Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Walters: Capitol’s Dominant Democrats Still Bickering
dan_walters
By Dan Walters, CalMatters Commentary
Published 5 years ago on
September 6, 2020

Share

One might think that when Democrats captured overwhelming control of the California Legislature — roughly three-fourths of its 120 seats — harmony would prevail. Nope.

As the Legislature’s just-concluded, pandemic-truncated 2020 session demonstrated, one-party dominance is no panacea.

Dan Walters

Opinion

While Republican legislators may be largely irrelevant these days — although they did display some sly gamesmanship on the session’s final night — fault lines within dominant Democrats produced plenty of bickering and one of the Capitol’s most enduring traits, rivalry between the two houses, was particularly obvious.

Egocentric speakers of the Assembly — notably Jesse Unruh and Willie Brown — made their house dominant for decades, until legislative term limits, enacted by voters in 1990, undermined the speakership’s inherent powers.

Strong-willed Senate leaders such as John Burton and Darrell Steinberg stepped into the leadership vacuum and the “upper house” called the shots for two decades until term limits were relaxed. However, in recent years, the Assembly under Speaker Anthony Rendon has reclaimed at least parity and perhaps an edge vis-à-vis the Senate.

Although both are liberal Democrats from Southern California, Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins — a former Assembly speaker — also developed a personal rivalry, one that doomed major housing legislation.

Atkins Had a Problem of Her Own — an Effective Effort by Republicans To Stall Action on Bills

Just before midnight, the Assembly finally took up and passed Atkins’ Senate Bill 1120, which would have essentially erased single-family zoning and allowed property owners to build denser housing.

The far-reaching but highly controversial bill had languished in the Assembly for two months, but with just minutes remaining, the Assembly sent it back to the Senate for final approval — too late for action.

“To send over SB 1120 at 11:57, that was impossible and those (Assembly) votes were there days ago,” Atkins told reporters later.

“If Sen. Atkins wanted the bill, she could have asked for it,” Rendon insisted. “They didn’t ask for that bill. They didn’t prioritize it.”

Atkins had a problem of her own — an effective effort by Republicans to stall action on bills by stretching out debate and voting, which was enhanced by having most GOP senators in personal quarantine and participating electronically, due to one having tested positively for COVID-19.

Six hours before adjournment, Atkins attempted to speed up the Senate’s snail’s pace by limiting debate, but Republicans objected and the conflict essentially shut down operations for more than two hours.

Remote Participation Had Been One Point of Atkins-Rendon Friction and It Backfired on Both

Atkins was fighting a two-front war, one with Rendon and another with Republicans. She later acknowledged that the debate limit attempt was a managerial misstep, saying “Clearly, it backfired.”

Rendon had problems of his own. His office had refused to allow Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, an Oakland Democrat who had just given birth, permission to participate electronically, even though the Assembly had set up such a system due to the COVID-19.

Wicks came to the Assembly floor with her daughter, Elly, in her arms to back Atkins’ housing bill. The dramatic gesture became an instant social media sensation and on Tuesday, Rendon issued a public apology, saying, “My intention was never to be inconsiderate toward (Wicks), her role as a legislator, or her role as a mother.”

Remote participation had been one point of Atkins-Rendon friction and it backfired on both. While Atkins embraced it, only to have Republicans use it as a weapon, Rendon had publicly expressed concern that it was legally shaky — which is why, apparently, he refused to let Wicks use it.

The Capitol’s dominant party has clearly fragmented into an assemblage of quasi-parties defined by ideology, geography, ethnicity, economic class and, as the Atkins-Rendon feud shows, by personality. The old saying about herding cats comes to mind.

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.

[activecampaign form=19]

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

What to Know About ‘No Kings’ Protests Against Trump’s Policies on Saturday

DON'T MISS

Most G7 Members Ready to Lower Russian Oil Price Cap Without US

DON'T MISS

Republicans in Congress Set to Grill Democratic Governors on Immigration

DON'T MISS

US Files Lawsuit Against New York for Blocking Immigration Officials Near Court

DON'T MISS

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash on Highway 180 in Sequoia National Forest Identified

DON'T MISS

Marines Prepare for Los Angeles Deployment as Protests Spread Across US

DON'T MISS

Boeing Shares Drop as Air India Crash Revives Safety Concerns

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Dips as Middle East Tensions Rise, Boeing Drops

DON'T MISS

Fed Seen on Track to Resume Rate Cuts After Inflation, Job Market Data

DON'T MISS

Air India Plane Crash: Reactions From Across the World

UP NEXT

Water Scarcity Is Forcing Tough Decisions. This Legislation Can Keep Our Family Farm Afloat

UP NEXT

The Democrats’ Problems Are Bigger Than You Think

UP NEXT

Health Care Is a Lifeline. The Central Valley Deserves Better.

UP NEXT

California’s Stubborn Problems Keep Thwarting Its Ballooning Budget

UP NEXT

Why Reforming California’s Bedrock Environmental Law Is Good for the Environment

UP NEXT

California’s Deficit Dilemma: Cut Spending, Borrow Money or Raise Taxes?

UP NEXT

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

UP NEXT

California’s Economy Is Just Limping Along. Why Is Newsom Always Boasting?

UP NEXT

Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

UP NEXT

After Years of Undrinkable Water, Our Rural California Community Finally Has Hope

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash on Highway 180 in Sequoia National Forest Identified

25 minutes ago

Marines Prepare for Los Angeles Deployment as Protests Spread Across US

33 minutes ago

Boeing Shares Drop as Air India Crash Revives Safety Concerns

36 minutes ago

Wall Street Dips as Middle East Tensions Rise, Boeing Drops

46 minutes ago

Fed Seen on Track to Resume Rate Cuts After Inflation, Job Market Data

54 minutes ago

Air India Plane Crash: Reactions From Across the World

57 minutes ago

UN Nuclear Watchdog Says Iran in Breach of Obligations, Iran Announces Counter-Measures

1 hour ago

This Charming Cherry Is Ready to Sweeten Your Life

3 hours ago

Life-Threatening Meals: Restaurants Would Identify Food Allergens for Diners Under This Proposed Law

16 hours ago

Iran Threatens to Strike US Bases in Region if Military Conflict Arises

16 hours ago

Most G7 Members Ready to Lower Russian Oil Price Cap Without US

BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) – Most countries in the Group of Seven nations are prepared to go it alone and lower the G7 price cap on Russ...

3 minutes ago

Russian flag with stock graph and an oil pump jack miniature model are seen in this illustration taken October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo
3 minutes ago

Most G7 Members Ready to Lower Russian Oil Price Cap Without US

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York responds to questions from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on state immigration policies on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
10 minutes ago

Republicans in Congress Set to Grill Democratic Governors on Immigration

The crest of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo
21 minutes ago

US Files Lawsuit Against New York for Blocking Immigration Officials Near Court

fresno
25 minutes ago

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash on Highway 180 in Sequoia National Forest Identified

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, who were placed in an alert status over the weekend, are briefed by battalion leadership while rehearsing crowd control tactics at a base in the greater Los Angeles area, California, U.S. June 10, 2025. U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Logan Courtright/Handout via REUTERS
33 minutes ago

Marines Prepare for Los Angeles Deployment as Protests Spread Across US

The logo of Boeing company is displayed at the Australian International Airshow in Avalon, Australia March 26, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/ File Photo
36 minutes ago

Boeing Shares Drop as Air India Crash Revives Safety Concerns

A trader reacts as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the NYSE in New York, U.S., March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/ File Photo
46 minutes ago

Wall Street Dips as Middle East Tensions Rise, Boeing Drops

The Federal Reserve building is seen in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
54 minutes ago

Fed Seen on Track to Resume Rate Cuts After Inflation, Job Market Data

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend