U.S. Capitol at sunset. (Photo: Diego Grandi, via Shutterstock)This past weekend brought news about a “rapturous agreement among Republicans and Democrats” to support development of new therapies by financing biomedical research with billions of dollars. The New York Times article indicated that the rapture could have something to do with the fact that many key political leaders on Capitol Hill are “aging in place.”
Newly installed Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon talks to reporters. (Photo: Speaker's office)New Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon doesn’t believe the emergence of a less-liberal, more pro-business wing of his big Democratic caucus is going to set off a high-visibility war among Democrats. “I don’t know if the party has ever been monolithic,” Rendon said in a telephone interview. “We’ve always been a big-tent party, with a diversity of viewpoints reflecting the diversity of California.”
Some thought an appeal of a court ruling blocking a key part of a San Jose pension reform could lead to a high court review of the “California rule,” an issue in an initiative ballot summary issued last week by Attorney General Kamala Harris. But dropping an appeal of the Superior Court ruling is part of a settlement of union suits against the voter-approved pension reform that could soon be implemented by court action
A former legislative director for Assemblyman Steve Fox has sued the lawmaker in Superior Court, contending that he forced her to work on cases from his private law practice and, on one occasion, exposed himself to her.