustrates how hard it can be to gain consensus on what to cover and how to do it.