THE BUZZ: Gov. Gavin Newsom staked some severe political capital on a capstone climate push — and ultimately, his imaginative and prescient largely prevailed.
Lawmakers had been inspired however skeptical when Newsom launched a late-in-session environmental play in early August, making a uncommon look at each Democratic caucuses to push for an formidable inexperienced bundle. Wary legislators famous a number of the insurance policies Newsom needed had been political challenges that had already failed with the governor on the sidelines. Frustration simmered over Newsom’s push for a backup electrical energy provide that would lengthen each Diablo Canyon nuclear plant and fossil gasoline crops.
Now Newsom can tout victories. Lawmakers spent the ultimate days of the legislative session sending Newsom a flurry of payments he’d championed. New oil wells will must be separated from houses and colleges as an environmental justice policy that’s faltered twice in recent times, succumbing to grease business and labor opposition, succeeded underneath Newsom’s aegis. Also heading to Newsom’s desk: a requirement that the state obtain carbon neutrality by 2045, which stalled a 12 months earlier; new targets on the highway to 100% renewable electrical energy; and frameworks for carbon capture expertise and carbon sequestration.
It wasn’t a clean sweep: a mandate to chop emissions extra deeply by 2030 fell 4 votes quick on the Assembly flooring. But Newsom and lawmakers overcame fierce oil business opposition on the profitable laws, with administration officials stressing that the governor’s plan would slash California’s oil consumption by greater than 90 % (which may lower into the political price range that funded anti-Newsom spots). That transition creates some vulnerability to inadequate energy provides. Which will get us to Diablo Canyon.
The debate over California’s final nuclear plant was fairly contentious, so it was applicable that the session culminated in a post-midnight Diablo choice. Leading as much as the vote, Assembly Democrats — sad that Newsom had reneged on a promise to shutter the plant — had floated an alternate plan to channel extension funds to renewable energy. A Newsom official derided the plan as “fairy dust” and negotiations with Assembly management fell aside, leaving high Newsom staffers to work particular person Assembly members.
It handed overwhelmingly. With Republican Jordan Cunningham jockeying and members of each events warning in regards to the catastrophic penalties of not holding the lights on — recalled former Gov. Gray Davis was repeatedly invoked — the measure cleared the ground on a bipartisan vote. There was heavy Republican assist, permitting quite a few Democrats to not vote in favor. The Senate vote was extra party-line.
Electricity reliability — and the function of older crops like Diablo — shadowed the controversy as a warmth wave threatened to emphasize California’s grid. With hovering temperatures prompting an energy conservation flex alert, Newsom yesterday declared a state of emergency and delivered an tackle calling Diablo’s continued operation important for short-term reliability. This adopted California’s grid operator warning to not retire Diablo earlier than new clean sources are on-line and exhorting Californians to not cost the electrical autos that should comprise most new gross sales by 2035.
Other end-of-session nuggets:
— VAX POPULI: Ambitious coronavirus vaccine payments in the end fizzled this 12 months. Authors had way back pulled measures to require photographs for college students and staff. The last blow got here yesterday, when Sen. Scott Wiener halted his bill letting teenagers get vaccinated with out parental consent, saying the Assembly votes weren’t there and faulting “months of harassment and misinformation.” But a bill penalizing docs for disseminating Covid disinformation made it to Newsom.
— STAFF SETBACK: A Legislature employees unionization invoice faltered in a whirlwind Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee listening to yesterday. Chair Jim Cooper initially pulled AB 1577 from the agenda earlier than a vote, prompting boos and hisses from staffers who had crammed the listening to room. Then the speaker’s workplace pushed Cooper to listen to the invoice — however the measure failed anyway. Only two Democrats voted in favor, though one in all them vowed to bring it back next year. As some lawmakers lamented the failure, sniping ensued among others.
— GUN SHY: California’s response to a Supreme Court choice increasing hid carry rights fell quick. A measure increasing background checks and barring hid firearms in delicate areas couldn’t get the wanted two-thirds vote on the Assembly flooring, regardless of Attorney General Rob Bonta working it all through the day.
— RIP: Other payments that died: measures requiring corporations to disclose their greenhouse fuel emissions; requiring bail refunds when costs are dropped; eradicating Proposition 47 resentencing deadlines; defining public works that draw prevailing wages; and barring local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE.
BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. A Legislature turns its lonely eyes now to Newsom, who has till the top of the month to enact or reject a whole bunch of payments — together with high-profile labor payments to unionize farmworkers and regulate quick meals employment. In the meantime, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will likely be in southern California right now and tomorrow to tour clean energy financial system websites and meet with Reps. Pete Aguilar, Katie Porter and Norma Torres.
Got a tip or story thought for California Playbook? Hit us up: [email protected] and [email protected] or comply with us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m not a proponent of the Diablo Canyon power plant. But I am a proponent of keeping the lights on.” Assembly member Chris Holden sums up the energy conundrum.
BONUS QOTD: “One of the reasons I held this is not to make these folks take a hard vote. That’s the bottom line. I believe in protecting my members on the committee, 100 percent. That’s what leaders do.” Assembly member Jim Cooper on attempting to spare colleagues from taking public stances on employees unionization.
TWEET OF THE DAY: Newsom climate adviser Lauren Sanchez @LSanchez020 on the day’s defining motion: “One last day of #CAleg to pass ambitious climate, equity & clean energy legislation for Californians. Later is too late.”
WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official introduced.
HOUSING — “The latest S.F. housing failure: Thousands of units delayed for a study that never happened,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Heather Knight: “Planning officials have long wanted to rezone the area, dubbed the Hub, to allow taller, denser apartment buildings in an area well suited for them and in a city that famously needs them. The housing would be near transit, and the projects would create union jobs while not displacing any residents.”
GIRARDI UNRAVELING — “A judge’s affair with Tom Girardi, a beachfront condo and a $300,000 wire from his firm,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Harriet Ryan and Matt Hamilton: “To pay the substantial price tag, she did not have to rely on her judicial salary alone. Tom Girardi, the powerful attorney with whom she was having an affair, wired her $300,000 in the week she closed on the Ocean Avenue property, according to financial records filed in a state court lawsuit.”
HOUSING HURDLES: It’s by no means too early to consider the following election cycle. The Legislature final night time despatched to the 2024 poll a constitutional amendment that might repeal a requirement (Article 34) that voters approve publicly-funded “low-rent” housing initiatives.
TAX ATTACK: Wealthy Californians could be most affected by Proposition 30, which might elevate excessive earners’ earnings taxes to fund electrical autos. So it stands to purpose that prosperous people have begun pouring cash into the opposition committee, led by enterprise capitalists Leonard G. Baker ($488,000) and Jeffrey Bird ($100,000).
— “Angelique Ashby calls herself a ‘Women’s Advocate.’ A judge says she can’t use it on ballot,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Jenavieve Hatch: “Dave Jones filed a petition Tuesday night challenging his opponent, Sacramento City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby, after she changed her ballot designation to ‘Councilmember/Women’s Advocate.’”
RAISE OR CHECK — “Sports betting: How California casino tribes and online gambling firms are vying for your votes,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Dale Kasler: “The competitors have contributed roughly $370 million to their campaigns, making this already the costliest ballot-initiative fight in California history. And it’s not even Labor Day. Get ready for a lot more advertising.”
ELECTRIC GRIDLOCK — “Two years after blackouts, heat wave exposes California’s continued vulnerability. Here’s why,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Dale Kasler: “Temperatures were expected to hit the high 90s Wednesday and soar to as high as 115 degrees Monday in parts of the Sacramento Valley, sending state officials scrambling to avoid a repeat of the rolling blackouts of 2020.”
— “L.A. plans end to COVID-19 protections against evictions, rent hikes,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Liam Dillon: “Starting in 2023, landlords will once again be allowed to evict tenants for not paying their rent even if they’ve fallen behind for COVID-19-related circumstances, under a proposal released by the city housing department last week.”
— “Fast-Food Operators Mobilize Against California Wage Bill,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Heather Haddon and Christine Mai-Duc: “Groups representing restaurant companies and owners said they plan to launch an advertising campaign and deploy franchisees and business leaders to attempt to persuade Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, to veto the bill, which they say is the latest evidence of California making it difficult for businesses to thrive.”
— “California heat waves are getting worse. Blame the vicious ‘heat dome’,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Grace Toohey and Alexandra E. Petri: “From San Diego to Sacramento, the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning or watch through Labor Day, cautioning about the health risks of sustained high temperatures.”
— Harris brings on a veteran of the Reid political machine, by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago and Sam Stein: Megan Jones, a longtime aide to the previous Senate chief, is becoming a member of the vp’s workplace forward of the midterm elections, three folks aware of the rent inform POLITICO.
— Democrat Peltola beats Palin in Alaska particular election upset, by POLITICO’s Joseph Gedeon: The Democrat completed first within the preliminary tally and then received sufficient second-choice votes from Begich’s supporters to see off Palin, who had former President Donald Trump’s endorsement and beforehand received a statewide marketing campaign in 2006.
— “‘It’s an epidemic’: Drivers and passengers sue Lyft after sexual assaults and attacks,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Rosalio Ahumada: “The emotional testimonials were shared during a news conference hosted by the Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise law firm, which announced 17 new lawsuits and arbitrations against Lyft.”
— “Leonardo DiCaprio, 47, and Camila Morrone, [take a guess], have reportedly split,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Christi Carras: “If the People magazine and E! News reports are true, Morrone is now the fourth woman to stop dating DiCaprio after her 25th birthday as the Oscar winner’s age continues to rise like water on the Titanic.”
— “Judge tosses lawsuit launched by George Gascon and Chesa Boudin accusing law firm of baseless disability claims,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bob Egelko.
— “California bill to make vasectomies cheaper goes to governor,” by the Associated Press’ Adam Beam.
— “3 Mission Viejo council members ordered removed from office,” by the Orange County Register’s Tess Sheets.
— “Fire near Castaic explodes to more than 4,600 acres as 8 firefighters suffer heat-related injuries,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Christian Martinez and Gregory Yee.
CNA CHANGE — Stephanie Roberson, who has served because the California Nurses Association’s director of presidency relations for greater than 4 years and its lead lobbyist for 11 years earlier than that, has stepped down as of Wednesday.
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