#california politics

[anastasiaoftheironwood]

According to this article, California is likely to have its lowest primary turnout in the state’s history — 29%—"in part because more than 4 in 10 voters are not enthusiastic about voting for president or Congress, according to a Public Policy Institute of California survey." Further: "So far, Republican voters have turned in 32% of the ballots, according to Political Data, Mitchell’s analytics firm that monitors turnout across the state. . . .While there are roughly equal numbers of voters older than 65 and younger than 35 in California, so far 57% of the ballots turned in have been from seniors and only 2% from younger voters." (emphasis added) It's not just California.

You don't have to be "enthusiastic" about the candidate you vote for, but you must vote against the candidate you oppose.

Not voting is not a statement of dissatisfaction with the system; it says you are wiling to accept whatever other people decide, even if it's bad for you.

VOTE. Do not let the other side win because you couldn't be bothered to fill out a ballot.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

It's Not Meghan Markle 😂

Laphonza Butler is expected to be sworn-in to the U.S. Senate on Wednesday by Vice President Kamala Harris. Butler is the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate.

Butler is registered to vote in Maryland but will switch her registration to California.

Butler is a veteran organizer and well-known in Newsom’s orbit. He contemplated hiring the Southern Mississippi native to be his first chief of staff, and she was a one-time partner in the San Francisco-based consulting firm, now known as Bearstar Strategies, with his top political advisers.

She has remained a confidant of Vice President Kamala Harris, after serving as a senior strategist on her 2020 presidential campaign.

[luulapants]

Where California politicians stand on Palestine

The majority of Democrats in DC, despite their voter base being overwhelmingly in support of a ceasefire, refuse to disavow the genocide in Gaza or call for ceasefire.

They are able to do this, to disregard the outrage of their constituency, because they feel certain that no matter how many letters we send, we will show up and vote for them when the time comes. They are certain their actions have no consequences.

Senator Alex Padilla received about $31k from Israeli lobby groups. He refuses to call for a ceasefire. This was his going rate to enable genocide.

Senator Laphonza Butler was appointed in Oct 2023 after the death of Diane Feinstein, who was pro-Israel. No campaign finance info on file. She refuses to call for a ceasefire. Perhaps she's waiting for her payout.

12/52 California congressional representatives are Republicans. None have called for ceasefire. Palestinian genocide is core to the Republican platform.

Of the 40 Democrat representatives, only 11 have called for ceasefire. The following CA Democrat representatives have called for ceasefire. They were not swayed by money received from Israeli lobby groups.

Jared Huffman, 2 - not swayed by $1k from Israeli lobby groups this election cycle, down from 13.5k and 9.5k in the last two

John Garamendi, 8 - not swayed by $500 whole dollars from Israeli lobby groups, down from 5k and 15k

Mark Desaulnier, 10 - not swayed by $1k, down from 4k and 4.5k

Barbara Lee, 12 - not swayed by $13.5k, down from 27k and just 4k in 2020

Ro Khanna, 17 - not swayed by $12k, down from 45.5k and 23k

Judy Chu, 28 - not swayed by $1k, down from 7k and 10.5k

Tony Cardenas, 29 - not swayed by 35k, down from 70k and 38.5k

Jimmy Gomez, 34 - received nothing this cycle or 2020, not swayed by the $13.5k Israeli lobby groups gave in 2022

Robert Garcia, 42 - has received nothing from Israeli lobby groups since taking office in 2023

Maxine Waters, 43 - has received nothing from Israeli lobby groups in the past 3 election cycles

Sara Jacobs, 51 - not swayed by $9k, down from $26.5k in her first election cycle

The following CA Democrat representatives have refused to call for ceasefire. The approximate amount they've received from Israeli lobby groups since 2019 (the price it cost to buy their endorsement of genocide) is after each name and district number.

Mike Thompson, 4 (24k); Ami Bera, 6 (46.5k); Doris Matsui, 7 (9k); Josh Harder, 9 (159k); Nancy Pelosi, 11 (92.5k); Eric Swalwell, 14 (54.5k); Kevin Mullin, 15 (0 - 19-22 data missing); Anna Eshoo, 16 (34.5k); Zoe Lofgren, 18 (22k); Jimmy Panetta, 19 (14k); Jim Costa, 21 (127k); Salud Carbajal, 24 (27k); Raul Ruiz, 25 (24.5k); Julia Brownley, 26 (47.5k); Adam Schiff, 30 (205.5k); Grace Napolitano, 31 (8k); Brad Sherman, 32 (132k); Pete Aguilar, 33 (315.5k); Norma Torres, 35 (14.5k); Ted Lieu, 36 (122k); Sydney Kamlager, 37 (15.5k - 22 data missing); Linda Sanchez, 38 (36.5k); Mark Takano, 39 (17k); Nanette Barragan, 44 (69.5k); Lou Carrera, 46 (12.5k); Katie Porter, 47 (152.5k); Mike Levin, 49 (143k); Scott Peters, 50 (34k); Juan Vargas, 52; (208.5k)

The Republicans will be trash regardless, but we cannot let our Democrats skate by thinking there are no consequences for supporting a genocide. They are slaughtering people with your tax dollars, Americans. It's time to get serious. It's time to tell these people that they cannot have our votes for free. It's time to start talking about primary opposition and third party voting. It's time to start exercising our power as voting citizens.

[racefortheironthrone]

Newsom's UI Veto Is a Sign of CA's Dysfunction on UI

Introduction:

While I'm not yet up to a full blogpost, I thought I'd chime in on social media to buttress a point that my colleague Erik Loomis made in regards to Gavin Newsom's veto of the Unemployment Insurance strike bill. While Erik is absolutely correct that Newsom's veto is a pretty nakedly anti-union move, (especially in the wake of a major entertainment industry strike in which management attempted to use the threat of eviction and foreclosure to break the union), I think the veto also reflects the dysfunction in the California Unemployment Insurance system.

California's UI System:

Back when I was a freelance policy analyst in grad school, I had the opportunity to write about a wide range of topics in social and economic policy - and it just so happened that one of those topics was unemployment insurance.

One of the problems with the U.S' social insurance system is that, because UI is a joint Federal-state program that's financed by state payroll taxes that are then forgiven against Federal taxation (or in the case of the pandemic or the Great Recession, Federal loans), there is a powerful incentive for states to under-tax and under-finance their UI systems and rely instead on the Federal backstop to keep the system ticking over.

For all of California's progressive reputation, it actually ranks towards the bottom of the national league tables when it comes to underfunding its UI system:

"Unemployment benefits in California are funded by a payroll tax on businesses, but the tax is so low and generates so little revenue that the state had to borrow $20 million from the federal government to provide benefits during the pandemic. In a veto message, Mr. Newsom said that $302 million in interest is due on the federal loan in September alone. “Now is not the time to increase costs or incur this sizable debt,” he said." (source)

To be fair, California is not absolutely terrible - it's not Texas or Mississippi or Alabama - and a lot of its current predicament has to do with how hard California was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but even in good times, California taxes itself so lightly that it routinely owes the Federal government UI money. This creates another reason/excuse for the state government to not follow the California Labor Federation's lead and transform the UI system into something that can fight not just poverty but all forms of economic exploitation.

State Capacity:

Now, to my mind, this only makes it more imperative for the state to get its act together - and a big part of that is adopting labor's proposal for decoupling strikes and starvation through the UI system. As I see it, that goes hand in hand with raising minimum benefit levels, such that UI plus strike pay should allow people to live with dignity even during a long strike of 5-6 months duration, improved administration so that people don't have to wait three weeks to actually get their hands on their own money, and improved financing so that the system as a whole can actually work as an automatic stabilizer in economic crises.

To me, this is the essence of community unionism: we work to improve the lives of our members, and in so doing improve the lives of the entire community.

[deadpresidents]

Do you ever see Gavin Newsom becoming President?

I do not think that Governor Newsom will ever be President. I think he'll undoubtedly run for President -- probably as soon as 2028. But I think he'd have a really tough time winning the nomination because I think that a lot of people -- even some Democrats -- see him, fairly or unfairly, as even more phony or hypocritical than most politicians and all sizzle with no steak. And non-Democrats see Newsom as the personification of an evil California/San Francisco liberal/Communist who wants to make their children into transgender abortion doctors that take part in smash-and-grab robberies when they're not forcing people to wear masks and get vaccinated while stealing elections.

Sadly, the number of Americans who actually believe that is not zero.

I'm interested in seeing what his next act will be. He's term-limited as Governor in 2026, and I don't see him being chosen as anyone's Vice President, either. And I can't imagine him wanting to serve in Congress.

[uboat53]

Great news (for Californians at least)! Right to repair is now law! No more being prevented from using our own property the way we want!

[byler-alarmist]

HERE IS THE LIST OF PRIMARY ELECTION DAYS FOR ALL US STATES AND TERRITORIES

For several states, you must submit your ballot BY TODAY (March 5th) (Alabama, American Samoa Democratic presidential caucuses, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa Democratic caucus mail vote, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah Democratic presidential primary and Republican presidential caucuses, Vermont, and Virginia)

Here is where you can find the deadlines to cast a ballot (local times)

Vote down the ballot with special attention paid to your local offices and ballot measures!

IT'S SUPER TUESDAY; GO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!!!!

[alwaysbewoke]

California residents! Please be aware and spread the word!

[workersolidarity]

🇺🇲 🚨 FOOD INSECURITY ON THE RISE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

The U.S. State of California's Association of Food Banks released a report Friday detailing a worrying rise in food insecurity in the State.

California produces almost half of the country's fruit and vegetables. However, more than 3.1 million households, including 1.1 million children, currently experience food insecurity, according to a report released by the California Association of Food Banks.

That equates to roughly one in four families that are experiencing food insecurity, and the data shows that Californians are buying and eating fewer meals than they need and relying more on processed foods.

The Food Bank Association says the new data shows a significant increase in food insecurity from pre-pandemic levels, reversing the gains made through pandemic-era federal aid.

Minority communities are especially hard hit, with black and Latino communities suffering disproportionate impacts, according to the report.

U.S. Census data from September showed record high jumps in poverty between 2021 and 2022 across all age groups and household types.

Experts attribute the rise in poverty to the expiration of pandemic-era assistance.

California activists and Food assistance advocates are increasing efforts to expand spending on safety net programs. However, with California's State deficit expected to reach an unprecedented high of $68 billion for fiscal 2024-2025, it will be an uphill battle to expand food assistance.

#source1

#source2

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[megslay]

Gotta vent for a min! 😤 House Rep. Katie Porter ran to be CA's next senator. Her opponent was backed by corporate interests and they spent a sh!t TON of money to make Porter look BAD. Anyway, she said the election was "rigged" on Threads.

Well, well, well... pearl clutching neo-liberal mayo sapiens are having a MELTDOWN 🌋 and comparing her to Trump for stating the TRUTH.

Like, I was CRINGING 😬 because are they honestly that oblivious? Had to copy/paste this as a reply until Threads told me to cool it:

"She's correct though. Thanks to Citizens United, politics is rigged by corporate interests. It allows unlimited spending by corporations on political campaigns, which effectively amplifies their voice over yours. You should be upset at the state of politics, not Katie speaking truth to power."

Like, LAWD 🙏. Do voters NOT look into who is FUNDING 🤑 candidates before voting for them? Do they NOT KNOW about Citizens United?!?? Do they think it's "normal" and "okay" 👌 for billionaires and corporations to have more power than the people??? The lack of CRITICAL THINKING and COMMON SENSE is WILD. 😭

We have to overturn Citizens United ASAP!!!

[frankenshane]

Re: Price as DA, you-love-to-see-it.gif! And I hope that Thao is able to pull through and become mayor since this is such a genuinely close race.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Gavin Newsom BLOCKS MEGHAN'S Access to CA

I had to laugh at Lady C's commentary.

[californiastatelibrary]

The Honorable Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) was sworn in today as the 71st Speaker of the California State Assembly. He was able to sign a 522-year-old Parisian Bible alongside other California governors and state officials. This 16th-century bible had endpapers added when it was restored in the 19th century, allowing the original 16th-century paper to remain unmarred.

To learn more about the Parisian Bible, check out our video: https://www.tumblr.com/californiastatelibrary/721596248360189952/this-parisian-bible-is-522-years-old-since-1871

[racefortheironthrone]

Are you in favour of term limits for members of Congress? Like the way that say Michigan has stricter rules on how long you can be in. Or maybe something like they can't serve more than two consecutive terms, but could serve again after another term.

I am against term limits for pretty much all elected offices; I consider it to be the worst of the "good government" reforms, because its actual impact is so directly counter-productive to its intended outcome. After spending eight years in California politics at a time when term limits dominated state politics, I can say with some confidence that term limits had a poisonous and corrosive effect on both the political culture of the state and the policymaking process.

The logic behind term limits is that it is supposed to discourage the formation of a professional class of politicians and encourage the ideal of the disinterested citizen representative who serves his time in government and then goes home, a la Cincinnatus. This did not happen, because term limits doesn't actually change the electoral process to make it easier for amateurs to win elections, nor is it the case that there's a finite pool of professional or would-be professional politicians who will be disbarred from the political process.

Instead, term limits encouraged politicians to spend even less of their time focusing on the business of government and more time raising money and planning their re-relection, because now they had to develop a complicated hop-scotching career path that went from assembly to senate and then to some statewide office and then back down to county supervisor or something else minor, and so on.

Moreover, because the number of elected positions tends to dwindle as you move up the political ladder, this encouraged a vicious culture of musical chairs, where politicians constantly schemed to stab other politicians in the back to clear the field for their own campaigns. This led to some truly ugly primaries and a general low level of trust between politicians that made cooperation on legislation even more difficult.

Finally, let's talk public policy. Contrary to "good government" ideology, in reality being a legislator or an executive or a judicial officer is a real specialized profession that people have to develop expertise (both in the legislative or executive process, and the details of a certain subset of public policies that the politician cares about) over time. Term limits directly attack that development of expertise - if all you have is two terms and generally freshmen politicians spend their first terms with no clue as to what they're doing, you're never going to learn to be very good at your job, and you don't have much of an incentive to get good at your job because you're going to be kicked out permanently anyway. But you know who has infinite amounts of time to learn to get good at the political process and the details of public policy? Lobbyists for wealthy corporations. Very quickly, the lobbyists become the source of expertise that legislators turn to to help them write legislation and tell them how to vote, because they're the only ones who know what they're doing. Moreover, term limits massively encourage revolving door politics, because when everyone's running to keep ahead of the term limit axe, a permanent job that pays much better than legislative office and still lets you stay in politics sounds really good.

[deadpresidents]

I found a box where I keep some of the political memorabilia I've collected over the years and this brought a smile to my face.

This badge is from 25 years ago (a quarter-century ago!) and it was for the victory party at California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento to celebrate the very first political campaign that I ever volunteered on: Gray Davis for Governor.

I was 18 years old and had been canvassing and phone banking all fall and was a precinct captain on Election Day. It was such a great experience (except phone banking -- phone banking is a necessary evil, but it sucks and I've always hated it) and that night was so exciting despite the fact that there wasn't much doubt that we would win the Governor's race. At one point, Sacramento's legendary Mayor -- the late, great Joe Serna -- stepped on my foot and nearly fell down but proceeded to quickly regain his balance, smoothly put his arm around my shoulders and confidently say, "You're doing the Lord's work." I had no clue what he was talking about, but it was a pretty badass way to recover from almost falling on your ass in the middle of a big party.

I volunteered on Governor Davis's successful 2002 re-election campaign, too, but there was just something so special about that very first Election Night in 1998. It was also the first time I was able to vote, which was obviously a big deal for a kid who was a political nerd from a very young age. I lost some of my enthusiasm for politics the next year when Governor Davis was unfairly forced out of office with the 2003 Recall, thanks in large part to monumentally corrupt energy companies like Enron that helped incite a statewide energy crisis that Gov. Davis ended up being the scapegoat for, and ultimately led to the election of Governor Schwarzenegger in October 2003 (less than a year after Davis had been re-elected). Then the Democrats fielded the incredibly uninspiring Presidential ticket of John Kerry and John "World's Greatest Husband" Edwards in 2004 and I understandably didn't regain my interest in getting politically involved until a guy named Barack Obama announced he was running for President on a freezing cold day in Springfield, Illinois in February 2007.

[uboat53]

Well, I did a federal law, how about new California laws coming into effect this new year? Here's a few that might interest people:

1) The minimum wage is rising from $15 an hour to $15.50 an hour.

2) It's going to be illegal to charge more for a similar product marketed to women.

3) The Attorney General is going to create a reporting system where you can report stolen items that show up in online marketplaces.

4) It'll be illegal to use DNA from rape kits for any purpose other than identifying the rapist.

5) People will only be allowed to buy catalytic converters from certain specified sellers. There's been a huge increase in catalytic converter theft recently and the state is trying to crack down on it by limiting the ability to cash in on the theft.

6) Most pedestrian traffic violations are being removed unless poses a traffic hazard or risks a crash.

7) The definition of "gross negligence" is being expanded as it relates to vehicular manslaughter.

8) A new system is being set up to allow CHP to send out an alert when an indigenous person has been reported missing, similar to amber, blue, and silver alerts.

Source