POLITICO California Playbook PM: Marching toward another veto

Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Aug 29, 2022 View in browser   By Alexander Nieves NEWSOM v. UFW: California lawmakers are a step closer to passing legislation that would make it easier for farmworkers to vote in union elections — but face a Newsom-sized wall standing in the way of it becoming law. The state Senate passed a bill, AB 2183, this afternoon that would give agricultural workers the option to cast ballots by mail in union elections in addition to voting in-person. Backers of the bill include the United Farm Workers, who say it would make union elections more accessible and boost representation in a sector where many workers make poverty-level wages. The overwhelming embrace of the measure from Senate Democrats comes just days after thousands of people rallied in support of it on the grounds of the state Capitol after completing a 24-day march from Delano to Sacramento. A final vote in the Assembly to approve amendments made in the Senate could happen tonight, according to Sean Porter, a staffer for bill author Assemblymember Mark Stone. But it could be the beginning of the end for the bill. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Friday announced that the governor was not satisfied with the legislation and that he was prepared to veto it, barring last-minute changes. Erin Mellon, Newsom's communications director, wrote in a statement that the administration couldn't "support an untested mail-in election process that lacks critical provisions to protect the integrity of the election." Instead, the administration wants UFW support for legislation it has proposed. Newsom already vetoed a previous version of the bill last year, arguing that it had " various inconsistencies and procedural issues" around collection and review of ballot cards. Porter said the bill, which hasn't taken amendments since Newsom's ultimatum, won't be changed before the Assembly vote. That means the window for a resolution that makes Newsom, lawmakers and UFW happy is all but shut. HAPPY MONDAY AFTERNOON! Welcome to California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to anieves@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open! WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY ABORTION FUNDING FIX: A late amendment to the state budget would set aside $20 million in funding for people seeking abortion care in California — including patients traveling from out of state. This was always the plan. Senate Bill 1142 from Sens. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), introduced early in the year, set out to create such a fund to help patients from any state pay for travel, lodging, childcare, meals and other expenses. But while a $20 million fund initially made it into the state budget, it was for in-state travel only, a shift that unnerved abortion rights activists. The latest version of the budget proposal, in AB 204, removes those restrictions, allowing the money to be used by people traveling from other states. The fund will also accept additional private donations to help cover costs. The Legislature has until midnight Wednesday to approve this and other legislation. — Victoria Colliver ON THE BEATS TO 'DEAD ENDS': California is now a step closer to ending most community college classes, like algebra, that don't give students credit toward transferring to a four-year university. The state Assembly today gave its final approval to Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin 's (D-Thousand Oaks) AB 1705, which would make it more difficult for California's 116 community colleges to enroll students in remedial education courses. Critics of remedial education, which include administrators and student leaders within the sprawling college system, frame the courses as dead-end classes that trap Black and Latino students in two-year schools. College faculty disagree, contending the classes help ease students into college-level work. The bill, which Newsom can soon sign into law, is aimed at strengthening an unevenly enforced 2017 law on the subject. Some colleges dragged their feet in enforcing that law, but remedial education offerings have now drastically fallen off, found a new analysis from the California Acceleration Project, a reform advocate. Now, only 7 percent of introductory math classes being offered are remedial, down from 25 percent two years ago. The passage of AB 1705 could drive that number even lower. — Blake Jones SUBSIDIZING DUES: California workers who pay union dues will get a tax credit, starting in 2024, and the first-in-the-nation proposal could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions annually. A bill introduced in the Senate on Friday fleshed out a proposal for the credit, which was originally included in the state budget passed in June. State lawmakers and union organizers say the program would help low-wage employees, who are less likely to itemize taxes and weren't taking advantage of an existing union dues deduction. AROUND CALIFORNIA — "For many with student loans, the interest hurts the most. This congressman would know," by the Los Angeles Times' Arit John: "Forty-three million Americans owe a collective $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt. About $85,400 of that belongs to Eric Swalwell." "His debt has followed him from law school to the Alameda County district attorney's office and the Dublin City Council. It was looming in the background a decade ago when he ran for Congress at 31, defeating a 20-term incumbent to represent a Bay Area district, and it was at the forefront of his brief presidential campaign in 2019, when he made it clear he'd be paying off the loans in the White House if he won." CONSIDERING CARE — "As CARE Court faces key vote, counties say Newsom's proposal adds burden to overtaxed behavioral health departments," by CapRadio's Chris Nichols and Nicole Nixon: "The proposal known as Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court — or CARE Court — would set up a new branch in the judicial system. It would allow first responders and family members to petition a county judge to order treatment for people suffering from addiction or severe mental illness." "But civil and disability rights groups, county officials and other advocates say CARE Court is the wrong approach and that they lack the resources to staff and deliver the treatment required." Compiled by Sakura Cannestra. MIXTAPE — "Woman Who Died in SF Homeless Encampment Fire Was Mother of 3 and Had Been Evicted," by KQED's Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez and Annelise Finney. — "Tesla says it doesn't have a race problem. Hundreds of complaints from workers say otherwise," opines Ankita Mukhopadhyay for the San Francisco Chronicle. — " Get ready for Southern California's hottest and longest heat wave of the year," by the Los Angeles Times' Alexandra E. Petri.   Follow us on Twitter Katy Murphy @katymurphy POLITICO California @politicoca   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

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