California Legislature

A child gets on a school bus as law enforcement personnel guard the scene of a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. Photo by Marco Bello, Reuters

WhatMatters

California advances gun control bills amid Texas school massacre

Note: My amazing colleague Ben Christopher will be guest hosting the newsletter through June 3. I’ll see you on Monday, June 6 — just in time for California’s primary election! As news traveled around the country Tuesday of a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that left at least 22 dead — including 19 […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• May 25, 2022

The California Legislature is dominated by Democrats, but progressives and moderates are often at odds. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

Progressives vie with ‘mod squad’ for power in California Legislature

This year's California elections are a venue for the state Legislature's power struggle, pitting progressive Democrats against business -friendly moderates.

By

Dan Walters

• May 23, 2022

The capitol rotunda sits empty after the removal of the Queen Isabella statue earlier this summer. In past years, people would gather around the statue and try to pitch pennies into it during the end of session. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

WhatMatters

Inside one of the Capitol’s most secretive processes

There wasn’t a lot of light on what state lawmakers got up to on Thursday — literally. First, there was the power outage that swept across downtown Sacramento, delaying the start of the Assembly and Senate’s floor sessions. But it would have been understandable if you were left in the dark even after the electricity […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• May 20, 2022

Politics

The Great Culling: Which California bills did legislators kill?

On suspense file day, legislators killed about 220 California bills on issues including education, health care, housing and workers.

By

Alexei Koseff

• May 19, 2022

Mayra Paniagua and her three children inside their home in Oxnard on May 14, 2022. “With the stimulus payments we were able to continue making the car payment and the other household bills,” Paniagua said. “That helped us a lot.” Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

With inflation, California worries about progress on poverty

California lawmakers and activists are pressing Gov. Gavin Newsom to spend more to help the state’s poorest residents.

By

Alejandro Lazo

• May 16, 2022

California Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted inflation and abortion while unveiling his 2022-2023 state budget revision at a news conference in Sacramento on May 13, 2022. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

WhatMatters

Behind Newsom’s $301 billion budget, big financial concerns

California has a whopping $100 billion surplus, but looming financial threats could threaten the state's economy in just a few years.

By

Emily Hoeven

• May 16, 2022

California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils his 2022-2023 state budget revision during a news conference in Sacramento on Friday, May 13, 2022. California is expected have a record surplus. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

Politics

California’s $100 billion surplus: What to know about Newsom’s spending plan

Gov. Gavin Newsom reveals his revised May budget, including his inflation relief plan and spending priorities on education, the environment and more.

By

Ben Christopher

• May 13, 2022

Lawmakers on the Assembly floor on Jan. 31, 2022. Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Politics

Succession: How California lawmakers play the election game

In a year of unprecedented turnover in the California Legislature, several lawmakers are trying to bequeath their seats to relatives and staff members. Critics say they're trying to game the system.

By

Ben Christopher

• May 12, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during the State of the State in Sacramento on March 8, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

WhatMatters

Budget battles intensify amid competing priorities

The battle over the California budget is intensifying ahead of Gov. Newsom's May revision with a surplus as large as $68 billion.

By

Emily Hoeven

• May 12, 2022

Commentary

California must untangle snarled process for applying for affordable housing

We need far more affordable housing in our state, but in the meantime, Assembly Bill 1961, which would create a housing database, would make it much easier to apply for what we’ve got.

By

Guest Commentary

• May 11, 2022