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Presented by CVS Health: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White and Juhi Doshi | Presented by CVS Health | THE BUZZ: Californians entered 2022 with a determination to pass a slate of bills aimed at curbing gun violence. Now, in the wake of the devastating school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Democrats in the Golden State want to pass them even faster. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) gathered with Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Capitol on Wednesday to reaffirm their commitment to gun violence prevention and highlight California’s success in reducing firearm deaths while vowing to expedite more than a dozen bills currently in the Legislature. “We’re going to control the controllables, the things we have control of,” the governor said. Top of mind is Senate Bill 1327 by Sens. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge), which employs the same legal mechanism used in a Texas abortion ban to create a private right of action against makers and distributors of certain firearms, in the event those weapons are used illegally. The governor wants to add an urgency clause, which would require the bill to take immediate effect upon passing, but doing so would need a two-thirds majority vote from both chambers — a heavier lift, even on a bill that has broad Democratic support. Some Democrats have questioned the wisdom of passing a bill based on what many of them believe to be the flawed legal logic of the Texas abortion ban (the governor has rebuffed this concern, saying its the Supreme Court’s logic, not his). SB 1327 was passed out of the Senate on Tuesday with minimal debate — the only opposition came from Sen. Andreas Boregeas (R-Fresno) with concerns that it would undermine the role of law enforcement. The bill passed with a vote of 24-10, just shy of two-thirds. The only Democrat to vote against it was Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger). Several others were absent from the session. It’s not clear the bill would directly deter mass shootings, and it might not survive the legal test it's designed to invite. But Newsom and Democrats are hoping to demonstrate the will and ability to act swiftly on a dire issue. “California leads this national conversation,” Newsom said Wednesday. “When California moves, other states move in the same direction.” The governor’s office said Newsom is ready to sign three other bills aimed at curbing gun violence, and are hopeful lawmakers will move quickly to get them to his desk ASAP: One to crack down on ghost guns (Assembly Bill 1621 by Mike Gipson), another that would restrict marketing of firearms to minors (Assembly Bill 2571 by Rebecca Bauer-Kahan) and a third bill that would allow the state attorney general and private citizens to sue manufacturers and sellers of firearms for the harm caused by their products (Assembly Bill 1594 by Gipson, Phil Ting and Christopher Ward). There are a number of other gun violence prevention bills on deck, so we could see movement quickly. BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. At 10:10 a.m. today, Lara is moderating a panel on sports betting hosted by Capitol Weekly. Register here to watch, and if you need a refresher on how it’s all going down, check out Jeremy’s previous coverage. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We need to realize that people who think that, well maybe if we just implement tougher gun laws, its gonna solve it. Chicago and LA and New York disprove that thesis.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott invokes California while pushing back on calls for tougher gun laws. BONUS QOTD: “Gov. Abbott just name-checked the state of California, I would caution him from doing that.” Gov. Gavin Newsom, noting that Texas has a higher firearm death rate than California, according to the Centers for Disease Control. TWEET OF THE DAY: Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) @Ash_Kalra quote-tweeting a statement from the National Rifle Association on the Texas school shooting: “The NRA is a terrorist organization.” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | A message from CVS Health: Californians want the lowest prescription drug costs possible and CVS Health’s pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) team is delivering for them. With big drug companies continually increasing the price of prescription drugs, we negotiate lower prescription drug costs for employers, consumers and working families across the state. That saves Californians and employers tens of millions of dollars each year so they can continue to provide affordable coverage that keeps their employees healthy. Learn more. | | |
|  | Top Talkers | |
BAFFLING — “Second-grade student in south Sacramento brings gun, ammo to school, district official say,” by Sacramento Bee’s Sawsan Morrar: “A second-grade student brought a gun and loaded magazine to school, according to Sacramento City Unified School District officials.”
— “The Anti-Vaccine Movement's New Frontier - The New York Times,” by the New York Times’ Moises Velasquez-Manoff: “While there is a lack of data about how widespread this newfound intransigence toward vaccines is, the possibility that it may be spreading worries nearly every expert I queried. The anti-vaccine movement is “so strong, so well organized, so well funded, I doubt it will stop at Covid-19 vaccines,” says Peter Hotez, the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.” ICYMI: At a panel in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Rep. Karen Bass and Councilmember Kevin de Leon talked to Jeremy about how they’d handle the city’s greatest challenge — homelessness. You can watch thefull panel here.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — FONDA FRIENDS: After mulling a recall run, actress and progressive activist Jane Fonda is endorsing some climate-focused California candidates, including in some multi-Democrat races. Her picks — who could get financial support from Fonda’s PAC — include Democrat Bryan Osorio, who is challenging state Sen. Melissa Hurtado; Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, who’s looking to unseat Assembly Democrat Mike Gipson; Democrats Elizabeth Alcantar and Jennifer Esteen for a pair of open blue Assembly seats; Rep. Karen Bass for LA mayor; Phil Arballo in the open CA-13, where Arballo is vying with moderate Assembly Democrat Adam Gray; and both Sen. Henry Stern and West Hollywood City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath for LA supervisor. Full list and Fonda’s video here. | | | | 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. | | | | |
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — MAJORITY PAC DROPS $$$ ON SALAS: The House Democrats’ main fundraising arm is launching a six-figure ad buy backing Democratic Assemblymember Rudy Salas ’ bid to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. David Valadao in California’s 22nd Congressional district this week. The campaign includes a new television ad titled ‘Strong Voice’, Spanish and English digital ads and bilingual direct mail pieces, which will run through the primary election day. The TV ad will begin airing on broadcast and cable in Bakersfield on Saturday.
— “ Caruso vs Katzenberg: L.A. titans bicker over ‘lying,’ bullying as election nears,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Benjamin Oreskes: “The duo have known one another for many years, but this quarrel between Caruso and Katzenberg began in earnest in recent weeks when the pro-Bass committee made its first television ad buy. The ad starts off by referring to “Republican Rick Caruso” and goes on to slam the candidate’s GOP ties and his record on abortion, and compares him to former President Trump.” | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | |
CARE COURTS ADVANCE: California senators on Wednesday gave a resounding show of support for Newsom’s proposal to establish a new mental health arm of civil courts. Senate Bill 1338 passed 38-0 and now heads to the Assembly.
LEGAL BATTLES AHEAD — “ Anaheim City Council votes unanimously to halt the sale of Angel Stadium,” by the LATimes’ Bill Shaikin: “The Anaheim City Council voted unanimously late Tuesday night to kill the sale of Angel Stadium and the surrounding property, in the process bracing for what city councilmen said could be a long and nasty legal battle with Angels owner Arte Moreno”. — “Gun sales to Texas shooter would have been illegal in California — but those laws could be in jeopardy,” by SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko: “The National Rifle Association and its allies have frequently challenged California’s gun laws in court, but they have been largely upheld by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found no violation of the right to bear arms for self defense. An exception was a ruling May 11 by a Ninth Circuit panel rejecting the prohibition on selling semiautomatic weapons to anyone under 21 — the 2-1 majority cited “the heroism of the young adults who fought and died in our revolutionary army.” In the past, however, the full appeals court has ordered such cases reconsidered by larger panels, which have upheld the laws.” — “99% of L.A. asylum seekers — many kids — in Biden program face deportation, report says,” by LATimes’ Cindy Carcamo: “But according to a new Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA Law report, the docket’s fast-track timeline has imposed new hardships on many asylum seekers and created additional obstacles that ultimately lead to higher rates of deportation orders, sometimes based on legal technicalities.”
| | | | A message from CVS Health:   | | | WILDFIRE ALERT — “Fire restrictions start a month early amid high danger in San Bernardino National Forest,” by the LATimes’ Nathan Solis: “Dry conditions and warming temperatures have forced San Bernardino National Forest officials to institute campfire and hunting restrictions a month earlier than usual. The rules go into effect Wednesday.” UNIONS IN THE LEGISLATURE — “‘Hypocritical.’ Here’s why California lawmakers want to end the ban on unions for their staff ,” by Sac Bee’s Wes Venteicher: “A national, youth-driven wave of unionizing could soon reach the California State Legislature, where a new proposal would allow collective bargaining for the first time for legislative employees.” SF ELECTIONS — “ San Francisco might make a big change to its election dates. Here’s what it could mean for Mayor Breed,” by SF Chronicle’s J.D. Morris: “San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s current term could be extended by one year if a newly proposed ballot measure that would shake up the city’s local election schedule succeeds this fall.” — “ Labor rift goes public as officials, police spar over whether S.F.’s national parks are safe to visit,” by SF Chronicle’s Michael Cabanatuan: “The labor union representing U.S. Park Police officers took complaints over pay and staffing levels public on Tuesday, urging people to stay away from San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Presidio National Park this summer. But park officials said the warning was unnecessary and that people should feel safe visiting.” ECONOMIC FORECAST — “ Is California’s economy headed for a recession? Here’s what the experts say,” by Sac Bee’s David Lightman: “California’s fate is closely tied to the nation’s. The state’s economy, the world’s fifth largest, is deeply affected by national trends. Inflation, which is raging at levels unseen in 40 years, is threatening to stifle economic development.”
| | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | |
GUN REFORM — “Kamala Harris had a plan for executive action on guns. Biden hasn’t adopted it,” by SF Chronicle’s Tal Kopan: “When she was running for the White House, Kamala Harris proposed a set of novel executive actions she believed a president could take to prevent gun violence without Congress. They’ve mostly gone nowhere in the Biden administration.”
CUSSED OUT — “California Republican tweets 'thoughts and prayers' verbatim after Texas shooting, gets cursed out by colleague ,” by SF Gate’s Eric Ting: “"F—k your prayers," Gallego tweeted. "They haven’t worked for the last 20 mass shootings how about passing laws that will stop these killings."” | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
BOOST IN PAY — “Apple Boosting Pay Budget for Workers Amid Tight Labor Market,” by the WSJ’s Tim Higgins: “Apple Inc. AAPL 0.11%▲ is boosting pay for workers amid rising inflation, a tight labor market and unionization pushes among hourly store employees”
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| | MIXTAPE | |
— “Stealing a Joshua tree could now cost you $20,000 in San Bernardino County,” by the LATimes’ Christian Martinez.
— “49ers' Javon Kinlaw, writer Grant Cohn embarrass themselves in wild feud,” by SF Gate’s Dennis Young. SNAKES — “ ‘They’re everywhere’: Why California’s rattlesnake population is booming,” by SF Gate’s Andrew Pridgen. UNDER ARREST — “Biotech Founder Arrested in Murder-for-Hire Scheme ,” by WSJ’s Joseph Walker. OH MY — “Sex, rashes and outbreaks: A rational guide to the monkeypox risk in California,” by the LATimes’ Rong-Gong Lin II & Luke Money. | | Transitions | |
— Paola Arellano is now scheduler for Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.). She most recently was an intern at the Home Depot government relations office through the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Global Leaders program.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | The Sacramento Bee’s Noor Adatia … Mia Shaw … Margo Tercek | | A message from CVS Health: CVS Health manages prescription drug plans for millions of Californians.
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