Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute for August 5, 2024
Lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Micheli Files
Amending versus revising the California constitution
California justice, image by MehaniqAs a result of the California Supreme Court removing the Taxpayer Protection Act from the November 2024 General Election ballot, attention has been drawn to the distinction between “amending” and “revising” the state Constitution. What is the difference?
Podcast
A chat with Building Trades leader Chris Hannan
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Last year Chris Hannan was named President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, which represents nearly half a million members in the construction trades. Hannan had earlier served as the Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. SBCTC is one of the biggest players in California labor politics, particularly in housing policy. President Hannan joined us to talk about the trades, about his own journey from apprentice pipe fitter to the president’s office and about the role of union construction workers in California’s future.
News
‘Bubble boy’ treatments showing success in spite of funding challenges
David Vetter, aka "the bubble boy," who died in 1984 from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Photo by APAnother child has been treated for a deadly affliction known as the “bubble boy” disease. Dr. Moustache and his “magical team” did have a little help, courtesy of the people of California who put tens of millions of dollars into financing his cell and gene therapy.
Micheli Minute
The Micheli Minute for July 29, 2024
Lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
News
Better know a flack: the Capitol’s best and worst press reps
The scrum Capitol Weekly recently did a very subjective, very unscientific email poll of our fellow journalists who cover the Capitol or other parts of California government to see who they think are the best press reps to deal with. And yes, we also asked who they think…. hmmm, how to put this nicely? … could be better at their job. We granted everyone anonymity so they could speak freely.
Micheli Files
Challenges in California’s lawmaking process
Image by Yuriy KThere is not a single factor that makes lawmaking in California difficult. Instead, it is a combination of factors that impacts resolution of public policy issues by the Legislature and sometimes results in gridlock or lack of success.
Analysis
CA120: Pour one out for the pollsters
Image by Associated PressANALYSIS – The last few weeks have been turbulent to say the least. With the dust starting to settle a bit, Political Data Inc.’s Paul Mitchell has a look inside the numbers to tell us what all this chaos could mean for the upcoming presidential election.
Experts Expound
Experts Expound: The age issue
Psychology Of Aging, image by wildpixelAge played a major role in Joe Biden stepping away from another campaign, but he is just one of many state and federal elected officials of advanced age, including Republican nominee Donald Trump. So the question for our expert panel is this: Should there be an age limit for elected officials?
Podcast
Biden: Out. What now? We ask Paul Mitchell
Kamala Harris speaking with attendees at the 2019 National Forum on Wages and Working People hosted by the Center for the American Progress Action Fund and the SEIU at the Enclave in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Gage Skidmore.CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Political data expert Paul Mitchell has been polling Joe Biden’s support in California since the president’s disastrous debate performance on June 27. The numbers were not pretty for Dems, with Biden underperforming his 2020 results, and appearing to create a drag on support for Dem candidates across the board. Would another candidate be stronger? On Friday, that was a hypothetical question, but no more.