| | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner | Presented by America's Fuel | | 
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, arrive to speak during a campaign rally at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, on Aug. 6, 2024. | Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITICO | ‘KILL BILL’ CONTEST ALERT! GUESS WHICH BILLS WON’T SURVIVE, WIN PRIZES — It’s almost that time of year again, when California lawmakers run through hundreds of bills in quick succession and announce which will (and won’t) advance from the Appropriations committees to the floor. Now’s your chance to make predictions and compete against your fellow politicos — and the Playbook authors — to guess which bills won’t survive the dreaded “suspense file.” Those with the most accurate guesses will receive a shout-out in California Playbook and some extra special swag. Remember to leave your name and email with your prediction so we can contact you if you win. THE BUZZ: OUR EARS ARE BURNING — The moment Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was revealed as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, team Trump tagged Walz with the C-word. That’s right. They called him a Californian — ideologically, at least. According to the Republican nominee’s campaign, Walz has “spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State” in keeping with his fixation on “spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda.” GOP VP nominee JD Vance assailed Walz as a “San Francisco style liberal.” Leaving aside that Walz just visited San Francisco for the first time (he was delighted), the hit was likely inevitable no matter whom Harris elevated, given her San Francisco roots and the GOP’s enduring Cali-animus. It’s also not the first time a Republican foe has accused Walz of wanting to transform Minnesota into California. But it’s worth exploring the specific attacks on areas California has embraced. On the environment, the Trump campaign noted Walz’s agenda of decarbonization and lower-emission cars after he signed a bill committing Minnesota to clean energy generation and moved to tighten vehicle pollution standards. As California has become a national leader in those areas, Harris has been on board. As a senator, she fought Trump’s efforts to undercut tougher emissions standards, including pushing back on a probe of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s side deal with automakers, and as VP she has touted more stringent rules for cars and trucks. She’s also embraced a broader shift away from fossil fuels, including with a 2019 campaign platform that had distinctly California-esque planks like moving to carbon neutrality and phasing out gas-powered vehicles. Environmental groups have praised the Minnesota governor for adopting some of the Golden State’s policies, including the state’s tailpipe emission standards. But for opponents, that comparison is more damning than flattering. “As governor, Tim Walz based his agenda on the failed California model which may endear him to Kamala Harris, but not to struggling families,” said Daniel Turner, the founder and executive director of Power The Future. The Trump campaign also highlighted Walz signing legislation extending voting rights to people who had been released from prison after serving time for felonies, a policy in place in about 20 other states, according to the Voting Rights Lab. Harris endorsed a 2020 ballot initiative enfranchising Californians on parole for felonies. It wasn’t just Trump. The National Republican Congressional Committee moved swiftly to bind vulnerable House Democrats to “far-left radical” Walz. While the national Republican campaign arm didn’t explicitly invoke California, it did link Walz to two immigration policies the Golden State enacted while Harris was attorney general by noting he signed legislation offering drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants and signaled he was open to shielding immigrants from deportation. Harris largely stayed out of California’s fights over “sanctuary state” bills to partition local law enforcement from federal immigration authorities and assailed an early version as overly broad, even as prominent House Democrats like Nancy Pelosi offered support. Over the years, she’s had a mixed record on deportation: As San Francisco district attorney she backed removing minors who committed crimes. As AG, she informed local law enforcement they needn’t cooperate with an ICE program. Harris also did not take a position in the driver's license fight, the culmination of years of effort by immigrant advocates, although she warned immigrants about scams once it was law. Separately, she pushed for a California man to become the nation’s first licensed, undocumented lawyer. GOOD MORNING. Happy Wednesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | | | A message from America's Fuel: E15 can help California slash tailpipe and climate emissions—but only if the fuel is available. Today, 49 states allow sales of E15 made with 15% renewable biofuel. Will California be next? Learn how adding E15 in California can fuel a greener, cleaner future. Click here to explore. | | | |  | CASH DASH | | |  Then-Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, speaks at a hearing at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., June 14, 2011 | AP | MA MONEY MANEUVERS — State Treasurer Fiona Ma appears to have so much cash in her lieutenant governor account that she’s shifting some over to her legal defense fund. Ma, who is running for the office in 2026, reported moving $50,000 to the fund in February as she continued to fight sexual harassment allegations from a former employee stemming back to 2021. While there was talk of a settlement agreement last year, Ma wants the case to go to trial for a shot at clearing up the allegations (which she denies) before 2026 campaigning begins in earnest. Ma has already built up a hefty war chest. The latest filings show her raising $747,266 in the first half of the year and having about $4 million in cash. | | | | During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more. | | | | | | | SACTOWN | | |  Donna Lucas (left) and Gale Kaufman at the 2024 Capitol Weekly Top 100 party in Sacramento. Lucas and Kaufman were both inducted into the outlet's Hall of Fame. | Jyoti Alexander/Capitol Weekly | TOP 100 — The who’s who of California politics packed into the Sutter Club in Sacramento on Tuesday night for the much-anticipated unveiling of Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 most powerful movers and shakers in the biz. (Sorry, lawmakers, elected officials aren’t eligible.) We’d be remiss if we didn’t shout out our own bureau chief, Chris Cadelago, who made the list at number 96 for helming POLITICO’s California expansion and delivering news-driving scoops like the appointment of Sen. Laphonza Butler. It was a good year for journalists all around, with the Los Angeles Times’ Taryn Luna coming in at number 98 and KCRA’s Ashley Zavala at number 90. Bob Salladay, who recently left the Sacramento Bee to serve as Newsom’s head of communications, made the list at number 13. This was also the first year Capitol Weekly introduced its first Hall of Fame class, marking political consultants Donna Lucas, Gale Kaufman, Aaron Read and Steve Maviglio as towering figures in the community along with longtime LA Times Capitol columnist George Skelton. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and California State Librarian Greg Lucas were on hand to read out all 100 names. We’ve listed the top 10 below but you can find the full list at Capitol Weekly. — 10: Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, head of the California Labor Federation — 9: Jason Elliott, former deputy chief of staff to Newsom — 8: Jim DeBoo, former chief of staff to Newsom — 7: Teri Holoman, associate executive director for the California Teachers Association — 6: Tia Orr, executive director of SEIU California — 5: Joe Stephenshaw, director of the California Department of Finance — 4: Wade Crowfoot, California secretary of Natural Resources — 3: Jennifer Siebel Newsom, first partner to the governor — 2: Ann Patterson, Newsom’s cabinet secretary — 1: Dana Williamson, Newsom’s chief of staff | | | | A message from America's Fuel:   | | |
SPOTTED: The crowd Tuesday night included many of the movers and shakers themselves as well as some other notable politicos:
Former Assemblymember Chad Mayes… Assemblymember Tom Lackey… Political Data Inc.’s Paul Mitchell… Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California head Jodi Hicks… Democratic consultant Kevin Liao… Assembly Republican spokesperson Jim Stanley… Vanessa Cajina of KP Public Affairs… David Panush, president of California Health Policy Strategies.. PPAC Communications Manager Shelby McMichael… Mercury Public Affairs’ Derek Jansen… Jennifer Pierre, general manager for the State Water Contractors… Fearless Advocacy President Jennifer Fearing… Fearless Advocacy’s Director of Transportation Advocacy Jeanie Ward-Waller…Axiom Advisors’ Jason Kinney… Democratic strategist/Newsom confidant Brian Brokaw… | | ON THE AGENDA | | IN THE ASSEMBLY — In a joint hearing, the Labor and Employment Committee and the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee will take up the issue of artificial intelligence in the workplace and “ensuring new technologies work for workers.” IN THE SENATE — The Rules Committee will confirm several of the governor’s appointees, including Amy Costa as a member of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. IN THE BAY — Mark your calendars, Kamala Harris is set to visit San Francisco on Sunday for her first fundraising swing since stepping in for Joe Biden. Tickets start at $3,300 and go up to $500,000. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | CLIMATE AND ENERGY | | UP IN SMOKE — The Park Fire near Chico has burned more than 400,000 acres, including 43,000 acres of forest that could upset California’s carbon offset program. Read more in Tuesday’s California Climate.
| | Top Talkers | | BIRDS OF A FEATHER — House Democrats who felt the Biden administration didn’t fully understand their chamber pushed for Walz, a former congressman, to be the vice presidential nominee, POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris, Nicholas Wu, Meredith Lee Hill and Daniella Diaz report. The effort spanned the party’s ideological spectrum and notably included Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. SURPRISE RESIGNATION — Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez says he’s stepping down to spend more time with his family and assist his aging father, the Los Angeles Times reports. His decision —- which caught many district members off guard, given Rodriguez received a four-year contract extension last fall — comes as the higher education network faces faculty tensions and legal challenges over alleged gender discrimination. (Los Angeles Times) FIRE UPDATE — Hot and dry weather continues to plague California firefighters statewide, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Park Fire exploded in size again Tuesday, triggering more evacuation orders, while the newer Edgehill Fire in San Bernardino touched mountainside homes on Monday before being mostly contained Tuesday. Officials expect more favorable firefighting conditions to arrive later this week.
| | | | A message from America's Fuel: Greener gasoline for today's vehicles is within reach. E15 can reduce tailpipe emissions, improve air quality, and help California achieve its climate goals. That's why more than 71% of Californians support allowing sales of E15. Discover how greenlighting E15 can put California on the road to a greener, cleaner future. Find out more. | | | | | AROUND THE STATE | | — Locked out of power in Sacramento, California conservatives are fighting the state’s liberal agenda in classrooms, libraries and city councils. (CalMatters) — Why Californians have some of the highest power bills in the United States. (The Wall Street Journal) — A new report alleges two Sacramento charter schools operated by St. Hope Public Schools had conflicts of interests among top officers and improperly used public funding, among other violations. (Sacramento Bee) — compiled by Tyler Katzenberger | | PLAYBOOKERS | | PEOPLE MOVES — Brenda Bass is joining KP Public Affairs’ advocacy team. She previously served as a senior lobbyist for CalChamber working on water, environmental, agriculture and energy issues. BIRTHDAYS — Ron Christie… Wesley Derryberry of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Tuesday): Travis Kalanick ... Susie Sorkin ... Daniel J. Jaffe… WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO’s California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form. 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 Rebecca Haase to find out how: rhaase@politico.com.
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment