| | | | |  | | By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White, Chris Ramirez and Juhi Doshi | THE BUZZ — WILL ANGUISH TURN TO ACTION? Californians awoke Sunday morning to news of an all-too-familiar occurrence: A mass shooting, this time in downtown Sacramento. Six people had died and 12 were injured, as of this writing. The incident, which happened just a block away from the Capitol grounds, stunned the lawmakers, lobbyists and staffers who frequent the area on a daily basis. Within hours, sentiments of grief and shock turned into calls for action, with nearly every level of government appealing for crackdowns on firearms. "We must do more than mourn; we must act," President Joe Bidensaid in a statement late Sunday night, calling on Congress to ban ghost guns, require background checks for all gun sales, prohibit assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and repeal gun manufacturers' immunity from liability.
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Candles sit on the corner of 10th and L Street in Sacramento hours after a mass shooting there. | David Odisho/Getty Images |
When it comes to gun control, California far outstrips any other state . The Golden State has many more regulations, and already bans assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and requires background checks for sales — although the state's assault weapon prohibition could be headed to the Supreme Court after a San Diego judge struck it down.
But more could be on the way. State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) has a bill allowing private suits against gunmakers. Under a federal law signed by President George W. Bush, gunmakers and sellers are protected from being held liable when crimes are committed with their products. But Hertzberg's bill would change that, and allow private citizens to sue them in the event of gun violence. Gov. Gavin Newsom explicitly called for Hertzberg's Senate Bill 1327, the text of which was inspired by Texas' abortion ban . It would allow residents to sue makers and sellers of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, ghost guns or ghost gun kits. At the time, Newsom framed the bill as a way to challenge the Texas abortion law by passing a law that employed the same mechanisms for a substantively different purpose. If challenged in the courts, it has the potential to force a nation-wide reckoning on how the gun industry is regulated and require the judiciary to reconcile the two laws. We could see that reckoning happen sooner than later , as S.B. 1327 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon. And per his comments over the weekend, Hertzberg wants to get moving. BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. The Legislature is back in session today after a sprint to finalize eviction protections last week. Starting Friday, the Legislature will recess until April 18. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I think you need to do your homework, because you don't. You spend all your time doing homework about our department." L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaking to the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board after making an "out-of-nowhere, evidence-free assertion that county inspector general Max Huntsman is a Holocaust denier." Huntsman, who is tasked with monitoring and overseeing the Sheriff's Department, told the board that he believes the Holocaust is real. TWEET OF THE DAY: Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg @Mayor_Steinberg, pleading for help in identifying suspects in the Sunday morning shooting "What we need now is your help. If you saw anything, if you have any video, please contact@SacPolice immediately." Here's where you can submit tips to Sacramento police. WHERE'S GAVIN? On vacation with his family in Central and South America until April 12.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL SECURITY DAILY : Keep up with the latest critical developments from Ukraine and across Europe in our daily newsletter, National Security Daily. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could disrupt the established world order and result in a refugee crisis, increased cyberattacks, rising energy costs and additional disruption to global supply chains. Go inside the top national security and foreign-policymaking shops for insight on the global threats faced by the U.S. and its allies and what actions world leaders are taking to address them. Subscribe today. | | | | | |  | Top Talkers | | UNCERTAIN FUTURE — "Team Schumer voices doubts about Garcetti's chances for India," by Axios' Hans Nickols: "The cold math of a 50-50 Senate may force Biden to pull Garcetti's nomination and find another candidate who can be seated as his envoy to the world's largest democracy." DATA WATCH — "Is it fair to blame Gascón alone for L.A.'s violent crime surge? Here's what the data show," by the LA Times' James Queally: "Although recall proponents claim there are no consequences for criminals in L.A. County, records show that during Gascón's first year in office, prosecutors filed felonies at a near identical rate to what they did during Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey's two terms as the county's top prosecutor." SNOW-NO — "Sierra snowpack worsens, falls to lowest level in 7 years, " by CalMatters' Rachel Becker: "The snowpack — which provides a third of California's water supply — is 38% of average statewide." REPARATIONS — "California reparations plan advances movement, advocates say ," by the AP's Russ Bynum and Corey Williams: "The state's reparations task force tackled the divisive issue of which Black residents should be eligible — it narrowly decided in favor of limiting compensation to the descendants of free and enslaved Black people who were in the U.S. in the 19th century."
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
GAME PLAN — "Chesa Boudin's strategy to remain San Francisco district attorney: Run against the recall," by the SF Chronicle's Joe Garofoli: "The new campaign signs: 'Don't Get Conned' in large red type above the smaller, 'Stop the Republican recall.'
— PLUS: "These are the ultra-wealthy donors pouring money into the Chesa Boudin recall battle," by the SF Chronicle's Megan Cassidy. THE NEW NUNES — "Democrats loved hating on Devin Nunes. Now there's a six-way race to replace him," by the LA Times' Priscella Vega: "Political analysts say Republican Connie Conway, a former state legislative leader, has emerged as the front-runner." | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | ELSEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA … "2 killed, 2 injured in shooting near SF's Alice Chalmers Playground, city supervisor says," via ABC7. AND … "Three wounded in Oakland shootings," by the Mercury News' Harry Harris. LABOR — " Sacramento teacher strike over. Schools to reopen Monday," by SacBee's Ryan Lillis: "District and union officials said Sunday that an agreement had been reached between the district, the classified employee union SEIU Local 1021 and the Sacramento City Teachers Association." REDUCE, REUSE … " Recycling cans and bottles in California? You could soon get double the money for it," by the Sac Bee's Andrew Sheeler: "To that end, CalRecycle also proposes spending $155 million to expand mobile recycling in rural and under-served parts of the state and to install reverse vending machines where customers can cash in their bottles and cans." YIKES — " 10 people accused of taking millions in California EDD fraud — from Arkansas," by KCRA: "All ten are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, as Bank of America is named as the victim in the indictment." ON FULL DISPLAY — " A billboard going up in Union Square slams S.F.'s 'open-air drug markets.' It's placed there by families with children addicted to fentanyl," by the SF Chronicle's Michael Cabanatuan: "It comes weeks after the end of Mayor London Breed's Tenderloin emergency, meant to curb an alarming spike in overdoses in the struggling neighborhood over the past few years, many from the super-powerful opioid fentanyl." COMPULSORY COMPOST — "California Now Requires You to Compost Food Waste to Reduce Potent Greenhouse Gas," by KQED"s Raquel Maria Dillon: "One challenge for the state: building enough facilities like Recology's, especially in Southern California, where composting is less common." — "'No state is perfect': How ex-Californians are responding to 'Don't Say Gay' and other LGBTQ restrictions," by the SF Chronicle's Roland Li and Chase DiFeliciantonio. NO REFUNDS — " Unpaid tickets, tolls and court fees prevent poor Californians from receiving tax credits," by the LA Times' Mackenzie Mays: "An estimated 1 million Californians will not receive their full tax refunds this year because the state will intercept the money to pay off debts such as outstanding parking tickets, tolls, court fees, tuition and child support."
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | YOU CAN'T DO THAT: The Federal Election Commission handed down $16,000 worth of fines to former California Congressman Duncan Hunter, his wife and his campaign for using campaign funds for personal purposes, POLITICO's Zach Montellaro reported on Friday. Quick refresh: Hunter already pleaded guilty in December 2019 to misusing campaign funds, and resigned from office in early 2020. He was due to spend 11 months in federal prison, before then-President Donald Trump pardoned him (and his wife) in late 2020 . Per the federal prosecutors, the Hunters used campaign funds for everything from video games to vacations, and "plane tickets for themselves, their family members and their pet rabbits Eggburt and Cadbury." A HOUSE DIVIDED — "McCarthy tries to navigate splintering divide among House Republicans, " by the WaPo's Marianna Sotomayor and Paul Kane: "Some of his critics say that McCarthy's approach is based on his ambitions to be speaker if Republicans regain control of the House in the midterm election this fall and the need to appease a majority of his conference, including the most rambunctious members." | | HOLLYWOODLAND | |
— "Razzies Rescind Bruce Willis's Worst Performance Award After Aphasia Diagnosis," by the Wall Street Journal's Allison Prang.
— "Will Smith resigns from the academy amid Oscars slap fallout," by the LA Times' Jen Yamato and Mark Olsen.
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
— Big Tech braces for kids web safety fight in California, by POLITICO's Susannah Luthi: California legislators over the next month will debate a host of proposals aimed at protecting children from exploitation, addiction and other internet-based risks that trickle into real life. Industry lobbyists are still crafting their strategy, sorting out measures they see as serious from those they suspect are more about political messaging.
— " From Russia with money: Silicon Valley distances itself from oligarchs," by the WaPo's Joseph Menn, Elizabeth Dwoskin, Douglas MacMillan and Cat Zakrzewski: "Interviews in Silicon Valley show that in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian connections are getting more scrutiny from U.S. investigators, who are examining whether any of the deals pose national security risks." — " Study shows eye-popping percentage of S.F. tech jobs are now WFH," by the SF Examiner's Jeff Elder: "San Francisco is already booming in 2022 with job growth, which the report projects will be 4.3% this year – and that is the highest rate in the country." | | CANNABIS COUNTRY | |
HIGH TIMES — "House Votes to Decriminalize Cannabis," by the NY Times' Jonathan Weisman: "Similar legislation passed in 2020 but went nowhere in the Republican-controlled Senate. The vote on Friday was the first since Mr. Schumer elevated the issue in that chamber."
| | MEDIA MATTERS | |
SEE YA, PSAKI — "White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will join MSNBC in May," by the LA Times' Stephen Battaglio: "The White House press secretary position has long been a fast track to a television news job."
| | MIXTAPE | | — "CDC says controversial border policy keeping out asylum seekers will end in May," by the San Diego Union Tribune's Kate Morrissey. — "Grinnell, beloved UC Berkeley peregrine falcon, found dead in downtown Berkeley," by the SF Chronicle's Lauren Hernández. — " That time Russia swooped in to bail out a California state park," by the SF Chronicle's Carl Nolte. — "USC gives honorary degrees to Japanese American students who had education cut short amid WWII, " by the LA Times' Susie Ding. NUTTY SITUATION — "Why much of California's top crop — almonds — has been purchased, but is sitting in storage," by the SF Chronicle's Joe Garofoli. | | Transitions | | — Chris Carr is joining Jenny Rae Le Roux's gubernatorial campaign as a senior advisor. Carr has been political director for both the RNC and the Trump campaign. | | BIRTHDAYS | | TODAY: Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) … Rob Stutzman of Stutzman Public Affairs ... SUNDAY: Teddy Mackenzie … Paul Koretz ... Bradley Shavit Artson … SATURDAY: Microsoft's Katya Moukhina … University of California's Brent Colburn … David Frankel. 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: jshapiro@politico.com.
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