Image by FokusiertAs the 2023-24 Legislative Session comes to a close on Saturday, August 31, there are a number of reminders of key rules to keep in mind during the final four weeks of the Session.
Image by BurlinghamOPINION – Pharmacy benefit managers, like CVS Health’s PBM, play a vital role in keeping my patients’ drugs affordable and accessible. However, I am increasingly worried about possible legislation here in California which would limit PBMs’ ability to help manage costs for patients like the ones I serve.
Image by wildpixelOPINION – During the 2023-2024 legislative sessions, lawmakers have proposed over 5,500 new laws, many of which will have significant impact on the state economy. Senate Bill 1047 addresses artificial intelligence, and while it may be presented as erecting guardrails around technical challenges, it actually risks harming innovators of all sizes.
Image by Arseniy45Special interest groups, AKA “lobbyist employers,” paid lobbying firms more than $82 million to lobby members of California’s state government in the second quarter of 2024, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.
Gas Burners. Image by artisteerOPINION – Because consumers have a right to know about the potential health harms of gas stoves, the California Legislature should pass AB 2513 requiring warning labels on gas stoves.
Image by Yuriy KThere is not a single factor that makes lawmaking in California difficult. Instead, it is a combination of factors that impacts resolution of public policy issues by the Legislature and sometimes results in gridlock or lack of success.
Image via iStockAs readers might anticipate, there are extensive rules of punctuation when drafting legislation in California. First, as a general bill drafting guide, the rules of English grammar, including punctuation, usually apply to legislative drafting.
Jeff Walters, photo by Capitol WeeklyWhether state senators are discussing legislation, leading a press conference, or giving a presentation, official Senate photographer Jeff Walters is often called on to capture the scene. He is one of the most recognizable faces at the Capitol and has taken photos of just about everybody, from Paris Hilton to the Dalai Lama.
The fire on the gas stove. Image by Seiya TabuchiOPINION – Football season doesn’t start until September, but the California State Assembly is already on the field and running to score points with a favorite political football: gas cooking.
Image via iStock. OPINION – Targeting EVs to low-income, high-mileage households would not only save low-to-middle-income Californians hundreds of dollars a year on fuel costs but also help cut emissions faster and more efficiently.