Karen Bass

California Supremes To Consider Prop 8

Joe Mathews — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:28:00 -0500

No surprise, but the California Supreme Court today agreed to consider whether Prop 8 is constitutional. Both sides had sought a quick move by the court, and it looks like they're going to get it. More details here.

Other Prop 8 news: In a very interesting interview with the Sacramento Bee, California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, who is African-American, said that the post-Prop 8 debate has been "racialized" (because of exit polls showing widespread black support for the Prop 8 ban on same sex marriage) and described how friends of her who attended anti-Prop 8 protests had racial epithets hurled at them.

Is California's Long Budget Nightmare Over?

Joe Mathews — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:50:00 -0400

The office of Assembly speaker Karen Bass says there's a tentative agreement between Democratic and Republican legislative leaders. A vote on a budget is set for Monday. Details to come.

This Is What Happens To California Legislative Moderates

Joe Mathews — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:30:00 -0400

This picture from the Sacramento Bee is of the chief of staff to Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra packing up her office after Assembly Speaker Karen Bass kicked her out of the Capitol. Parra's crime? Showing a little independence. Parra, a Central Valley moderate Democrat from one of the few competitive legislative districts in the state, refused to vote for the Democratic budget proposal for a simple and good reason: the legislature refuses to pass a badly needed water bond even after it was presented with a bipartisan compromise fashioned by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

So Parra becomes the only legislator to not have an office in the Capitol. This is not the first time this punishment has been used. The previous speaker and the current Democratic leader in the Senate, Don Perata, have also kicked lawmakers out of their offices for the crime of showing independence. Something like this might make a good ad for Prop 11, the November ballot initiative to remove the power to draw districts from the legislature.

Updated: A few sources and readers point out that Parra is defending her district's interests, particularly the agricultural ones. Which is true. But that's no crime, and shouldn't get you tossed out of the Capitol. The point is that there is simply no room for independence.

California Round Up, Now Free Of Trans Fats

Joe Mathews — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:22:00 -0400

THE GROWING BALLOT: Friend of the blog Robert Greene has this excellent update on the rapidly expanding California ballot. The voters have done their part through signature gathering; now the legislature adds its own measure to the ballot.

HIGH SPEED RAIL: The much delayed bond measure establishing a high-speed rail system in California will finally appear on this November's ballot. But the legislature can't reach a compromise on oversight for the funding.

INTERESTING LOGIC: Steve Maviglio, Democratic strategist and aide to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, pens a column arguing that electing more moderates to the legislature would be bad for the budget process. His argument is that moderates would feel so much political heat that they'd be unlikely to compromise. Hmmm. Perhaps Steve would be right. But we do know for a fact that partisans of the left and the right, protected by a gerrymander, have little interest in compromise. (That's how the current legislature works -- or, more accurately, doesn't). I am skeptical about the depth of redistricting reform's iimpact, and share Steve's view that the 2/3 super-majority for tax increases and budgets is a much bigger part of the state's problem. But it's hard to see how moderate legislators would be less likely to compromise than our current hyper-partisans. Looking at the sad state of our current budget talks, one could argue that it might be worth trying something different.

Taxing Candy: California Speaker On Her 2010 Ballot Initiative

Joe Mathews — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:32:00 -0400

Los Angeles Times columnist/legend George Skelton has an excellent piece this morning on Karen Bass, the Assembly speaker. Most of the discussion is about Bass' effort to put together a tax reform commission. The good news is that she's pushing it. The bad news is that "the boys" -- the governor and other legislative leaders -- are holding it up until after the budget is finished. And that means a delay until next year at the earliest. Yes, the legislature may pass a budget in August or September, but voters likely will have to sign on to elements of it in November. If voters balk, we could be redoing the budget at Christmastime.

For followers of blockbuster democracy, the most interesting part of the column comes near the end, where Skelton quotes Bass on her plans to sponsor a $300 million ballot initiative in 2010 to fund foster care programs. She's decided on a funding source for the money; a tax on candy. Skelton's only mistake is not getting an answer to the next question: What does she consider candy? Certainly nothing made by See's, with its headquarters here in Los Angeles.

California Political Reform Round Up

Joe Mathews — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:29:00 -0400

BASS EXPANDS ON TAX REVIEW: The incoming California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass explains her plans for a tax reform commission in an interview with the Associated Press. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor, is quoted as saying that the governor is interested in tax reform but it's "not a substitute for reforming our broken budget system." Yes, and no. Clearly, the state budget process needs procedural changes, and there are strong arguments for establishing a real reserve and an ability to respond more effectively to changes in revenue. But the main failed attempts at spending-side budget reform suggests that budget reform may not be possible without tax reform.

NUNEZ PROPOSES COUNTER-MEASURES: Speaker Fabian Nunez, at his final news conference in that job, rolled out his three part plan of ballot measures. But there's considerable cynicism about the measures, particularly a redistricting one that looks like it has little purpose than as a weapon against Gov. Schwarzenegger's initiative, which appears headed for the November ballot. Nunez's reapportionment reform would create a 17-member commission to handle redistricting; 8 of the members would be appointed by legislators. Schwarzenegger's plan calls for a 14 member panel of citizens, chosen at random. Nunez's other proposals include a ban on fundraising at certain points in the legislative calendar and a measure nearly identical to the term limits initiative he unsuccessfully backed in February.

ANGELIDES BACKER GIVES TO ARNOLD REDISTRICTING: The Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulos, a major donor to the 2006 gubernatorial campaign of Democrat Phil Angelides, has given $25,000 to the redistricting reform initiative backed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Opponents of the measure have been harping on the long list of Republicans backing it. So the backing of a prominent Democrat is worth more than the amount of cash. In other redistricting news, signatures were submitted on Tuesday.

Monday Round Up: Speaker's Initiative; Arizona Transportation

Joe Mathews — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:09:00 -0400

NEW SPEAKER MAKES BALLOT INITIATIVE A PRIORITY: Here's another example of how thoroughly California has become a blockbuster democracy: the state's new Assembly Speaker, the formidable Karen Bass, has announced three priorities for her time as speaker. One is a ballot initiative to set aside funding for foster care. That's right, the speaker of the assembly, with considerable power, must look to the voters for a budget item. And her other two priorities -- balancing the budget and reforming the tax system -- almost certainly would require voters to sign off on constitutional changes at the ballot.

ARIZONA TRANSPORTATION: A $42 billion transportation tax initiative is expected to be filed in Arizona this week. And The Republic has a preview.

LEAGUE OF CITIES INVESTMENT: The California League of Cities has now put more than $4 million into its no on Prop 98/ Yes on Prop 99 campaign on eminent domain. The campaign's goal, which includes the counter measure Prop 99, is to stop an effort by property rights and taxpayer groups to limit municipalities' ability to take property. Hat tip, Election Track.

STATE GOP HAS A PULSE: California Republicans finally have been galvanized by something--the attempt to recall State Senator Jeff Denham. Via the LA Times.

SO WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO? Most of the time, your blogger doesn't understand conservative rage at the press. But once in a while, after an editorial like the following, he gets it. The Contra Costa Times says eminent domain shouldn't be changed at the ballot. But the legislature has failed to act one way or another in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision that dramatically expanded the rights of local governments to take land. In California's governing structure, where else would you suggest property rights advocates go?

ANOTHER LOOK AT CALIFORNIA ENERGY POLICY: Gov. Schwarzenegger has gotten very little criticism for his efforts on energy and global warming, but the Wall Street Journal had an interesting piece this weekend taking him on. I don't agree with much of it -- it's the classic conservative argument that mandates won't work -- but he draws blood in talking about California's self-congratulation even as it continues to rely on dirty, coal plants outside the state for much of its energy needs.