Image by Png-StudioIn this edition of Capitol Briefs we take a quick look at final numbers from the suspense file hearings and note a few bills that will be moving on and one that won’t be.
Entrepreneur/philanthropist Stephen Cloobeck sports a little bit of the star quality some Californians seem to expect from their governors.
The 63 year old was the founder, chairman and CEO of Diamond Resorts International, a timeshare company of 92 leisure resorts and almost 400,000 owners that was purchased by Hilton Grand Vacations in 2022 for $1.9
Image by Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn.OPINION – Despite a $12 billion budget deficit, Governor Gavin Newsom still proposes to spend more on the state’s public schools, despite findings of a Georgetown University study showing that California is not getting education bang for its taxpayer buck.
Chad Bianco. Image from Bianco for Governor. In the third installment of our ongoing look at candidates to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom when he terms out next year, we look at Republican candidate and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
The California Aqueduct flows in Palmdale, California, near Godde Hill Road. Image by Jim Keller. OPINION – The State Water Project — the backbone of water delivery for 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland — is being pushed to the brink by climate change, extreme weather swings and seismic vulnerabilities. Without action, we’re facing a future of increased water shortages, higher costs and diminished reliability for communities and farms alike.
Image by EvgeniyShkolenko. The Senate Appropriations Committee will determine on Friday if a bill to exclude sex offenders from a parole program for older offenders will move forward this year. For both offenders and survivors, the Committee’s decision will be life changing.
Image by kodda. OPINION – California desperately needs the resources to protect residents from the inevitable reality of the climate crisis. Thankfully, legislation currently moving through the California legislature could be a lifeline for our budget and get us back on the right track.
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol WeeklyHistorically, women have often been understudied and undertreated in health science, and menopause is no exception. Studies show that women feel like they do not receive the proper menopausal care due to a knowledge gap among their healthcare professionals. Driven by personal experience, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) introduced AB 432 this session, her second effort to address the gaps in care as the buzz around menopause gains national attention.
Health-focused semaglutide pens. Image by Eduardo Monroy HusillosOPINION – With the state finalizing their budget in the coming weeks and looking to fill deficits, including within the Medi-Cal program, AOM coverage could be on the chopping block. Having seen the importance of comprehensive obesity treatment with AOMs from a clinical standpoint, it’s imperative that this coverage isn’t cut
Image by robert brownOPINION – Ensuring adequate housing to meet community needs is essential to California’s long-term stability and prosperity. That’s why it’s deeply disappointing and concerning to see Senate Bill 682 advancing, as it risks exacerbating the very crisis we are working to resolve.