Posts Tagged: deputy

Legislative Counsel: A tale of the bill drafter

The state Capitol in Sacramento, home of the Legislature. (Photo: SchnepfDesign, via Shutterstock))

by CHRIS MICHELI posted 09.21.2020

In the California Legislature, all types of legislative measures (bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments), as well amendments to those measures, can only be introduced or processed if they are in “Legislative Counsel form.” The purpose is to ensure greater consistency in California’s statutes. The nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Counsel serves as legal counsel and bill drafters to California legislators and the governor.

Fight for Yamada seat: A tale of two counties

Tracks in the Napa wine country at St. Helena. Photo: Hank Shiffman.

by SAMANTHA GALLEGOS posted 04.11.2014

Thanks to newly redrawn district boundaries, Napa County has a chance to put its first lawmaker in the state capitol in more than a generation. The race to replace termed-out 4th District Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, promises to be hotly contested, featuring family connections, Democrats going head-to-head and a scramble for campaign funds.

Sitting nearly alone at the head table, Jerry Meral found few supporters in the crowded room.

Meral, the state’s Deputy Resources Secretary, is the point man for the Brown Administration’s plan to build an $18 billion tunnel underneath the Delta in order to move more northern California water to the south.  The critics were