State Sen. Andreas Borgeas of Fresno isn't quite sure how he received an invitation to the White House this week. On Wednesday, Borgeas stood behind President Donald Trump while the president signed two executive orders easing government regulations and increasing transparency. Listen to this article: "I don't have any independent confirmation...
Rep. TJ Cox Tackles Impeachment, Water, Immigration
With Congress in recess, TJ Cox sat down with GV Wire to talk about his first year in the House of Representatives and his upcoming 2020 reelection bid. Cox, a Fresno Democrat, will face David Valadao, the Hanford dairyman and Republican he narrowly defeated in 2018. The Impeachment Question The...
Newsom Vetoes SB 1 Environmental Bill Criticized as "Job Killer"
Gov. Gavin Newsom angered some allies on Friday by vetoing a bill aimed at blunting federal rollbacks of clean air and endangered species regulations in the state. The governor's action comes two weeks after the passage of SB 1 in the final hours of the state's legislative session. The bill...
Behind Newsom's Break with Democrats on Environmental ‘Trump Insurance’ Bill
In a break with the Democratic-controlled Legislature, Gov. Gavin Newsom sided with farmers and water agencies Saturday by rejecting legislation aimed at blocking the Trump administration from rolling back endangered species protections. Over Newsom’s objections, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins pushed forward with votes on what is the most...
Legislature Approves Contentious Environmental Bill SB 1. Newsom Signals Veto.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has indicated he will veto a bill aimed at countering rollbacks of environmental rules by the Trump Administration. The California legislature passed the controversial environmental bill SB 1 on Saturday and sent it to Newsom's desk. The measure was strongly opposed by Central Valley farming and water...
Heated Anti-Trump SB 1 Environmental Bill Could Hold to 2020
A controversial state bill impacting water and agriculture could be held over to the Legislature's next session. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, a San Diego Democrat, said Wednesday that Senate Bill 1 might be converted to a two-year bill. The California Chamber of Commerce calls the bill a "job...
Senate Bill 1 Threatens California Farms, Water Supply: Adam Gray
California has made a sport of disagreeing with President Trump. When he tweets his favorite color is red, one of my progressive colleagues inevitably introduces a bill declaring the best color is blue. So it was somewhat surprising when legislative leaders decided to use the President’s worst habit — ignoring...
Feinstein Joins Effort for SB1 Changes Protecting Valley Water
Five federal legislators have submitted a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom asking for amendments to a proposed state law that would empower state agencies to adopt rules and regulations more stringent than their federal counterparts set after Jan. 19, 2017. Listen to this article: That is one day before Donald Trump...
'Job Killer' Bill Nears Final Vote. Who Supports, Who's Opposed.
The California Chamber of Commerce calls it a "job killer" bill. State water and agriculture interests have lined up solidly against it. Still, Senate Bill 1 is moving through the California Legislature despite concerns that it threatens water supplies and will result in a flurry of lawsuits. It passed the Senate in...
SB 1: Insurance Policy Against Trump Rollbacks or Job Killer?
The state Legislature wants to hedge its bets against the Trump administration rolling back environmental and labor laws. Called an “insurance policy against the exploitation of our natural resources and our people” by Senate Leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), SB 1 would strengthen state environmental and workplace regulations in case...