Seen at the Capitol

California Senate bringing in outside firms to investigate sexual harassment allegations

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, announced on Tuesday that the state Senate will hire outside firms to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct at the Capitol in Sacramento – allegations referenced in an open letter signed by women claiming

Gov. Brown signs major bills, including ones that expand workplace benefits

Steven Greenhut October 12, 2017

SACRAMENTO – In his veto message of two bills that would have banned smoking at California state parks and beaches, Gov. Jerry Brown argued that there must be “some limit to the coercive power of government.” Nevertheless, in a sea

‘Sanctuary state,’ energy, housing bills face reckoning in Legislature

Chris Reed September 11, 2017

The California Legislature enters the final week of its 2017 session with ambitious measures on immigration, renewable energy and housing still up in the air. Two of the measures have been championed by state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de

New flare-ups in progressives’ summer of discontent

Chris Reed August 10, 2017

The California progressive movement’s summer of discontent continues, with anger still on display over the abrupt withdrawal of a single-payer health care bill and over the May election of a party insider as California Democratic chairman. This week, the Associated

CA Legislature seeks data on race, sexual orientation of lobbyists

Steven Greenhut July 17, 2017

SACRAMENTO – A letter late last month from the state Legislature’s six special-interest caucuses asking California lobbying firms to provide legislators with detailed demographic data has sparked debate and controversy within the Capitol and media. The Sacramento Bee reported last week

Legislature’s top two Democrats hire former U.S. attorney general to fight Trump administration

Matt Fleming January 5, 2017

The top two Democrats in the Legislature announced early Wednesday morning that they were hiring former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as outside counsel in the ongoing fight with Republican President-elect Donald Trump. In a joint statement, Speaker Anthony Rendon,

Lawmakers seek citizens’ help for legislative ideas

Matt Fleming December 7, 2016

Two state lawmakers are looking to include constituents in the policy-making process in similar, and yet very different, ways. While Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, is holding a contest for constituents to pitch their best ideas for a “There Ought to

Gov. Jerry Brown signs host of significant legislation

Steven Greenhut October 4, 2016

SACRAMENTO – The 2016 legislative season is officially over, with Gov. Jerry Brown having signed 900 bills while vetoing 159 by Friday’s deadline. Some of the recently signed bills are far-reaching and will have a noticeable effect on Californians’ lives. Here’s a

Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia: Queenmaker, powerbroker

Matt Fleming September 2, 2016

Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia is mere months away from assuming the chairmanship of the Legislative Women’s Caucus. While her ascendancy will need to be formalized with a vote of caucus members after November’s election, the vice chair, which Garcia is, has

Assemblyman accused of wife beating receives awkward tribute from legislators

Matt Fleming August 31, 2016

Over the last few days of the session, legislators pay tribute for their fellows who will not be in the chamber next year. And while the tributes range in length and tone — one legislator joked (?) about his romantic