News

Stuart Spencer, 1927 – 2025

President Reagan during a trip via Air Force One to Alabama with Stu Spencer. Series: Reagan White House Photographs. (cropped) 10/15/1984

Stuart K. Spencer, the California political strategist who guided Ronald Reagan’s ascent from Hollywood to the governor’s mansion, and ultimately to the presidency, has died at age 97.

Micheli Files

Types of bill amendments in the California Legislature

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

In the California Legislature, there are several types of amendments that can be made to measures, including bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments. To begin, an amendment is defined by Legislative Counsel as an alteration to a bill, motion, resolution, or clause by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting language.

Micheli Files

Basics of a governor’s reorganization plan

Image by anyaberkut

With Governor Gavin Newsom proposing two new state agencies (both a new Consumer Protection Agency and a Housing and Homelessness Agency) to be created as part of the 2025-26 budget, I thought it would be helpful to take a look at how a Governor’s Reorganization Plan (GRP) is enacted.

News

The roles of LAO and DOF in California’s budget process

Image by Vepar5

The Legislative Analyst’s Office serves as the “eyes and ears” for the Legislature to ensure that the executive branch is implementing legislative policy in a cost efficient and effective manner, while the Department works on behalf of the Governor to ensure that he or she has all of the data and information needed to work collaboratively with the legislative branch of state government in crafting the most important bill enacted each year.

Experts Expound

Experts Expound: We Resolve

California's State Capitol, Sacramento CA. Image by MattGush

New Year’s resolutions are a staple for many folks, a way to establish goals for themselves they believe will make their lives better. With that in mind, we posed this question to our panel of Capitol observers: What one resolution would you suggest to lawmakers for 2025?

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