CALIFORNIANS shape BIDEN’s $2T bill — HARRIS previews CENTRAL AMERICA trip — NEWSOM pushes for summer school — 49ERS’ YORK bucks
April 15, 2021THE BUZZ: Don’t sleep on the Californians on Capitol Hill. Moderate Democrats like Sen. Joe Manchin may have emerged as the surprise powerbrokers of post-Trump Washington. But California progressives are still managing to shape some of the farthest-reaching bills so far this year.
The latest example: Democrats' $2 trillion infrastructure package, the next phase of President Joe Biden’s plan to repair the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.
QUICK BACKGROUND: With Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 Senate, Senate Democrats can’t usually work up the 60 votes they need to pass legislation the hard way without some GOP buy-in. But since Democratic leaders got the all-clear to once again use the same procedural maneuver they used to slide the last Covid stimulus bill through the upper chamber, should they choose, the next big bill has become a rare opportunity to pass all kinds of liberal priorities — including policies championed by California Democrats. Indeed, North Carolina Republican Pat McCrory’s Senate campaign launch on Wednesday warned ominously that the stalemate “puts [Harris] in charge.”
ON IMMIGRATION: A bill introduced last month by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented workers in “essential” fields such as health care, food service, agriculture and domestic work. On Tuesday, Padilla — joined by fellow California Democrat Rep. Ted Lieu, among others — penned a letter to Biden urging him to make sure the bill makes it into the broader infrastructure package — and thus onto the Oval Office desk. Rep. Linda Sánchez has already been leading House Democrats’ version of Biden’s own immigration push.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Democrats are considering adding immigration measures to the House version of the stimulus bill, though what ultimately makes it through the Senate will depend on what parliamentary rules will allow. And Padilla, though recently sworn in, has already gotten Biden’s ear: He was one of four senators who sat in on a bipartisan meeting this week to talk through the stimulus plan. Those are moves that will play well at home, no doubt, as the California legislature chips away at expanding health care coverage for undocumented immigrants, and after a recent poll found 87 percent of Californians want undocumented residents to be given a legal way to stay in the country permanently.
FEELING SALTY: California Democrats are also hoping to use the infrastructure bill to make headway on an issue of supreme importance to blue-state Democrats: repealing a Trump-era limit on state and local tax deductions. Gov. Gavin Newsom has already pushed Biden to act, and yesterday Democratic California Reps. Judy Chu, Jimmy Panetta and Mike Levin and Republican Rep. Michelle Steel joined a new SALT caucus. Pelosi has also signaled the infrastructure bill could be a SALT vessel.
CAVEAT: At this point in the bill-drafting process, even the macro-level components of Biden’s spending plan are still hazy, as our Sarah Ferris and Marianne LeVine write. But though D.C. can seem a world away from our Western vantage point (it just rained over there, can you imagine?), be sure to keep an eye out for how California players will put their mark on this massive deal.
BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. It’s the first day of vaccine eligibility for every Californian 16 and over, a critical piece of Newsom’s push to fully reopen the state by June 15. Jeremy, who is older than 16 and younger than 50, is getting his first shot this morning — as are elected officials around California, including incoming Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I will take you to lunch, but you have to wait 10 more minutes. … Let me tell you about the need for child care in this country.” Single mom and California Rep. Katie Porter juggles her two full-time jobs, quieting her kids while talking policy, during an interview with NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben.
TWEET OF THE DAY: @Caitlyn_Jenner tweets for the first time about the recall in which she may run: “Very proud of the work that Rescue California has done! Californians are fed up with the lack of leadership in Sacramento and it’s time to #RecallGavin"
BONUS TOTD: California Democratic Party climate hawk @RL_Miller with a long thread arguing a fracking ban’s death marks the end of big climate ambitions: “Gov Newsom is never going to be confused w/ a climate hawk. He told the legislature to bring him a fracking ban bill, but couldn't be bothered to even read #SB467. He's more concerned with surviving the recall than policy fights. #RIPCalClimateAmbition”
WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
RECOVERY LAB: The latest issue of Recovery Lab, POLITICO’s new project surfacing the smartest ideas for speeding recovery from the pandemic, launches today with a focus on Education. The Covid-19 pandemic has forever changed teaching and learning in America… and it has also changed how we think about schools. Employers quickly learned how much they and their employees rely on schools to provide childcare. Communities learned just how dependent their families were on other supports provided through schools, such as healthy meals and medical checkups. And if the learning loss that occurred this year persists, it will become a long-term drag on those students’ lives and incomes. Read all the stories here.
— “U.S. Capitol Police officer cleared of wrongdoing in fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt during Capitol attack,” by the WaPo’s Keith L. Alexander, Justin Jouvenal and Spencer S. Hsu: “The killing of the 35-year-old California native became one of the defining moments of the riot, after graphic videos of her shooting spread across social media and were replayed by news outlets.”
— “California politicians owe $2 million in campaign fines, don’t get punished,” by CalMatters’ Laurel Rosenhall: “The debts are owed by a range of political players, according to a list published on the secretary of state’s website that details outstanding fines as of April 1. It shows fines owed by 26 state lawmakers and 21 superior court judges, as well as former legislators, losing candidates, ballot measure campaigns, Democratic and Republican clubs and corporate and labor-backed political action committees.”
— “‘Long time coming.’ Placerville council votes unanimously to remove noose from city logo,” by the Sac Bee’s Molly Sullivan: “The noose on the city’s logo is a symbol that is associated with the city’s Gold Rush-era name, Old Hangtown. At that time, violent crimes against miners — such as murders and robberies — became frequent in the small mining camps along the American River.”
FOOTBALL FUNDS — San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York and Orange County law firm Bisnar Chase have both joined the six-digit anti-recall club, dropping $100,000 apiece to a committee fighting the Newsom recall. York spent millions to reshape Santa Clara politics last cycle and perennially spreads thousands of dollars around legislative Democrats’ campaigns. Musician Sia also kicked in $5,000.
THE LATEST — “Halt on J&J vaccine to remain while officials seek more evidence,” by the AP’s Lauran Neergaard and Mike Stobbe.
— “COVID vaccines: All Californians 16 and older are eligible starting Thursday — how to get yours,” by the Mercury News’ Paul Rogers.
— “‘Zoom in a Room’? California’s schools lag in reopening push,” by the AP’s Jocelyn Gecker, Janie Har and Amy Taxin: “Kira Gaber said she’s been told to send her kindergartner back to his San Francisco classroom with a laptop and headphones — aka Zoom in a Room. His teacher will be working online from home, while an adult monitor watches the kids in class.”
— “Deaths among Latino immigrants soared by 90% as COVID tore through this California county,” by the Fresno Bee’s Nadia Lopez: “Among California counties that recorded at least 25 Latino immigrant deaths in 2019, Kings County had the second-highest increase in death among Latino immigrants during 2020. Only Imperial County, along the California-Mexico border, had a higher increase in Latino immigrant deaths during 2020 — a 97.5% increase.”
— “Only 30% of L.A. County men got COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 44% of women. Why the disparity?” by the LA Times’ Soumya Karlamangla: “The disparity is in part because vaccinations were initially offered to healthcare workers and the elderly, groups that are disproportionately composed of women. But it also likely reflects longstanding patterns of men engaging in riskier behavior and paying less attention to their health than women, experts say.”
YIKES — “COVID-19 vaccine opponents invoke the Holocaust, dismaying hate speech experts,” by the OC Register’s Roxana Kopetman: “On Tuesday, at an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting, two speakers wore Star of David symbols on their shirts as they joined others in referencing the Holocaust while denouncing vaccines and vaccination requirements.”
— “25% Of LA County Residents Are Fully Vaccinated,” by LAist’s Lita Martinez.
— “FEMA opens line to apply for COVID-19 funeral expenses,” by the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tania Navarro.
DOVES FLYING: Biden’s announcement that he was pulling troops from Afghanistan vindicated a pair of California Democrats long opposed to foreign intervention: antiwar stalwart Rep. Barbara Lee, who supplied the lone “no” vote against invading Iraq, and Rep. Ro Khanna, who has championed the fight to extricate America from the grinding conflict in Yemen and praised Biden’s “enormous courage.” “We are finally doing the right thing,” Lee said in a statement, “and we’re now on the cusp of ending the longest war in American history for good.”
— “Democrats running out of time to undo Trump environment and healthcare rules,” by the LA Times’ Sarah D. Wire: “Like his predecessors, the Trump administration approved dozens of so-called midnight regulations in the final weeks before he left office Jan. 20. President Biden halted some that hadn’t gone into effect yet. Others are on hold because of legal challenges.”
— Harris to visit Mexico, Guatemala 'soon' amid GOP criticism, by POLITICO’s Ben Leonard: The White House has taken pains to specify that the president has tasked Harris specifically with addressing the flow of migrants in Central America and not the situation at the U.S. southern border. But a chorus of Republican lawmakers and conservative media pundits have nonetheless laid into Harris over what they have characterized as her inaction on the issue.
— “Kamala Harris faces diplomatic pitfalls in tackling migration from Central America,” by the LA Times’ Noah Bierman and Tracy Wilkinson: “Worries over extensive government corruption in the region, particularly in Honduras, underscore the challenge Harris faces in leading the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts to reduce immigration from the countries that make up the so-called Northern Triangle, which also includes El Salvador and Guatemala.”
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — MELGAR MOVES ON: Newsom communications director Jesse Melgar is leaving the governor’s office and moving on to a soon-to-be-launching statewide policy startup, continuing a recent trend of turnover on the Newsom’s communications team. Erin Mellon will take over Melgar’s responsibilities on an interim basis. Melgar formerly worked for now-Sen. Padilla, the California Latino Legislative Caucus and Equality California.
SCHOOL PLANS — Newsom urges California districts to offer classes this summer by POLITICO’s Mackenzie Mays: Most districts have yet to open middle and high schools and are offering hybrid in-person instruction to elementary students that still incorporates distance learning.
— “Newsom: California schools should fully reopen in the fall, but no guarantees,” by the SF Chronicle’s Jill Tucker: “Newsom has repeatedly declined to guarantee a full reopening in the fall, barring an unforeseen shift in the direction of the pandemic. The governor says he is working with the Legislature to provide direction, while acknowledging diverse needs among the 1,000 school districts.”
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — BLAKESPEAR BUCKS: Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear announced raising over $125,000 in the month since she declared her candidacy for Senate District 36. Democrats are hoping to expand their Senate majority by picking up this R +1.4 seat, with incumbent Republican Sen. Pat Bates termed out next year, and Blakespear is looking to consolidate Democrats behind her candidacy.
ACCUSATIONS KEEP COMING — “Windsor residents express outrage, level additional sexual misconduct allegations against Mayor Dominic Foppoli,” by the SF Chronicle's Alexandria Bordas and Cynthia Dizikes: “Foppoli left the meeting not having heard a single speaker, out of dozens, support him, including one who accused him of assaulting her.”
— “How Wine Country's insular nature played a role in Dominic Foppoli's alleged misconduct,” by the SF Chronicle’s Esther Mobley: One “factor is that the Sonoma County wine industry can feel like a ‘bubble,’ which can contribute to a culture that implicitly encourages silence, said Lisa Rhorer, a Santa Rosa resident who works in wine marketing.”
— “Fresno police cite ‘outside agitators,’ will increase presence at Tower Theatre protests,” by the Fresno Bee’s Brianna Calix: “In more recent weeks, rezone protesters were met with counter protesters … [including] local far-right political agitators and others belonging to white supremacist hate groups, such as the Proud Boys.”
— “Unprecedented Drought Positions Klamath Basin For Driest Year On Record,” by Jefferson Public Radio’s Erik Neumann: “The historically dry year is also creating a bleak outlook for tribes from Klamath Lake down the Klamath River to the California coast. Extremely low flows in the Klamath River could be devastating for Chinook and endangered Coho salmon that are plagued by a parasite called C. shasta that lives in warm water. Both species of fish are culturally important to the Yurok Tribe.”
AH CRAB — “Unwelcome and tough to evict: California’s costly, uphill battle against invasive species,” by CalMatters’ Julie Cart: “As a research team from UC Davis discovered, invasive species don’t go quietly. Nor do they react well to full-on assaults. In fact, years of digilent and costly crab removal from a Bay Area lagoon went terribly wrong, triggering an unexpected population explosion.”
— “Which state is doing more for undocumented residents in COVID era? California or New York?” by the Sac Bee’s Kim Bojórquez.
VROOM VROOM — “Apple might have found someone to build the Apple Car,” by Protocol’s David Pierce: “LG Magna would only be building Apple's first-generation electric vehicles, The Korea Times, said, which would be designed mostly to test both Apple's technology and the product's marketability. It could be a huge opportunity for LG, which bailed out of the smartphone business and is now trying to make its mark as an automaker.”
— “The FBI wanted to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone. It turned to a little-known Australian firm,” by the WaPo’s Ellen Nakashima and Reed Albergotti: “Azimuth unlocked the iPhone at the center of an epic legal battle between the FBI and Apple. Now, Apple is suing the company co-founded by one of the hackers behind the unlock.”
— “Google eyes first downtown San Jose village site and project timing,” by the Mercury News’ George Avalos.
LUCK OF THE IRISH — “Irish privacy regulator launches inquiry into Facebook over data leak,” by CNBC’s Ryan Browne and Sam Shead: “The [Data Protection Commission] appears to be the first regulator to launch a formal investigation into Facebook over this issue. Since Facebook’s European headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland is the main enforcer of data regulations for the company.”
— “'We're the tonsils of the internet': Buzzfeed reporter shares Facebook content moderator resignation,” by SFGate’s Dan Gentile: “The message describes content moderation as a job that takes a significant toll mentally and physically and has led some coworkers to go on psychiatric medication for the first time or self-medicate with alcohol and drugs.”
— “Uber is licensing its ride-hailing software to three more public transit agencies,” by the Verge’s Andrew J. Hawkins.
— “Madonna buys The Weeknd’s Hidden Hills home for $19.3 million,” by the LA Daily News’ Sandra Barrera.
— SPA DAY? “Look Inside The New Cannabis Consumption Tasting Room And Spa From Papa & Barkley, Humboldt Social,” by Lindsey Bartlett in Forbes.
— “If Tucker Carlson really wanted to help white people, here’s what he should do,” by the LA Times editorial board: “Carlson would rather scare white people than help them organize for decent healthcare and education, stronger labor protections, a more robust safety net and a sustainable planet. Indeed, this charlatan — born in San Francisco and raised in La Jolla — has never used his perch to actually help disadvantaged people of any race.”
— “Why the Bay Area's grocery prices are still unusually high,” by the SF Chronicle’s Kellie Hwang and Nami Sumida.
BAA-AA-D — “Mysterious goat appears in Death Valley National Park. That’s bad news, rangers say,” by the Sac Bee’s Maddie Capron.
— “No, it's not illegal to pick a California poppy. Why does everyone think it is?” by the SF Chronicle’s Annie Vainshtein.
— “Scores of tule elk died at Point Reyes seashore in 2020. Are their days numbered?” by the LA Times’ Susanne Rust.
— “Why flights from Central America often have the enticing aroma of fried chicken,” by the LA Times’ Brittny Mejia.
— “Suspect’s father helped him conceal Kristin Smart’s body, district attorney says,” by the OC Register’s Emily Rasmussen.
— “2 weeks after mass shooting in Orange, medical state of accused shooter has stalled court proceedings,” by the OC Register’s Sean Emery.
— “Woman suspected of killing 3 children to be arraigned on carjacking charges,” by the LA Daily News’ Scott Schwebke.
— Seaside Police Chief Abdul D. Pridgen is now president of the California Police Chiefs Association for a one-year term.
— Graham Senor is joining Precision Strategies. He currently is comms director for Rep. Raul Ruiz.
— Taylor Bolhack is now head of platform and community at LA-based early-stage venture fund Wonder Ventures, coming over from Future Proof Group.
— Nicole Mata has joined Khanna’s office as scheduler. She was formerly with the Beto O’Rourke and Elizabeth Warren presidential campaigns.
CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: [email protected].
Source: https://www.politico.com/