Image by Sundry PhotographyThings are heating up around the Capitol, with bills making their way through policy committees and the race to replace Gavin Newsom taking more twists and turns.
One Pound of Organic CannabisOPINION – California voters were promised something simple and reasonable when they approved cannabis legalization under Proposition 64: a tightly regulated industry that would fund youth programs, protect children, and operate responsibly. Nearly a decade later, that promise has been broken.
OPINION – For a dominant player, a complicated new law is a competitive advantage: it stops the next innovator from ever getting started. This is the ultimate irony. The rules meant to keep big business in check often become the walls that protect them from the small businesses that would otherwise challenge them.
Happy senior couple from behind looking at front of house and carOPINION – Over five years ago, California made a historic commitment to prepare for the demographic shift underway as millions of Californians live longer, healthier lives. Buy homelessness among adults 50+ is growing faster than any other age group, with nearly half of Californians experiencing homelessness over age 50.
Poor children are forced to work constructionOPINION – California has been a hotbed for human trafficking for years. Despite this growing issue, the California Legislature has dragged its feet in providing support for preventative solutions.
Aerial view of unfinished wooden frames of affordable houses under construction. Development of residential housing in American suburbs. Real estate market in the USA.OPINION – With some of the most expensive housing in the country, the Legislature has spent years trying to make it easier to build more homes by cutting red tape and reducing unnecessary barriers. The Legislature passed a major housing reform package meant to help projects move faster and build the housing Californians desperately need. The goal was right. But parts of that law lack the legal certainty to be effective.
Steve Hilton. Photo by AP. Does Donald Trump’s endorsement of Steve Hilton ensure there won’t be an all-Republican gubernatorial runoff in November? Our panel of experts expound.
California State Assembly . Photo by Capitol Weekly. In this week’s Capitol Briefs we look at a handful of bills lawmakers have under consideration as we head toward the April 24th deadline for policy committees to hear and report to fiscal committees fiscal bills introduced in their chamber.
Image by george tsartsianidis. We sometimes hear statements around the California State Capitol about codified versus uncodified laws. What’s the difference? In today’s Micheli Files Capitol lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli explains it all for you.
Congressman Eric Swalwell outside of the Capitol Weekly office. Photo by Tim Foster, Capitol WeeklyTwo Republicans lead polling in the California gubernatorial race, but major prediction markets like Kalshi, Polymarket, PredictIt and ForecastEx all say it’s Congressman Eric Swalwell’s race to lose. Why are their predictions so different? Which is more likely to be correct? Might prediction markets and the wisdom of the crowds threaten pollsters who have taken a beating in recent elections?