Image by BrianAJackson. Both the Legislature and the Governor in California play critical roles in the development and adoption of the state budget. Relevant provisions of state law related to the budget process are contained in Article IV of the state Constitution.
Donald Trump and Elon MuskIn just 90 minutes last week, the storied bromance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk imploded in a barrage of X posts, Truth Social rants, and public jabs, shattering their so-called Co-Presidency into a bitter feud.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome Amy O’Gorman Jenkins, the state’s preeminent cannabis lobbyist. Jenkins was one of the first lobbyists for the state’s once-maligned, now coveted, cannabis industry, first when she worked out of Darius Anderson’s shop, then later at her own firm, Precision Advocacy. She describes an industry in peril, with legal outlets closing, legal sales dropping, and the state’s cannabis excise tax poised to go up July 1 unless the legislature acts.
Image by monkeybusinessimages. OPINION – A state entity like the California Education Learning Lab is essential for keeping California at the forefront of educational innovation, which is really where all innovation starts.
Image by Nansan HounOPINION – As state lawmakers begin discussing a reauthorization of the state’s landmark Cap & Trade program, a new coalition of labor, business, local government and transportation leaders is pushing to ensure climate-safe infrastructure is given top priority.
Ultra-Processed Food as an industry formulated snack made from processed ingredients with high fat sugar and salt with artificial flavour additives and preservatives and fake colouring. Image by wildpixel. OPINION – Food is more than fuel in Latino communities. It’s culture, connection, and survival. For California’s 1.8 million Latino-owned businesses and the families they serve, any law affecting food access is a law that affects our lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, Assembly Bill 1264 doesn’t help us, it harms us.
Image by ThitareeSarmkasat.OPINION – Instead of addressing the root causes of rising rental prices, lawmakers are targeting so-called “artificial intelligence” algorithms used in rental pricing software.
The California state Capitol at dusk. (Photo: Karin Hildebrand Lau, via Shutterstock)This was crossover week, and both chambers considered hundreds of bills that only a few days before had cleared their respective suspense hearings. Here is a smattering of some of the significant action under the dome this week.
Image by jarun011OPINION – Originally created to help underserved and low-income patients access essential medications, the 340B program has evolved into something far removed from its original mission. Allowing 340B to grow without ensuring patient benefit or community reinvestment will only deepen disparities and harm the very populations the program was designed to support.
Sharifah Hardie, image via Sharifah Hardie for Governor. In the fourth installment of our ongoing look at candidates to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom when he terms out next year, we look at Republican candidate Sharifah Hardie.