DRIVING THE DAY: After 146 days on strike, screenwriters reached a tentative deal with entertainment studios late Sunday, POLITICO's Melanie Mason reports. Read more on the details of the agreement and why it's a boon for the governor and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. THE BUZZ — Gov. Gavin Newsom pulled out his veto pen over the weekend — and angered some of his allies in doing so. The governor on Friday released his first round of bill signings and vetoes, killing three pieces of legislation that were major priorities for progressive groups. They included a bill that would have imposed new considerations related to transgender minors during custody disputes, and one requiring human safety drivers in autonomous trucks. He also angered fellow Democrats by rejecting legislation that would restrict the sharing of information with federal immigration officials. News of the Friday night vetoes prompted backlash from activists and labor groups expressing outrage and disappointment with the Democratic governor. Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry’s bill to require safety drivers on autonomous trucks was heavily backed by the Teamsters and received widespread support from lawmakers. It passed the Legislature with more than two-thirds approval in each house. Newsom in his veto message called the bill unnecessary and said the regulation of autonomous vehicles should be left to the DMV. "The veto of this bi-partisan, common sense bill is shocking," California Labor Federation head Lorena Gonzalez said in a statement. "We will not sit by as bureaucrats side with tech companies." Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo was similarly disappointed to see the governor veto her Assembly Bill 1306, which would have restricted cooperation between the California Department of Corrections and federal immigration authorities. Perhaps most notable was Newsom’s veto of Assembly Bill 957 by Lori Wilson, which would have asked judges, in custody cases, to consider a parent’s affirmation of gender identity when determining the best interests of a child. Newsom in his veto message said he shares “a deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians,” but took issue with approving such a singular and prescriptive mandate on the judicial branch. We could’ve predicted this more than a week ago — when Newsom, in his interview with POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago, seemed to dance around both sides of the transgender youth issue, which has mobilized groups of conservative parents and roiled school boards across the state. “I think these culture wars have gone too far,” he said. “At the same time, I don’t criticize those poor parents out there that have been ginned up.” As we reported last week, the Newsom administration played a role in an effort to delay a bill by the LGBTQ caucus that would have specifically addressed the treatment of transgender kids in schools. His decision Friday to veto Wilson’s bill angered some members of the caucus, with state Sen. Scott Wiener calling it a “tragedy.” Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli, who has pushed for state and local rules that would force schools to tell parents whose children identify as transgender, called the veto “fantastic news” and “the right call.” The governor did come back on Saturday with what one could interpret as an olive branch — signing a package of bills aimed at strengthening protections for LGBTQ Californians, including minors. The fireworks are far from over — there are still hundreds of bills on Newsom’s desk. HAPPY MONDAY. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — What other bills do you expect Newsom to sign? Or veto? Give us a ring or drop us a line. Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. |