Posts Tagged: legislative
Opinion
OPINION – As a nearly 30-year career firefighter, responding to countless man-made and natural disasters, I know better than most Californians how crucial stable funding is in our ability to remain fully staffed and prepared at all times. Californians count on our readiness to minimize injury, property damage and loss of life in a crisis. If a dangerous ballot initiative prevails in November, California’s public safety response will be in peril.
News
Lobbyist employers, otherwise known as special interests, paid firms a little more than $77 million to lobby California state government in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports. That figure doesn’t include all of the funds spent on lobbying during the fourth quarter. Lobbying firm disclosure reports don’t include wages and expenses for in-house lobbyists, for example.
Podcast
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Our guest today is one of the most accomplished figures in recent California political history: The first person in 150 years to lead both chambers of the Legislature, as well as being the first woman – and the first openly LGBTQ woman – to do so at all. And, if she succeeds in her latest political quest, California’s first woman Governor. Of course we are talking about Sen. pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins.
Micheli Files
In the California Legislature, there are “special statute” bills that are used when legislators believe a bill’s provisions are unique and should apply in only a specified circumstance or to a specified entity or jurisdiction. Not any bill can be given a special statute designation.
News
New Senate pro Tem Mike McGuire announced his Senate Democratic Leadership Team and committee membership assignments for the 2024 Legislative year. The Senate Rules Committee will ratify the committee memberships next Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Opinion
OPINION – After a big year of action in 2022, our state had some monumental wins in 2023 but also undercut this progress with actions and policies that move us in the opposite direction on environmental protection and climate leadership. In 2023, California’ took two steps forward and one step back.
Micheli Files
In the key case to discuss the use of legislative intent materials, we find clear guidance provided by the decision. The appellate court issued its written decision on August 30, 2005 and, since then, it has been cited affirmatively more than 80 times.
News
For Capitol Weekly’s third and final story for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we look at some of the most commonly debated policy options for combating pimps and other sex traffickers.
Micheli Files
When drafting initiative measures, there are several instances of standard language contained in those initiative measures. This article takes a brief look at several examples of that standardized language.
Opinion
OPINION – While there’s no quick fix for the climate crisis, there is now solid scientific consensus that restoring the world’s forests is the fastest and most efficient way to capture enough carbon to meet the Paris Climate Accord goals by 2030.
Image by Mehaniq
