Shut up and drive (under the speed limit)

Presented by Chamber of Progress: Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Apr 24, 2024 View in browser   By Dustin Gardiner Presented by  Vehicles making their way westbound on Interstate 80 across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco. | Ben Margot/AP SPEED BUMP — State Sen. Scott Wiener wants to legalize psychedelic drugs for therapy, rein in artificial intelligence models and force cities to allow more apartment buildings along the coast. But it’s his legislation to stop drivers from speeding that’s causing the biggest backlash. Wiener’s office said it’s received more phone calls and hate mail over that bill than almost any other thorny issue he’s championed during his eight years at the state Capitol, with critics calling it a prime example of California’s “nanny state” zeal. He finally gave into the pressure this week, watering down a bill that — as originally written — would have required new passenger cars be equipped with a special device that prevents driving more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit. Even the state’s top Democrat, Gov. Gavin Newsom, had said that he worried the concept of speed-limiting devices could be weaponized by Republicans in an election year. The new version of Wiener’s bill — which cleared the Senate Transportation Committee on an 8-4 vote — only requires cars to have a passive warning system, similar to beeping seatbelt alerts. Earlier, he had pushed back against critics opposed to speed limiters, but ultimately decided to scale the bill back after hearing from fellow lawmakers uncomfortable with a device that physically blocks speeding. “We listened, we heard, worked with the committee and changed it,” Wiener, a San Franciso Democrat known for taking on bruising fights, told the committee. His revamped proposal, Senate Bill 961, would apply to half of new vehicles starting in 2029 and all new vehicles by 2032. Eventually, all new cars would have to be equipped with visual and audio signals that alert drivers when they've exceeded the speed limit. The bill still likely faces opposition from car manufacturers and business groups wary of another California regulation. But the Golden State wouldn’t be the first locality to require speed governors as a way to improve traffic safety: The European Union will require some form of a speed limiter to be installed in all new vehicles starting in July. Ultimately, the key pressure on Wiener seems to have come from within his own party, as Newsom and other more moderate-leaning Democrats try to discourage liberal lawmakers from wading into dicey fights ahead of the November election. Wiener didn't receive substantive input on the bill from Newsom's office, his spokesperson, Erik Mebust, said Wednesday. That said, the governor signaled his wariness about the idea in January. “It's not a fundamental issue,” Newsom told POLITICO, as he described his concern about emboldening Republicans. “It’s all of these death by 1,000 cuts.” — with help from Alex Nieves and Christopher Cadelago IT’S WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to dgardiner@politico.com.   A message from Chamber of Progress: SB 1490 is not the right way forward. We commend the CA legislature for adjusting the bill, but this well-intentioned legislation still has unintended consequences. Learn how this bill hurts more than helps.   WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY Gov. Gavin Newsom introduces legislation to allow Arizona Doctors to perform abortions in California amid threats of a near-total ban in Arizona. | Sarah Grace Taylor for POLITICO ARIZONA’S ABORTION ROLLERCOASTER: California state leaders came out swinging against Arizona’s near-total abortion ban this morning, though the legislation they proposed may not be needed for long. Hours after the news conference in Sacramento, the Arizona House voted to repeal the state’s ban, and the state’s Senate appears poised to vote the same way. The bill, backed by Newsom and other Democrats, would allow doctors licensed in Arizona to perform abortion care in California. The bill would further California’s efforts to be an abortion sanctuary as 22 other states have passed stricter bans or limitations on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. “It is just really sick what's happening in this country right now,” Newsom said, citing bans in other states like Arizona, Tennessee and Alabama. “... We want to lend our hand, not just our hearts.” A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood in California said that even with today’s vote in Arizona, the organization is preparing to help those who are seeking care out of their state. “Planned Parenthood in California appreciates Governor Newsom looking at all options to respond to the ever-changing, chaotic national abortion landscape and welcomes any tool at the disposal of abortion providers to make sure care continues for all who seek it in California," Communications Manager Shelby McMichael told Playbook. — Sarah Grace Taylor    THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists. Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY.     ON THE BEATS CENTRAL VALLEY CRACKDOWN: Bakersfield is getting the Oakland treatment. Newsom announced today that he’ll send California Highway Patrol to the Central Valley to provide additional law enforcement presence, mirroring moves made in Oakland and San Francisco earlier this year. The operation will focus on auto thefts and retail crime, according to a release from Newsom’s office. “We are working hand-in-hand with our local law enforcement partners to increase police operations, stop crime and keep the Central Valley safe,” Newsom said, noting that the CHP retail theft effort has conducted 185 investigations, leading to 474 arrests and recovering more than 160,000 stolen goods valued at $4.2 million. — Sarah Grace Taylor SIDEWALK BRAWL: San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan was giving a TV interview today when someone confronted reporters and got into a physical fight with the mayor’s security detail. Mahan’s security guard intervened as a passer-by began a profanity-riddled argument with KRON 4 reporters during a recorded interview. The aggressor then threw a punch at Mahan’s security, launching about a three-minute fight between the two. Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig — a proponent of amending or repealing Proposition 47, a criminal justice reform that downgraded penalties for some crimes — said on social media that changing the law could prevent similar incidents. “It’s more stark evidence that California’s urban centers have been turned into dangerous places, where seriously addicted, mentally ill and many violent people now roam freely due to weak state laws that have eroded accountability, deterrence and our quality of life,” Reisig wrote. — Sarah Grace Taylor   A message from Chamber of Progress:   WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY — The City of Fresno commemorated the 1.5 million people killed or displaced during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. (Fresno Bee) — The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill to ban California cities from giving away a cut of sales tax revenue to attract or keep the warehouses and offices of some of the world’s largest retailers. (Bloomberg)   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.     AROUND THE STATE — Supreme Court justices sounded skeptical about siding with a Los Angeles woman who claimed her constitutional rights were violated when the government denied a visa to her Salvadoran husband, in part over his tattoos. (Los Angeles Times) — Solano County’s library network systems have been down for more than two weeks due to a cyberattack that has disrupted phone lines, computer services and Wi-Fi at its branches. (San Francisco Chronicle)   A message from Chamber of Progress: Overly broad language and ill-defined provisions are at the heart of SB 1490’s problems. Wanting to protect restaurants is admirable, but this bill actually makes it more difficult for platforms to offer new services and may threaten the ones restaurants already value. The bill also mandates protections for bad-faith third parties, calling into question who this bill is intended to help. Learn more about how this bill backs the wrong group.     Follow us on Twitter Sarah Grace Taylor @_SarahGTaylor   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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