{"id":305783,"date":"2023-06-30T05:35:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T12:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/?p=305783"},"modified":"2023-06-30T13:41:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T13:41:00","slug":"robert-rivas-assembly-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/_zh\/politics\/capitol\/2023\/06\/robert-rivas-assembly-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert Rivas takes charge as California Assembly speaker"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u603b\u4e4b<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

After a prolonged transition, the Salinas Democrat was sworn in as Assembly speaker today, taking over from Anthony Rendon. They\u2019re ideologically similar so the differences may be more in leadership style than policy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n

\u9605\u8bfb\u8fd9\u7bc7\u6587\u7ae0 \u897f\u73ed\u7259\u8bed<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a day that seemed like it might not ever happen: \u7f57\u4f2f\u7279\u00b7\u91cc\u74e6\u65af<\/a> was sworn in this morning as the next speaker of the California Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ascension of the Salinas Democrat to lead the lower chamber of the Legislature brings to a definitive close (for now) a dramatic power struggle that bitterly divided the majority caucus of the Assembly last summer and fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must work with urgency and unity \u2014 unity that is backed by mutual trust and respect,\u201d Rivas said during a speech in the Assembly chambers of the state Capitol attended by top California political figures, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. \u201cThis approach will allow us to make measurable progress on the most critical issues facing Californians. It will show the rest of the country that progressive government works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internal changes that shake up how the state Capitol operates, such as rewarding close allies with powerful leadership roles<\/a> and committee posts, are coming as soon as next week. What Rivas\u2019 tenure will mean for the average Californian is less certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rivas has a similar ideological profile to his longtime predecessor<\/a> \u2014 the outgoing Speaker \u5b89\u4e1c\u5c3c\u00b7\u4f26\u767b<\/a>, a progressive Democrat from Lakewood \u2014 so supporters do not expect a dramatic shift in the priorities of Assembly Democrats. The role is often far more about member management than policy anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But supporters point to his promise, as he cobbled together votes last year from a diverse coalition of members, to establish an inclusive decision-making process, which they hope will lead to a more coherent and intentional legislative agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m expecting to see progress bringing the caucus together to address the most long-standing and significant policy issues facing California,\u201d such as housing<\/a> \u548c climate change<\/a>, said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel<\/a>, a Woodland Hills Democrat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Rivas could also potentially ring in an era of closer collaboration with Newsom, who has clashed at times with lawmakers as he has increasingly sought to pursue his ambitious agenda<\/a> through the Legislature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At an event Thursday, Newsom expressed excitement about working with Rivas, whom he noted was an early endorser of his as Newsom launched his campaign for governor before winning his first term in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have a bias for him. He was there for me early, when I first ran for governor, when others didn\u2019t want to jump in the primary,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cI\u2019m a big fan of the incoming speaker. So I feel blessed, because it\u2019s not always the case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A long transfer of power<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rivas first made his move on the speakership more than a year ago, prompting a messy six-hour standoff<\/a> in a closed-door caucus meeting that concluded with Rendon still in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That might have marked the end for Rivas\u2019 aspirations, but he continued to aggressively cultivate support in the lead-up to the November election, particularly among new candidates running for their first term in the Assembly. He set up his own fundraising operation<\/a> to support their campaigns, which effectively served as a rival to the California Democratic Party\u2019s efforts, irking Rendon and his allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rivas was also boosted by Govern For California, a donor network pushing the boundaries of state campaign finance law<\/a>, whose political advisers include his brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After another six-hour meeting with the newly-elected Assembly Democratic caucus in November, Rivas emerged with an agreement<\/a> to finally take over as speaker on June 30 \u2014 though even that didn\u2019t entirely calm potential challengers<\/a> during the lengthy transition period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raised in farmworker housing<\/a> on the rural Central Coast by his single mother and grandparents<\/a>, Rivas will add a fresh outlook to a role that is traditionally held by members from the urban corridors of power in Los Angeles or the Bay Area, according to his supporters. They frequently point to his rise as an illustration of the California dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach of us brings to the floor different lived experiences and perspectives,\u201d said Assemblymember \u4e3d\u8d1d\u5361\u00b7\u9c8d\u5c14\u00b7\u5361\u6c49<\/a>, an Orinda Democrat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That could benefit agricultural communities and other groups who are not generally the central focus of policy-making in Sacramento.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8bae\u5458 \u5df4\u83f2\u5a01\u514b\u65af<\/a>, an Oakland Democrat, said that because of his upbringing, Rivas is sensitive to the needs of people who don\u2019t have a lobbyist advocating for them at the Capitol and he will fight for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an incredibly kind, thoughtful leader,\u201d Wicks said. \u201cAnd in politics, that\u2019s not always a given, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rivas and his allies heavily emphasized his rags-to-riches biography and rural roots in their remarks at today\u2019s swearing-in ceremony, which also made time for a performance from an all-female mariachi band and recognitions of farmworkers and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it was a brief call during Rivas\u2019 speech for members to focus \u201cless on how many bills we can pass and more on the impact we are having\u201d that drew attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Rivas said he did not plan to institute new limits on the number of bills \u2014 there are thousands each session \u2014 that lawmakers can introduce. But he did suggest that, as someone who \u201cthrives off structure,\u201d he would aim to facilitate priorities and develop annual goals for the Assembly Democratic caucus in a way that might not have been possible before voters extended legislative term limits a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomething could be said about the forward-looking nature of members serving at that time, always trying to position themselves for what was next,\u201d Rivas said. \u201cWe have a little bit more time here with the longer term limits, so I think it\u2019s very important for us to also look in the rearview mirror. There are a lot of laws that maybe we can improve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t\n\t\t

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California Assembly Speaker Rendon: The exit interview<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t

As of Friday, Anthony Rendon will no longer be the speaker of the California Assembly \u2014 the culmination of a messy and protracted handover of power to Democratic Assemblymember Robert\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\u5934\u50cf\u7167\u7247<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby<\/span> Lynn La<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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A speakership deal: Rendon, Rivas agree on handover<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t

After maneuvering for months, Anthony Rendon and Robert Rivas make a deal on who will be Assembly speaker in the next Legislature. Rendon will stay on, but Rivas will take\u2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\u5934\u50cf\u7167\u7247<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby<\/span> Alexei Koseff<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The California Legislature is back: Five key questions<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t

The California Legislature reconvenes with record diversity, but with several key questions and many significant challenges.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\u5934\u50cf\u7167\u7247<\/a>\u5934\u50cf\u7167\u7247<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby<\/span> Alexei Koseff<\/a><\/span> and Sameea Kamal<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t