SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Jerry Brown predicted Tuesday that Republicans would face disastrous electoral consequences if a federal judge's ruling to strike down the Affordable Care Act holds. "It will build such a backlash that the Democrats will not only overtake the Senate, they'll win the presidency and they'll win...
Senate Votes Overwhelmingly to Renew Farm Programs
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday for a sweeping agriculture bill that will fund key farm safety net programs for the next five years without making significant changes to the food stamp program. The vote was 87-13. The House is expected to pass the measure soon and send it...
Senate Sides With Imperiled Salmon Over Sea Lions
SEATTLE — A bill that would make it easier to kill sea lions that feast on imperiled salmon in the Columbia River has cleared the U.S. Senate. State wildlife managers say rebounding numbers of sea lions are eating more salmon than ever and their appetites are undermining billions of dollars...
Gettin' Busy in Sacramento: Over 200 Legislative Items in Just Three Days.
After only three days in session, members of the California Legislature have already proposed 204 items for consideration. Maybe that shouldn’t be so surprising. After all, 5,617 pieces were introduced in the 2017-18 session. Here's a small sampling of the solutions state legislators are offering as a way to fix...
Want To Fix The U.S. Government? Abolish The Senate, says John Dingell
Abolish the Senate and publicly fund elections. Those are two of several suggestions John Dingell provided in his article in The Atlantic on how to fix the U.S. government. Why does it need fixing? Dingell cites the decline in the percentage of Americans who trust the federal government as the...
Commentary: Legislature, Newsom Have an Ambitious Agenda
The Legislature reconvened this week with Democrats celebrating sweeping election wins that give them immense majorities in both sides of the Capitol and they are intending to use them. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom presided over the state Senate’s opening session, saying, “the world is looking to us.” Newsom will be...
Senate Defies Trump, Showing Anger With Saudis for Khashoggi
WASHINGTON — Defying President Donald Trump, senators sent a strong signal Wednesday that they want to punish Saudi Arabia for its role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. By a bipartisan 63-37 vote, the Senate opted to move forward with legislation calling for an end to U.S. involvement in...
Dem Domination: California Legislature Is Many Shades of Blue
The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats for decades, is likely to become even bluer when the new class is sworn in next month. Exactly how many more Democrats have been elected is still not certain; it takes a long time to count votes in California. But all signs point toward growing Democratic caucuses...
Vidak, Poythress Concede Races, Giving Dems Supermajorities
SACRAMENTO — Democrats have won two Republican-held California state Senate seats in the Central Valley, giving the party veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature. Vote totals updated since Election Day made winners Monday of Melissa Hurtado and Assemblywoman Anna Caballero. Caballero defeated Republican Rob Poythress to win the...
Opinion: The Wave That Wasn’t
Call it the Oprah Election: You get a win! And you get a win! And you … Democrats win control of the House, along with all the chairmanships — and subpoena power — that come with it. Republicans add to their Senate majority, an unusual feat in a Republican president’s...