Capitol Weekly released the 2023 Top 100 at our annual Top 100 Party at the Sutter Club. Special guests Asm. Buffy Wicks and former Speaker Robert Hertzberg handled the Countdown from 100 to Number 1 on the Top 100’s first-ever majority-woman list!
Seal of the State of California, image by Aaron KohrANALYSIS – Both the Assembly and Senate of the California Legislature, like other legislative bodies, utilize several rules, as well as customs and practices, for the purpose of ensuring that legislative deliberations and debate operate in a civil and orderly way. The individual house rules, as well as Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, provide guidance in this regard.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We are joined today by Robin Swanson, a political strategist and communications expert with more than 25 years of experience in both DC and Sacramento. She is also the co-founder and president of #WinLikeaGirl, a bipartisan group that spotlights the often unrecognized achievements of women who work in politics.
California Blackjack, image by VictorWardA long-simmering and incredibly convoluted fight over “California Blackjack” may finally be decided in court, thanks to a bill pending in the Legislature. Senate Bill 549 by Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, would give California’s gaming tribes legal standing to sue California cardrooms over an arcane system they employ to offer Blackjack, which the tribes insist is in violation of state law.
DEI hands, image by New AfricaThe California Institute of Regenerative Medicine has strong requirements for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. But there is clinker in the CIRM effort – secrecy.
California law, image by Vitalii VodolazskyiANALYSIS – On occasion, California legislators include statements of intent, or make findings and declarations, in their bills. When reviewing these bills, readers will see that, in most instances, these statements are “uncodified,” meaning that they are not codified (i.e., placed in a Code). In more limited cases, these statements are codified along with the other, substantive statutory provisions. This raises the question whether these legislative statements should be codified or not.
Marketing campaign brand advertisement business strategyAB 868 would seem to be just the kind of proposal the California Clean Money Campaign would support. But on June 19, 2023, Lange wrote to Wilson, telling her that his organization was opposing the bill unless amended because it called for campaign committees to report their online political ads to the FPPC.
Reps. Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff, Katie Porter. Photo courtesy of the U.S. House of RepresentativesDianne Feinstein’s announcement she will not seek another term has sparked a furious three-way battle for the Democratic nomination to replace her. But is there a Republican dark horse in the mix? Or maybe even California Gov. Gavin Newsom? We asked our experts to weigh in.
California law, image by Vitalii VodolazskyiANALYSIS – The Enrolled Bill Rule is based upon the separation of powers doctrine. However, the EBR should not be used anymore to prevent a challenge that constitutional provisions or state statutes were allegedly violated when the Legislature enacted a bill.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis agreed last week to a debate – an odd turn of events given that DeSantis is a presidential candidate, and Newsom is not. We asked longtime Democratic strategist Garry South to weigh in on the pros and cons of the debate, and what’s at stake.