Micheli Files

When courts do rely on California legislative debates

Image by NanoStockk

Mainly because legislative committees in the California Legislature have to process so many bills at their limited hearings, there is little public debate, particularly among legislators, regarding bills that are heard in the committees of the State Senate and State Assembly. Nonetheless, there are instances when a legislator’s public statements may be considered by the judiciary.

Rising Stars

Rising Stars: Andrea Amavisca of the California Immigrant Policy Center

Andrea Amavisca, photo by Scott Duncan, Capitol Weekly

Raised as the child of immigrant parents in Imperial County, a rural agricultural region in Southern California nestled along the Mexico border, Andrea Amavisca always understood the value of immigrant rights. While she continues to work in that space, she is now working more closely on where LGBTQ+ rights and immigrant rights intersect.

Podcast

An obscure California commission is about to rewrite the state’s antitrust law

Detail of an illustration by Friedrich Graetz, “The Tournament of Today – A Set-To Between Labor and Monopoly.” 1883. Via Thelibrabry of Congress

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: While California is often seen as being on the forefront of Progressive legislation, the state’s main anti-trust law, The Cartwright Act, dates back to the Roosevelt era – the TEDDY Roosevelt era. That may be about to change. We’re joined by Teri Olle, Director of Economic Security California. She talks about the process of revising The Cartwright Act and why updating it for the 21st Century matters.

News

Capitol Briefs: Storming toward the crossover deadline

Sacramento, California, United States. Image by Png-Studio

Friday is the deadline for bills to get out of their house of origin, so this week lawmakers are addressing hundreds of bills in short order. Here is just a sampling of some of those measures. 

News

Cal Chamber’s job killer list shrinks, but does its influence?

Image by zimmytws via istock

When the California Chamber of Commerce added Sen. Steve Glazer’s SB 1327 – a proposal to tax revenue from the sale of digital advertising as a way to help fund local newsrooms – to its annual list of “Job Killer” bills on May 7th, the measure became only the 14th this year to receive the designation. If that number doesn’t change, it would mark the fewest number of bills to receive the moniker since 2001, when only 12 bills were on the list.

News

Capitol Weekly’s Top 10 Capitol power couples

The Capitol's Top power couple: Ann Patterson and Nathan Barankin.

In just a few months, Capitol Weekly will unveil its 16th annual Top 100 list recognizing the most influential members of the Capitol community. As we began researching this year’s list, however, we realized that in all our years of the Top 100 we’ve overlooked a critical dynamic of Capitol clout: the Capitol power couple whose combined prominence and rolodex is greater than the sum of their parts. To rectify that, today we publish our first ever Capitol Weekly Top 10 Power Couples, along with three up-and-coming pairs to keep your eyes on.

Micheli Files

Understanding the California APA process

Image by tumsasedgars

California’s Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which is patterned after the federal APA, sets forth the procedures by which the state’s executive branch agencies and departments must adopt regulations. In that vein, there are a few items of interest for those who participate in the rulemaking projects of state agencies.

Podcast

Police Story: Brian Marvel of PORAC

PORAC president Brian Marvel

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We’re joined today by Brian Marvel, President of the Police Officers Research Association of California, which represents about 80,000 public safety personnel in this state – PORAC is the largest law enforcement organization in the state and the largest statewide association in the country. Marvel has been wearing a badge for a quarter century and spoke with us about what’s changed during his time in uniform, PORAC’s goals for diversifying departments and what legislation he and his organization are watching this year.

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