News: Rivas makes his move

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Rivas makes his move

May 31, 2022

By Jeremy B. White, Lara Korte and Juhi Doshi

Presented by The Nature Conservancy

THE BUZZ: And here you thought the House of Origin deadline was going to be Friday's big news.

Instead we got Robert Rivas announcing he'd secured the votes to become Assembly speaker — and a maelstrom of intrigue ensued. With current Speaker Anthony Rendon termed out at the end of 2024, his inevitable replacement has been the subject of months of rumors and positioning. That process led to Rivas cobbling together commitments from a majority of the caucus in the wee hours after Thursday night's session and then submitting his numbers to Rendon. But his ascension isn't official until the Assembly holds a formal vote, and Rendon has not said anything public about an agreed-upon transition. Sources said Rendon allies are pushing for a vote to not happen the next legislative cycle, including by reaching out to Republicans and urging them to hold the line.

Rivas made his move at a time of great flux in Sacramento. The Assembly Democratic caucus will look quite different next year, with numerous incumbents either resigning, running for something else or deciding not to seek re-election this year as redistricting redrew California's political landscape. That process left Rendon somewhat isolated as several of his top lieutenants — the core that made him speaker in the first place — either left or announced plans to leave. The caucus voting before this election to elevate Rivas would mean many of the members who made him speaker would be gone for much of his tenure. Assembly Member Luz Rivas (no relation) has also been making a push, sources said, which impelled Robert Rivas to act.

Timing is everything here. Rendon had said his preferred transition timeline would be early next year and he's continuing to push for after 2022. The Assembly Democratic caucus will look very different after this election, resetting the math in a way that could essentially force a new coalition to pick the next speaker.

Robert Rivas has laid the groundwork and recruited allies already, but his falling short this time could undermine his future prospects. It's unclear when the folks who signed on to back Rivas believed this would unfold. Obviously Rivas acted ahead of Rendon's preferred timeline, doing so with the help of Assembly Member Evan Low, whose own abortive pursuit of the speakership led Rendon to strip away Low's committee chairmanship last year.

Defending incumbent Democrats and electing new ones is central to any speaker's job, and Rivas has made moves in that area this cycle. He has channeled money to more than a dozen Assembly Democratic candidates — quite a few of whom could be new members next year — and sent tens of thousands of dollars to the California Democratic Party. Rivas won his seat back in 2018 with the help of both organized labor and charter allies, overcoming oil industry opposition.

FAMILY MATTERS: With power comes scrutiny, and the spotlight was on Rivas' wife after reporters dug up old anti-abortion tweets in which she proclaimed "abortion abolitionists unite!" and that "'liberal abortion legislation" incentivizes "risky sexual behavior." (She has since deleted her account). Robert Rivas voted for pro-abortion rights bills on the Assembly floor this past week.

People were also studying the paper trail of Rick Rivas, Robert Rivas' brother, who has worked for various organizations that are active in California politics while his consulting firm has earned thousands of dollars from Robert Rivas's campaigns.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. Assembly floor session should be fascinating today. Stay with us as lawmakers gather at 1 p.m. after a long weekend of behind-the-scenes conversations.

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 don't plan on coming out for the anthem going forward until I feel better about the direction of our country. That'll be the step. I don't expect it to move the needle necessarily. It's something I feel strongly enough about to take that step." Giants Manager Gabe Kapler on why he'll sit out the National Anthem, via the SF Chronicle.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Rivas @AsmRobertRivas in a swiftly-deleted Monday tweet: "We have followed the standard, historic protocol for determining Speaker succession. It is time to unite the caucus and determine a thoughtful, reasonable transition period in full collaboration with Speaker Rendon."

WHERE'S GAVIN? Isolating and working remotely as he recovers from Covid and a budget deadline approaches.

A message from The Nature Conservancy:

GOV. NEWSOM: CA Needs $1B to Protect Nature.

California is not mobilizing fast enough to protect itself from climate change. A $1 billion investment in the Nature-Based Solutions Budget Package is needed to protect people and nature from climate change. The May Revise funding is not enough -- $200 million more needs to be added with funding directed to the Wildlife Conservation Board and state conservancies. That's a budget that will deliver results on the ground.

Top Talkers

NEWSOM TESTS POSITIVE — "California Gov. Gavin Newsom tests positive for COVID-19, enters isolation," by Sacramento Bee's Andrew Sheeler: California Gov. Gavin Newsom tested positive for COVID-19 Saturday morning after exhibiting mild symptoms, according to a statement from his press office.

DRUNK DRIVING — "Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy Pelosi, arrested on suspicion of DUI after crash in Napa County," by SF Chronicle's Jessica Flores: " Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after the Porsche he was driving crashed with another vehicle late Saturday in Napa County, the California Highway Patrol confirmed to The Chronicle."

NEVER MIND — "Compton City Council election overturned in wake of vote rigging scandal, " by the LATimes' James Queally.

— "The L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy-Gang Crisis," by the New Yorker's Dana Goodyear: "Whistle-blowers say that a group called the Banditos functions as a shadow government within local law enforcement. The sheriff says there is no such gang in his department."

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.

CAMPAIGN MODE

DEEP DIVE — "How Karen Bass went from South L.A. activist to mayoral hopeful," by the LATimes' Benjamin Oreskes: "Her evolution has been more about method than any shift of principle, which she began developing almost 60 years ago, listening to civil rights marches on the radio with her father, according to interviews with nearly 40 friends, family members and colleagues in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Washington."

BIGGER DYNAMICS — "Liberal Los Angeles could take right turn in mayor's race ," by the AP's Michael R. Blood: "Many voters in heavily Democratic Los Angeles are seething over rising crime and homelessness and that could prompt the city to take a turn to the political right for the first time in decades."

— "Will Chesa Boudin recall's 'unprecedented' effort courting S.F.'s Asian voters pay off? ," by SF Chronicle's Roland Li & J.D. Morris: "The campaign to recall San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin is targeting the city's Asian American voters with a blitz of Chinese-language ads and endorsements from victims' families, arguing that the district attorney has failed to adequately address violence against Asians."

SPENDING THE BIG BUCKS — " Why is O.C. Republican Rep. Young Kim suddenly spending more than $1 million in her primary?," by the Los Angeles Times' Melanie Mason & Seema Mehta: "Most of Kim's focus is on fending off Greg Raths, an underfunded GOP opponent who has been a staple on the political scene in Mission Viejo, the district's largest city. After years of touting her bipartisan bona fides, she is upping her appeals to the GOP base, emphasizing her conservatism and hard-edged rhetoric on illegal immigration."

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

ORIGINS AND ENDINGS: Speakership fight aside, Friday was the deadline for the Assembly and Senate to pass bills that began in those chambers. Many closely contested bills narrowly advanced and will be heard in the next house. You may have missed the evening escapes of bills to ban firing Californians for off-the-job cannabis use and to bar retailers from wrapping products in single-use plastic, for instance.

But several didn't make it. Among the measures that failed muster on the floor: a billto shut down the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility, renounced by its own author; a bill requiring more scrutiny of cap-and-trade ; a bill tying Bay Delta plan updates to water rights; legislation to urge juries to consider lesser offenses; and the latest effort to institute year-round Daylight Saving Time.

EYES ON ANAHEIM — " With key Anaheim figures ousted, is political change on the way?" by the OC Register's Alicia Robinson: "With Anaheim's mayor seat now open and the deal to sell Angel Stadium dead amid allegations of corruption, some public officials and activists are hoping to seize the moment to push for lasting changes in what they've considered to be a 'company town' essentially run by big business interests."

ANGELS OBLIGE — "Angels agree to Anaheim's request to abandon Angel Stadium sale," by the LATimes' Bill Shaikin.

HMMM — " Santa Clara County pays wife of former South Bay politician millions to write grants, history book," by the East Bay Times' Gabriel Greschler: "Jean McCorquodale, whose husband is former Santa Clara County supervisor and state Sen. Dan McCorquodale, was so highly sought by county officials that the Board of Supervisors awarded her multi-year contracts without bothering to get competing bids."

— " How San Diego secured its water supply, at a cost," by the AP's Suman Naishadham: "Over the past three decades, San Diego County diversified its water supply, ramped up conservation and invested in big-ticket water infrastructure including the Western hemisphere's largest desalination plant, which removes salt and impurities from ocean water."

SINKING GROUND — "California's drought has caused entire towns to sink nearly a foot in just one year. This map shows where," by the SF Chronicle's Yoonhyun Jung: "The ground is sinking in parts of California as the continued drought strains reservoirs, increasing reliance on the state's already precarious groundwater reserves depleted by years of well-pumping."

SOARING GAS PRICES — "These parts of California have the nation's highest gas prices — and residents are reeling," by the LATimes' Hailey Branson-Potts: "This week, the five counties in California with the priciest fuel were all in its rural north: Mono, Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and Napa."

CLIMATE FOCUS — "Calif. Legislature advances raft of climate-related bills," by POLITICO's Anne C. Mulkern: California's Legislature is advancing dozens of measures today that target climate change and its impacts by upping extreme heat warnings, funding carbon capture technologies and aligning transportation spending with emissions reduction goals.

FAILURE — "Politics And Pandemic Fatigue Doom California's COVID Vaccine Mandates ," by the LAist's Rachel Bluth: "Other states have also largely failed to adopt COVID vaccine requirements this year. Washington, D.C., was the only jurisdiction to pass legislation to add the COVID vaccine to the list of required immunizations for K-12 students once the shots have received full federal authorization for kids of those ages. A public school mandate adopted by Louisiana in December 2021 was rescinded in May."

— "L.A. is banning most gas appliances in new homes. Get ready for electric stoves," by the LATimes' Sammy Roth: "Citing the climate crisis, the Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to ban most gas appliances in new construction, a policy that's expected to result in new homes and businesses coming equipped with electric stoves, clothes dryers, water heaters and furnaces."

GUN LAWS — "Column: Trump's judges are coming for California's gun laws. Can we stop them?," by the LATimes' Anita Chabria: "The greatest threat to controlling guns in the Golden State is "extremist judges," Newsom warned, even as he promised to sign a dozen new gun laws if the Legislature passes them. Without a doubt, some will end up challenged in court, in front of those Federalist Society justices, many appointed by Trump, who are intent on pulling the U.S. as far right as possible."

A message from The Nature Conservancy:

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

— "Biden to travel to Los Angeles for Summit of the Americas on June 8," by the LATimes' Courtney Subramanian: "The week-long conference is expected to address major regional issues that include finding ways to boost economic growth, combat climate change, slow migration and address the pandemic, according to the White House."

AN ELECTRIC FUTURE? — "Gas prices are rising. So where are the electric cars? ," by POLITICO's Alex Daugherty, Josh Siegel, & Ben Lefebvre: Electric vehicles are still too expensive for many American households — and the stuttering supply chain means they're also hard to find, with some automakers warning of possibly yearslong waits to buy their most popular models. Meanwhile, proposals in Washington to help ease the supply crunch or make electric cars more affordable are languishing on the Hill.

SILICON VALLEYLAND

— How Elon Musk's Twitter takeover may help change stock market rules, by POLITICO's Katy O'Donnell: At issue is Musk's 11-day delay in revealing that he purchased a 9.1 percent stake in Twitter before announcing the acquisition plan. The lag allowed the Tesla CEO to buy shares at a lower price — saving him roughly $140 million — as the rest of the market remained in the dark about what he was doing.

— "Investors, customers, and workers are fed up with delivery app ," by Business Insider's Kartik Menon.

SETBACK — "Apple union push faces setback as Atlanta organizers withdraw vote bid, citing alleged intimidation, rising Covid cases," by CNBC's Kif Leswing: "A union vote at an Apple store at the Cumberland Mall location in Atlanta is in doubt after the union trying to organize the retail workers withdrew its request for an election."

DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today.

HOLLYWOODLAND

SURPRISE APPEARANCE —"Johnny Depp appears in Sheffield at Jeff Beck gig ahead of defamation trial verdict," by the Guardian's Ben Beaumont-Thomas: " Depp performs Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye covers with rock guitarist, days after concluding arguments in US case against Amber Heard."

MIXTAPE

YOU'RE FIRED — "Sacramento Fire Chief Gary Loesch fired by city, vows 'major

litigation' after exit," by Sac Bee's Michael McGough & Theresa Clift.

— "Four S.F. police officers fired weapons in killings of two men who were fighting on ground ," by SF Chronicle's Lauren Hernández & Megan Cassidy.

MONEY MOVES — "L.A. City Council moves to buy apartments to protect tenants from huge rent hikes," by the LATimes' David Zahniser.

PLEADS GUILTY — "California man pleads guilty to plotting to blow up Dems' HQ in Sacramento over Trump loss," by Sac Bee's Sam Stanton.

— " How 'Socially Responsible' Is Amy's Kitchen? Depends on Who You Ask," by KQED's Farida Jhabvala Romero.

— " Six face felony charges over $10-million recycling fraud scheme against California program," by the LATimes' Emily Alpert Reyes.

BIRTHDAYS

TODAY: Zenia Mucha … former Rep. Duncan Hunter … Stripe's Sarah Heck … Saul Levine …

MONDAY: Airbnb's Kim Kingsley

SUNDAY: Todd Flournoy … Instagram's Dayna Geldwert … (was Saturday): Uber's Josh Gold

SATURDAY: Andy Stone

A message from The Nature Conservancy:

GOVERNOR: CA Needs $1B to Protect Nature.

The May Revise proposes an additional $68 million for nature-based solutions including biodiversity, but California needs a bigger down payment on climate resilience to get our state on track. A $1 billion investment is needed in the 2022 Nature-Based Solutions Budget Package to protect people and nature on our warming planet.

To ensure funds are spent efficiently and effectively, investments must be allocated to the Wildlife Conservation Board and state conservancies, which have a longstanding track record of effectively advancing protection and supporting the public use of natural resources.

Invest $1B in the Nature-Based Solutions Budget Package to protect our planet.

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.

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