THE BUZZ — FOURTH TIME’S THE CHARM? California’s legislative employees have tried, and failed, multiple times to get a seat at the bargaining table. This year, with some clever maneuvering and social pressure, they could finally make it happen.

Assemblymember Mark Stone’s AB 1577 got its first vote in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee yesterday, passing with little discussion and a 4-0 vote from members. If approved, it would give legislative employees — the schedulers, the researchers, the coffee-fetchers — the ability to collectively bargain over working conditions and compensation.

Outside observers might consider it odd that labor-loving California lawmakers don’t allow their staff to unionize. The state has myriad public employee unions that wield great power throughout the state and in the halls of the Capitol thanks to their huge numbers and deep pockets. Yet, according to Stone, the Legislature remains the only branch of California’s government that does not allow its employees to unionize — leaving staffers susceptible to firing without cause and a power imbalance.

This is not your typical labor fight. Mainly because the people who get to vote on whether or not a group of employees unionize are, in some ways, the employers. While taxpayers are the ones who foot the bill, how staffers are paid and treated is, in many ways, up to the discretion of the lawmaker they work for. And office budgets can fluctuate depending on a number of factors — among them, a lawmaker’s leadership positions and political capital. Supporters of the bill argue it is an inconsistent and arbitrary system for hiring, firing, and compensating that contributes to a high rate of churn among staff.

Previous versions of this bill were carried by former San Diego Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, who is now heading up the powerful California Labor Federation. But it repeatedly died in Assembly committees. This year, Stone gutted and amended a bill that was already in the Senate, bypassing the initial hurdles that have always blocked the legislation’s advancement on the Assembly side.

AB 1577 still has a long way to go, but yesterday’s vote was the first time such a bill has made it out of a committee. It now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it’s scheduled to be heard on Tuesday. The only recorded opponent, thus far, is a group called Govern for California, led by former Arnold Schwarzenegger adviser David Crane. The group describes itself as “a network of political philanthropists whose mission is to empower California State Legislators to govern for the benefit of citizens instead of special interests.”

Stone and supporters also argue recent events make unionizing all the more critical for California legislative staffers. The #MeToo movement, the pandemic and issues involving the legislature’s Workplace Conduct Unit","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-legislature-workplace-harassment-17078756.php","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30000","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30001","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Workplace Conduct Unit, demonstrated a clear need to give staffers more agency in their jobs, backers say. There was also the controversial Instagram page @DearCaStaffers that cropped up in February, posting anonymous accounts","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://capitolweekly.net/capitol-staffers-tell-job-gripes-and-slam-bad-bosses-anonymously/","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30002","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30003","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}"> anonymous accounts of alleged mistreatment from within the halls of power.

“I think giving people a voice in their workplace is something that is core to the values of many in this Legislature,” Stone told committee members on Wednesday. “And that’s really what this bill is.”

BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning.Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, is in San Diego today with local leaders urging residents to conserve water as much of the state experiences “extreme drought” conditions.

Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up: [email protected] and [email protected] or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite ","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://twitter.com/JeremyBWhite","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30004","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30005","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">@JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://twitter.com/lara_korte","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30006","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac30007","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">@Lara_Korte. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "For the CEO to take on a client that very much clearly goes against that goal is kind of like a slap in the face to all of the work that we do and to all of our other clients.” A former employee of Aisle 518 Strategies, who spoke to POLITICO’s Hailey Fuches about leaving the firm after it took on Los Angeles mayoral contender Rick Caruso as a client. 

TWEET OF THE DAY: California Rep. Ro Khanna","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna/status/1539621906311221248?s=20&t=tvhTVHBWOBAIt3z6-yHhWg","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac3000a","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac3000b","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Rep. Ro Khanna weighing in on Biden’s inclination to pause the federal gas tax: “The problem with repealing an 18 cents gas tax is it feeds into a far right narrative that the problem is government, not Big Oil gouging consumers. Let’s pass @SenWhitehouse","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://twitter.com/SenWhitehouse","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac3000c","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac3000d","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}"> @SenWhitehouse & my windfall profits tax instead to tax huge oil profits & put money back into the pockets of Americans.”

WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

$7 AND RISING — California has billions to spend on gas-price relief — and no deal on help","_id":"00000181-90b0-df92-a1e7-f0fd52f40000","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">California has billions to spend on gas-price relief — and no deal on help, by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: Newsom is insisting the relief be tied to car ownership and sent to all vehicle-owning Californians, regardless of their income, which — critics are quick to point out — could include some of the state’s 189 billionaires.

SF SCHOOLS— “Big votes on Lowell and Washington mural before SF school board","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Big-votes-on-Lowell-and-Washington-mural-before-17259285.php","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac80000","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac80001","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Big votes on Lowell and Washington mural before SF school board,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Jill Tucker: “After nearly two years of intense and bitter debate, test scores and grades will once again determine which San Francisco students are admitted to Lowell High School after the city’s school board decided to return to the merit-based admissions system Wednesday.”

JAN. 6 — “Editorial: These California congressmen betrayed voters on Jan. 6","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-06-22/california-house-members-congress-betrayed-voters-jan-6-trump","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac80002","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fac80003","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Editorial: These California congressmen betrayed voters on Jan. 6,” opines the Los Angeles Times’ Editorial Board: “Hearings now underway in Washington have only strengthened the case that Trump’s plot was nothing less than a multi-pronged attempt to overthrow a free and fair election. Anyone who participated in it is a threat to democracy and should not have a role in government.”

— A top progressive firm signed Rick Caruso as a client. Its staff revolted. By POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs: At least two employees at the firm, Aisle 518 Strategies, have left, in part because of its association with the billionaire real estate developer who has bankrolled Republicans and backed anti-abortion politicians before deciding to run as a Democrat in the mayoral primary this year.

LAST STOP HOME — “California is richer than ever. Why is it last in the nation for school bus access?","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-22/theres-a-human-cost-to-this-california-ranks-lowest-in-nation-for-school-bus-use","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facc0001","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facc0002","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">California is richer than ever. Why is it last in the nation for school bus access?” by the Los Angeles Times’ Mackenzie Mays: “When district finances were tight in 2019, school officials considered making cuts to transportation services. But they ultimately backed off as community sentiment became clear: Buses are a necessity.”

— “Mayor Breed Tests Positive for Covid","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://sfstandard.com/politics/breed-tests-positive-for-covid/","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facc0003","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facc0004","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Mayor Breed Tests Positive for Covid,” by the San Francisco Standard’s Sarah Wright: “The mayor is fully vaccinated and boosted, according to her office. She is isolating in accordance with local health protocols and will not be attending any upcoming public appearances, the press release states.”

— “Lawmakers weaken California nursing homes bill — sponsors yank their support","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://calmatters.org/health/2022/06/california-nursing-homes-licensing-bill/","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facc0005","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facc0006","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Lawmakers weaken California nursing homes bill — sponsors yank their support,” by CalMatters’ Jocelyn Wiener: “After lawmakers scaled back a California nursing homes licensing bill, critics said it would let the worst operators thrive, but other advocates insisted it was still a step in the right direction.”

— “Tunnel vision: What’s next for the governor’s plan to replumb the Delta?","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/06/california-water-delta-tunnel/","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facd0000","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facd0001","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Tunnel vision: What’s next for the governor’s plan to replumb the Delta?” by CalMatters’ Rachel Becker: “It’s no quick fix. The scaled-down tunnel — which would bypass the Delta and funnel more water south — still has to clear a gauntlet of reviews, would cost at least $16 billion and could take 20 years.”

— “In tightknit El Monte, the killing of two cops reinforces a deep sense of community","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-22/el-monte-police-shooting-profile-community","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facd0002","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facd0003","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">In tightknit El Monte, the killing of two cops reinforces a deep sense of community,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Andrew J. Campa and Laura J. Nelson: “But for its 115,000 residents, El Monte feels like a small town, where people meet for breakfast to plan Easter egg hunts and talk about how to improve things, carpenters volunteer to build tiny libraries for kids, and former residents call the mayor after a tragedy to ask how they can help.”

— “Trustee for PG&E wildfire victims resigns as stock price slump threatens payouts","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article262745852.html","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facd0004","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677facd0005","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Trustee for PG&E wildfire victims resigns as stock price slump threatens payouts,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Dale Kasler: “The trust has come under some criticism about its expenses, and Trotter’s announcement came a month after Will Abrams, a Santa Rosa man whose home was destroyed in the 2017 wine-country fires, filed papers in U.S. Bankruptcy Court demanding access to financial records and other documents regarding the trust’s ‘management, administration and oversight.’”

— “Nancy Pelosi’s Napa: Wealthy Friends and a Husband’s Porsche Crash","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/22/fashion/news/nancy-pelosi-husband-car-crash-napa.html","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad00000","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad00001","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Nancy Pelosi’s Napa: Wealthy Friends and a Husband’s Porsche Crash,” by the New York Times’ Jacob Bernstein and Holly Secon: “The newly assembled team had to deal with a few unwelcome certainties: The accident would refocus attention on Mr. Pelosi’s troubled driving record, including a crash when he was a teenager that left his brother dead. It would also send reporters — from TMZ to The Napa Valley Register — scrambling after every detail.”

TWEETING PAST 280 — “Twitter officially rolls out its long-form content ‘Notes’ feature","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/22/twitter-officially-rolls-out-its-long-form-content-notes-feature/","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad10000","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad10001","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Twitter officially rolls out its long-form content ‘Notes’ feature,” by TechCrunch’s Aisha Malik: “A small group of writers in the United States, Canada, Ghana and the United Kingdom now have access to Notes as part of the initial testing phase. Twitter says Notes can be read on and off Twitter by people in most countries.”

— “Elliot Page is ‘proud’ and ‘excited’ to debut trans character on ‘Umbrella Academy’","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-06-22/elliot-page-umbrella-academy-trans-character-viktor-hargreeves","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad40000","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad40001","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Elliot Page is ‘proud’ and ‘excited’ to debut trans character on ‘Umbrella Academy’,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Christi Carras: “In March, Netflix and Page confirmed that the actor’s sonically gifted “Umbrella Academy” character, Viktor Hargreeves, would use he/him/his pronouns in the upcoming third season of the superhero series.”

— Brooke Staggs is leaving the Orange County Register’s O.C. politics beat to cover the environment for Southern California News Group.

— “Bay Area wildfire races over grasslands near I-280, evacuation warnings in place","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/Fast-moving-Bay-Area-grass-fire-prompts-17256558.php","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60001","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60002","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Bay Area wildfire races over grasslands near I-280, evacuation warnings in place,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Rachel Swan.

— “How San Francisco’s unnavigable bureaucracy sucked the life out of my neighborhood auntie","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/San-Francisco-government-17256592.php","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60003","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60004","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">How San Francisco’s unnavigable bureaucracy sucked the life out of my neighborhood auntie,” opines the San Francisco Chronicle’s Danny Nguyen.

— “California wildfires caused by humans are more dangerous than fires sparked by lightning","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2022-06-22/california-wildfires-caused-by-humans-are-more-dangerous-than-fires-sparked-by-lightning","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60005","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60006","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">California wildfires caused by humans are more dangerous than fires sparked by lightning,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Corinne Purtill.

— “Woman dies from lightning as more than 50,000 strikes hit California","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/lightning-strikes-recorded-in-California-17258523.php","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60007","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60008","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Woman dies from lightning as more than 50,000 strikes hit California,” by SFGATE’s Amy Graff.

— “Dozens of Northern CA Priests Facing Child Sex Abuse Claims for the First Time","link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/dozens-of-northern-ca-priests-facing-child-sex-abuse-claims-for-the-first-time/2925063/","_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad60009","_type":"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_id":"00000181-9433-dc9b-adbb-b677fad6000a","_type":"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}">Dozens of Northern CA Priests Facing Child Sex Abuse Claims for the First Time,” by NBC Bay Area’s  Candice Nguyen, Michael Bott, Mark Villareal and Michael Horn.

Jacob Marxis now adviser for strategic engagement in DHS’ legislative affairs office. He most recently was senior legislative assistant for Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).

Andy Rubin ... Richard Bloom … Meta’s Amber Moon … Lisa Einstein

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