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Presented by CVS Health: Jeremy B. White’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Chris Ramirez, Juhi Doshi and Graph Massara | Presented by CVS Health | THE BUZZ — TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT: We’ll soon see if the California Democratic Party’s left wing has the muscle to make good on its single-payer threat. Progressives vowed to deny party endorsements to incumbent Democrats who didn’t support single-payer legislation. Assemblymember Ash Kalra never put the doomed bill up to a vote, foreclosing a public reckoning that would have forced members to go on the record. Undeterred and freshly infuriated, progressives and the California Nurses Association have vowed there will be consequences. That set up the beginning of party votes on pre-endorsements this weekend. Incumbents are automatically on course to retain the party’s blessing — and the spigot of money and volunteers it brings — unless enough delegates can force a vote. Dissenters didn’t do so for the vast majority of Assembly incumbents seeking reelection, including quite a few moderates, some of whom publicly proclaimed their AB 1400 skepticism. But a few will face pre-endorsement votes and then, if needed, full endorsement votes further down the line. We’ll know the results mid-month. The outcome will have consequences both for midterm elections and for progressives’ perceived power. Empty threats carry less weight. Party politics tend to amplify the voices of the most committed and ideological members. That’s true on the right and the left. Tensions between the party’s progressive base and a leadership focused on winning elections are a recurring theme. We saw it last year as activists unsuccessfully moved to cut off contributions from utilities and law enforcement unions; the single-payer plan’s demise has likewise intensified calls to cut off medical interests that fund the party but still oppose a sweeping overhaul of the health care system. You don’t win durable two-thirds-plus majorities without electing a range of Democrats. Campaign clashes between centrist and liberal Democrats have become commonplace in the top-two era. The stereotype of California as a far-left policy machine doesn’t always match the reality — an anti-evictions bill faltered on the same night as single-payer in a reminder of the real estate lobby’s clout, for instance. Now AB 1400’s collapse has the party’s progressive core facing difficult questions about its sway in the party and in Sacramento — with implications both for California politics and national policymaking. Jeremy and Victoria Colliver took a look at that reckoning. BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. We’re expecting some consequential floor votes this week, including action on a Covid sick leave deal forged by Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Woodside declared its entire suburban town a mountain lion sanctuary in a deliberate and transparent attempt to avoid complying with SB 9. This memorandum is — quite clearly — contrary to the law, and ironically, contrary to the best interests of the mountain lions the town claims to want to protect.” Attorney General Bonta tells a wealthy suburb that mountain lions aren’t justification to not build housing. BONUS QOTD: “I am relieved. I'm excited. I'm inspired. And I think I very well may be the happiest man in Los Angeles politics right now.” L.A. Council member Mike Bonin on deciding not to seek another term as he deals with chronic depression, via KCRW. TWEET OF THE DAY: San Bernardino Supervisor @JanRutherfordCA renounces the Republican Party over a GOP resolution ’s description of Jan. 6 participants: “‘Legitimate political discourse’ does not describe what I saw on January 6th. I’ve been @GOP since the day I turned 18, but I’m out today. I love my country & liberty too much to abide either of the major parties’ nonsense.” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! In 2018, California enacted a law requiring at least one woman on the board of every company based in the state. Did this law affect you? If yes, let us know via the form here . We want to hear from readers who have had personal experiences with the law and how it changed business and women’s careers in the state.
| | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We’ve opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 50 million vaccines. We’ve expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We’ve been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | |  | Top Talkers | | SICK NOTE — “ Online pastors, form letters: The cottage industry helping workers avoid vaccine mandates,” by the LA Times’ Laura J. Nelson and Connor Sheets: “They raise questions about what constitutes a deeply held religious belief, how those beliefs should be expressed and what employers can do about a request that may not be sincere.” — “ AP investigation: Women’s prison fostered culture of abuse,” by the AP’s Michael Balsamo and Michael R. Sisak: “Prisoners and workers at the federal correctional institution in Dublin, California, even have a name for it: ‘The rape club.’” — “ Marines investigate reservist for alleged link to White supremacist group,” by the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Andrew Dyer: “Local activists noted that Cpl. Victor Krvaric, 21, shares the same biographic details — such as age, job titles and family background — as the anonymous applicant cited in the SPLC report. Krvaric is a son of Tony Krvaric, the ex-chairman of the county Republican Party.” STOLEN DATA — “ ‘Imposter’ Gets Into LA Juvenile Hall; Internal Memo Says The Individual Took COVID-19 Swabs And Kids’ Social Security Numbers,” by LAist’s Emily Elena Dugdale.
| | | | HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration’s climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — SOLAR POLLER: California voters are broadly opposed to a Public Utilities Commission proposal that would curtail rooftop solar incentives for consumers, according to a new Probolsky Research poll that was not commissioned by any partisans in the PUC debate. Two-thirds of voters and strong majorities across parties opposed a plan described as “making it much less cost-effective for installing rooftop solar.” The PUC has indefinitely delayed a vote as a political backlash has built. NO THANKS — “ Private schools have turned away L.A. County health inspectors checking on COVID-19 rules,” by the LA Times’ Emily Alpert Reyes: “The county warned the schools that if they did not reach out to discuss steps to comply with health orders, they could face ‘additional enforcement actions.’” COVID SICK LEAVE — “ States take on Covid sick leave with federal help nowhere in sight” by POLITICO’s Alexander Nieves and Eleanor Mueller: The vast majority of workers nationwide have had no extra paid days to take off while recovering from a coronavirus diagnosis or caring for an infected family member since the fall, when Congress allowed a law that gave tax credits to businesses that offered supplemental Covid leave to expire. — “ California’s no-bid contract with Kaiser triggers concerns ,” by CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra: State health officials have proposed a no-bid contract that will allow Kaiser Permanente to expand its Medi-Cal coverage area, triggering anger from other health insurance plans and questions from a key legislator. BLM BACK TAX — “ Bonta suspends flagship BLM foundation's tax-exempt status,” by POLITICO’s Susanna Luthi: California’s Justice Department has told the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation that the group’s tax-exempt status is on hold and it can’t raise funds until it submits delinquent filings from 2020. — “ CSU trustee chair moves to open investigation into chancellor’s handling of sex abuse claims,” by the LA Times’ Colleen Shalby and Teresa Watanabe: The probe comes “amid growing demands from the state’s two top higher education legislative leaders and others to examine his role in dealing with complaints that extended over a six-year period.” —“ SFPD’s standoff with D.A. Chesa Boudin: What to know, ” by the SF Chronicle’s Megan Cassidy: “San Francisco’s top law enforcement officials are locked in a standoff that is rooted in a police brutality case and threatens to upend police accountability in the city.” — “ California gas utility fined $10M for ratepayer money misuse,” by the AP’s Kathleen Ronayne: Southern California Gas Co. “showed ‘profound, brazen disrespect for the commission’s authority,’ the commission wrote in its ruling.” — “ California bill would boost schools’ access to student COVID-19 vaccine data,” by the LA Times’ Hannah Wiley and Melody Gutierrez: “The new proposal would allow school administrators to check students’ COVID-19 vaccine status and would implement a mandate for vaccine providers to submit all immunization records to the registry.” — “ Why Newsom’s offer of years of funding increases to California universities faces criticism,” by EdSource’s Michael Burke: “In a scathing report, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan office that gives fiscal and policy advice to the state Legislature, said Newsom undermined the Legislature’s authority by negotiating the deals directly with the university systems.” — “ California Is Fighting to Make It Easier to Put People Under Conservatorships,” by Slate’s Henry Grabar: “Civil rights advocates and many people with disabilities counter that long-term conservatorship is unethical and illegal, particularly in the absence of voluntary access to housing, medication, and drug treatment.” — “ S.F. planned to compel more people into drug and mental health treatment. So far, only two have been helped,” by the SF Chronicle’s J.D. Morris. HIDDEN BENEATH —“ Where Is There More Lithium to Power Cars and Phones? Beneath a California Lake,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Alistair MacDonald and Jim Carlton.
| | | |   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | LIBRA SEASON — “ Jim Cooper hasn’t decided if he’s running for Assembly or sheriff. It’s irking some Democrats,” by the Sac Bee’s Lara Korte: “As one of the more moderate Democrats in the Legislature, he’s often the target of progressive ire.” — “ The Republican billionaire behind S.F.’s recalls, ” by the SF Examiner’s Benjamin Schneider: “William Oberndorf “is a major charter school proponent and gave over $1 million to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell’s PAC in 2020.” LIGHTS, CAMERAS …“ Gascón Recall is Being Funded by Hollywood Power Players, ” by the LA Magazine’s Jason McGahan: “While reliably right-wing mega donors like Beverly Hills real-estate baron Geoffrey Palmer and Palos Verdes Estates investor Gerald Marcil accounted for the bulk of the $1.8 million raised for the recall over the final three months of 2021, big-name Democrats have entered the fray in the early days of 2022.” AND YET … “ Is recall fever waning? Failure to take down Newsom reflects a broader pattern,” opines LA Times’ Mark Z. Barabak: “A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California found nearly 4 in 10 likely voters said the recall effort made them feel worse about politics and elections, while just 18% said the campaign made them feel better.”
| | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | — “ This consensus-building Californian deserves a spot on Biden’s Supreme Court short list,” opines Dan Morain in WaPo: “Most distinctive of all, though, is [Leondra] Kruger’s reputation as a consensus-building centrist in an era when observers are all too eager to pigeonhole judges as liberal or conservative.”
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | ROAD RAGE — “ The fight over gig work is ugly, expensive, and nowhere near over, ” by Protocol’s Hirsh Chitkara and Anna Kramer: “Now, the gig companies have brought the Proposition 22 fight to Massachusetts. They are expected to once again break records for campaign spending, quite possibly surpassing the state record of $60 million spent across all ballot measures in 2020.” THE GIRLS ARE FIGHTING — “ Reels vs. TikTok Becomes Crucial Fight for Facebook Parent Meta,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Salvador Rodriguez: “While Meta executives said Reels is now the company’s fastest-growing content format, ByteDance Ltd.’s TikTok is growing even faster. It was the most-downloaded app of 2021, and overtook Meta’s Instagram in popularity among coveted young users.”
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | MEDIA MATTERS | | — The LA Times’ Julia Wick and Benjamin Oreskes are launching a new local elections-focused newsletter. — Lindsey Holden is joining the Sacramento Bee as a new Capitol reporter.
| | MIXTAPE | |
— “ Michael Avenatti convicted of stealing from Stormy Daniels,” via the AP.
— “ Suspect arrested in Oakland freeway killing of Gene Ransom, Cal basketball great,” by the SF Chronicle’s Rachel Swan and Steve Kroner. — “ Man arrested over altercation that badly injured 49ers fan,” by the AP’s Stefanie Dazio. — “ As Earth warms, air conditioning use could exceed power supply in next decade,” by the LA Times’ Alex Wigglesworth and Ruben Vives. — “A Leaking Roof During October Deluge Triggered Shutdowns at Chevron's Richmond Refinery,” by KQED’s Ted Goldberg. — “ Where to see elephant seals in Northern California, ” by the SF Chronicle’s Gwendolyn Wu.
| | Transitions | | — Josh Connolly is joining LinkedIn as senior manager of U.S. policy and economic graph. He previously was chief of staff for Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). — Mannal Haddad will be senior comms manager at the Campaign Legal Center. She previously was comms director for Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.). — Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu will be the provost at Westmont College, a private Christian liberal arts college in Santa Barbara, Calif., beginning Aug. 1, 2022. — Art Motta is now national director of policy and legislation at the League of United Latin American Citizens. He most recently was policy adviser for Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).
| | IN MEMORIAM | |
— “ Martine Colette, Who Rescued Exotic Animals, Is Dead at 79 ,” by the NYTimes’ Katherine Q. Seelye.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | SUNDAY: Assemblymember Luz Rivas … Michael Pollan … Helaine Klasky of Activision Blizzard … Harvey Block ... Paul Kujawsky SATURDAY: Airbnb’s Clark Stevens … Facebook’s Tom Reynolds … CAA’s Ali Spiesman TODAY: Cappi Williamson … Jeff Marschner … Scott Feldman ... Dan Grunfeld
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Nothing should stand in the way of mental health and well-being, so we’re increasing remote access to mental health services.
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