| | | | |  | | By Rachel Bluth | | | SAFE BET: When the Constitution is holding you back, it might be time to change the Constitution. That’s the theory behind Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest proposal, a national Right to Safety amendment, which POLITICO scooped in June. The amendment was introduced today by state Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Haywood) and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles). It lays out a national plan for gun control: universal background checks for anyone buying a gun, raising the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21, a minimum waiting period between a gun’s purchase and delivery, and a ban on assault weapons. Newsom is feeling hamstrung by the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment. He mentioned a recent conversation with President Joe Biden, in which Newsom commended him on his work to get a national assault weapons ban in place, but noted that it might amount to nothing. “I made the point, as well, that it may not matter, Mr. President, because it may not be constitutional,” Newsom told reporters on Friday. “And I don’t think people realize that.” The bill, which Newsom is no longer calling “the 28th amendment” to avoid confusion with a gender equality amendment that is also in the running to be the next constitutional change, is the centerpiece of his Campaign For Democracy PAC. His greatest hurdle won’t come from the California Legislature, which is expected to hustle the measure through in the busy final weeks of session, but from the next 33 state legislatures that also need to approve it. He was unfazed by the task as he talked with reporters Friday, saying he’d be doing some of the lobbying in person. Eventually, he said, the repetitive barrage of mass shootings will make the public so fed up that people will force states and cities to act. Essentially, something that seems next to impossible today might one day become the obvious next step. “I really believe this is going to happen, because it is that bad and this Supreme Court is that bad,” Newsom said. “It’s code red.” 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 rbluth@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open!
|  Gov. Gavin Newsom during a Feb. 1, 2023, news conference in Sacramento. | Getty Images | | | A message from The Nature Conservancy: Pass a $15B Climate Bond for People and Nature
From drought to megafires, climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of catastrophic events in California. While nature can achieve one-third of the greenhouse gas reductions needed to make our climate safer, nature-based solutions are significantly underfunded. But if we take steps now to ensure nature thrives, we can change our state’s trajectory. A well-funded $15 billion climate bond is California’s best path to resilience. | | | |  | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY | | CULTURE WARS: Legislative leaders are sitting down this evening with Newsom as they develop a response to school boards dominated by conservatives in Southern California that are adopting new rules related to transgender and nonbinary students. The boards are seeking to require staff to share the identities of any transgender and nonbinary students with their parents. The governor’s position on the subject, however, is unclear. Newsom, at an education event at an Elk Grove school, repeatedly declined to state his position on rules that have been condemned by Attorney General Rob Bonta and state Superintendent Tony Thurmond. The governor instead stressed his broader support for the LGBTQ community. “I know that the LGBTQ caucus has got some language they’re working on,” but he added that he hasn’t yet seen it. The governor said that he was “working to understand” such policies and that legislative discussions are a “work in progress.” — Blake Jones
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes. | | | | | | | ON THE BEATS | | HARVESTING THE SUN: California may be a national leader in both solar energy and agriculture, but it’s lagging behind other states in combining the two. Putting solar panels directly on active farmland is supported by the Biden administration, which provided $8 million for projects last year. The Midwest and Southeast lead the country in the number of what are also known as agrisolar projects. Early research suggests agrivoltaics can not only help produce renewable electricity, but also improve crop yields. “Sounds almost too good to be true,” California Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross quipped today during a panel on the practice held by the California Council on Science and Technology. In California, growers are more used to fighting utility-scale solar developers eyeing their land. Ross highlighted a proposal by state Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), SB 688, that would set up a grant program at the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for agrivoltaics research projects. The bill does not appropriate any funding. — Camille von Kaenel SCHOOL FIGHTS — A small group of conservative board members and parent-rights activists greeted returning lawmakers with a demonstration for local control amid clashes over school board policy — and as a handful of gender-affirming bills move through the Legislature. Assemblymember Bill Essayli — the activists’ most vocal ally in the Legislature — stood beside rally speakers, including Chino Valley Board of Education President Sonja Shaw. Essayli authored AB 1314, a failed effort to require schools to notify parents of a change in a student's pronouns or name. More recently, he has been collaborating with school boards statewide, including Chino Valley and Murrieta, to pass this policy. Essayli said his aim, in conjunction with his Coalition for Parental Rights, is to take AB 1314’s policy to every school district in the state. “We will accomplish our legislative priorities either through here or through the people directly,” Essayli said at the rally today. — Sejal Govindarao
| | | | A message from The Nature Conservancy:   | | | | | AROUND CALIFORNIA | | "Scientists discover new details on weather phenomenon behind some of California’s worst fires," by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Jack Lee: Lightning-ignited wildfires accounted for nearly half of the acres burned in Northern California from 2001 through 2022, according to data from the National Interagency Fire Center. "This L.A. Democrat is a ‘New Testament kind of guy’ — and one of California’s most powerful voices on criminal justice," by CalMatter’s Alexei Koseff: Jones-Sawyer is many things — a six-term Democratic state Assemblymember from Los Angeles, the founder of its reconfigured and ascendant progressive caucus, chairperson of the Assembly Public Safety Committee — but a minister is not one of them. "Hollywood strikes begin to impact Bay Area, but actors and writers plan to stick it out," by the East Bay Times’ Martha Ross: With no end in sight for the historic dual strikes by Hollywood writers and actors, anyone in the Bay Area who relies on movie and TV productions to earn a living or boost local events and city economies could soon feel the impact.
| | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | | "S.F. must create 82,000 new homes in 8 years. Is that even possible?" by the San Francisco Chronicle’s J.D. Morris and J.K. Dineen "LAUSD’s first day: ‘Boo hoo’ parent breakfast, more 4-year-olds, ambitious academic goals," by the Los Angeles Times’ Howard Blume and Kate Sequeira "‘Time to move on’: Mark Zuckerberg says he’s weary of Elon Musk stalling proposed cage fight," by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Nora Mishanec
| | A message from The Nature Conservancy: Nature’s Future Is Our Future
Without intervention, the cost of climate change to California is estimated to reach $113 billion annually by 2050 (CNRA’s Fourth Climate Assessment). By harnessing the climate change fighting power of nature, we can curb these costs. But in order for this to happen, we must invest in nature.
With the reality of state budget cuts, California needs to lock down a stable, long-term source of funding for nature-based climate solutions to protect our planet before it’s too late. In order to make this happen, California needs a climate bond. If we fail to invest in nature, we will lose one of the most important allies in our battle with climate change.
California Legislature: A $15 billion climate bond is essential to funding the nature-based solutions needed to protect our planet. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | 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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