California Legislature

Politics

California utilities want customers to help pay wildfire damages. Will politicians oblige?

California utility companies worry they may be held liable for billions of dollars in damages from last year’s wildfires. State leaders may help them by changing liability rules.

By Laurel Rosenhall • March 21, 2018

Capitol

Capitol reporters ask Legislature to release harassment records routinely

So the Capitol Correspondents Association of California—which represents reporters who cover the statehouse—today sent a letter to the Legislature's leaders asking for an improved and consistent system for releasing information about substantiated cases of sexual harassment.

By Laurel Rosenhall • March 14, 2018

Health

Supreme Court challenge to California law could hand abortion foes a victory—or backfire on them

The case, which the U.S. Supreme Court will hear on March 20, is the latest battleground in a long legal debate at the intersection of free speech and abortion access.

By Laurel Rosenhall • March 14, 2018

Politics

Can’t they all get along? New Senate leader vows to cut Capitol’s ‘us vs them’ rivalry

Toni Atkins is set to make history as the first person in more than 100 years to lead both houses of the California Legislature. While no one expects her to erase the Capitol’s deep rivalries, she is well positioned to tamp them down.

By Laurel Rosenhall • March 6, 2018

Elections

California Election 2020: Updates and Analysis

Stay up-to-date on the latest California election news.

By CalMatters Staff • February 20, 2018

Capitol

A twist in the harassment saga, and some problems revealed by the records dump

A huge twist emerged this week in the Capitol’s months-long reckoning over sexual harassment: A female lawmaker who helped spark the movement to end misconduct is taking a leave of absence while she herself is being investigated for sexual harassment. An explosive report in Politico quoted a former legislative aide who accused Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia […]

By Laurel Rosenhall • February 9, 2018

Politics

With 14 harassment investigations underway, how do lawmakers handle the accused?

The California Senate's flailing efforts to deal with an accused colleague illustrate the challenges lawmakers face in response to revelations of sexual harassment that have swept the state Capitol.

By Laurel Rosenhall • February 7, 2018

Commentary

Commentary: Surging pension costs push more California cities toward bankruptcy

"We don't know how we're going to operate," one city official says.

By Dan Walters • February 4, 2018

Capitol

Lawmakers named as California Legislature—at last—releases some sexual harassment records

Four current lawmakers, two former lawmakers and a dozen legislative employees are named in a trove of records the California Legislature released today showing substantiated cases of sexual harassment over the last decade. The records show that the Capitol’s human resources staff affirmed complaints against state Sens. Bob Hertzberg and Tony Mendoza, both Democrats from […]

By Laurel Rosenhall • February 2, 2018

Commentary

If you’re not alarmed, you should be: Who’s left to hold California’s government accountable?

Media is declining nationally, but unique pressures have made California into America’s laboratory for a dangerous experiment about what happens to the public interest when policy is made without public awareness or accountability. In just the last three weeks, four major announcements about California media indicate a troubling downward spiral is accelerating.

By David Lesher • January 24, 2018