CalWatchdog Morning Read – April 18, 2016[1]

Courts question cap and trade, immigration and the ADA , while hardly anyone questions one state lawmaker 

 By CALWATCHDOG STAFF

Good morning!

After the wife of Asm. Roger Hernández filed a temporary restraining order against her husband (the couple is divorcing) last week amid allegations of domestic violence, most members of the legislature remained quiet — except for one.

Hernández sits atop the Labor and Employment Committee, nestled in Assembly Democratic leadership, yet only Asm. Matthew Harper, R-Huntington Beach, was questioning leaving the West Covina Democrat in his committee chairmanship.

Of course, it wasn’t the first time Harper asked that Hernández be removed from the position. CalWatchdog[2] has more.

In other news:

– The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday on a challenge to President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration that temporarily deferred the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants, reports The Orange County Register.[3] Meanwhile, The Fresno Bee[4] reports that the largely anti-trade and anti-immigration talk of many of the top presidential candidates is leaving central valley agriculture community feeling “backed into a corner.”

– If recently-asked questions from a state appeals court are any indication, trouble may be coming for the state’s cap and trade program, reports Capital Public Radio[5]. Cap and trade is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but opponents say the program’s auction portion is an unconstitutional tax, passed without the required two-thirds threshold.

– State and federal lawmakers are considering proposals to curb what are considered frivolous lawsuits based on minor infractions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, reports The San Jose Mercury News[6].

– A Woodland Hills charter school offered its veteran teachers $30,000 to return to LAUSD before retiring in an effort to dump the cost of retirement benefits, highlighting how retiree benefits have become a “flashpoint in the battle between charters and traditional schools,” reports the Los Angeles Times[7].

ICYMI: Many California voters have mistakingly joined an ultra-conservative political party[8] thinking they were registering as independents, while another top San Francisco official falls under fire[9].

Assembly:

– In at 1. Full slate[10] of hearings.

Senate:

– In at 2. Appropriations[11] hearing at 10 a.m.; Business[12], Professions and Economic Development hearing at 2 p.m.

Gov. Brown:

– No public events scheduled.

Tips: [email protected][13]

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New followers: @rfieldsster[14] @CapRadioView[15]

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