PROFILE
FROM David Siders
California Democrats gather amidst divisions California Democrats are meeting this weekend in San Diego for their annual convention. In addition to guns and schools, there are fights with the Trump administration, a governor’s race, and Kevin DeLeon challenging Senator Dianne Feinstein for her seat. Some possible presidential candidates will be at the convention: Senator Kamala Harris, Mayor Eric Garcetti.
The evolution of Gov. Jerry Brown During his final State of the State address in Sacramento today, Governor Jerry Brown Brown remembered when he became governor the second time in 2011. Brown spent a lot of time discussing the environment, transportation, and education. He also vowed to defend Republicans who voted for a controversial gas tax increase, and again justified his High Speed Rail project. We talk about his speech and what to expect in his final year in office, plus how he has evolved from when he was first elected governor in 1974 to now.
Kevin de Leon v. Dianne Feinstein: David and Goliath? California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon announced his challenge to Senator Dianne Feinstein. De Leon is termed out as state senator. He admits his quest for the U.S. Senate is an uphill battle. He doesn’t have as much money or the name recognition Feinstein has. But he is capitalizing on a fury in California against the president, and painting Feinstein as too accommodating of Trump.
What Dianne Feinstein's run means for LA Mayor Garcetti and the Democratic Party Dianne Feinstein, the oldest serving U.S. Senator, wants another six years. She is “all in,” according to a tweet from her campaign. Polls show Californians are split as to whether she should seek a fifth full term. She’s 84 now.
Gov. Brown takes on global climate change Governor Jerry Brown is planning a “climate action” summit next year in San Francisco. Meanwhile, questions continue about California’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions through the cap-and-trade program.
After Kamala Harris' star moment at Sessions hearing, what's her political future? During his testimony Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked for a breather while being questioned by California Senator Kamala Harris. Harris’s tangle with Sessions got a lot of attention in the political press and on Twitter, and some of her colleagues didn’t like it either. Senators John McCain and Richard Burr interrupted her while she was questioning Sessions, and when she questioned Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein last week.
What Was Governor Brown Doing in Paris? Governor Brown may put a climate change measure on next year's California ballot. In the meantime, he's wrapped up five full days at the UN Climate Change Summit in Paris, trying to make California one of more than 100 sub-national jurisdictions to pledge reductions — not just in greenhouse gases but also in short-term pollutants. Governor Brown addresses the Paris Climate Conference, December 10, 2015 David Siders has been there, reporting for the Sacramento Bee .
Governor Brown's Busy Weekend of Bill Signing This afternoon, Governor Brown signed one of the most controversial measures in this year's legislative session. It's called "The End of Life" bill. David Siders, who covers the Capitol for the Sacramento Bee , has details on the legislation.
A Melting Climate Change Bill Governor Brown’s push to make California a worldwide leader in fighting climate change suffered two major defeats this week. Joining KCRW's Steve Chiotakis to discuss these developments are Ben Adler, Capitol Bureau Chief at Capital Public Radio, and David Siders, who covers state politics and the Brown administration for The Sacramento Bee.
Does Cleaning the Air Mean Curbing Your Driving? State Senate Bill 350 would increase the amount of electricity generated by renewable energy sources, including wind and solar. It would also reduce the petroleum content used by motor vehicles by 50% in the next 15 years. Supported by Governor Brown and written by Senate leader Kevin de León, it easily passed the upper house. Now it's in trouble in the Assembly. Here's part of a TV ad from the California Drivers' Allliance, which is funded by the Western States Petroleum Association.
Recap of the California Republican Convention in Burlingame Before this weekend's convention in Burlingame, California's Republican Party Chair, Jim Brulte, told reporters, the GOP "has been in decline for over two decades in this state." He said, "We have a significant rebuilding operation on our hands." David Siders is political reporter for the Sacramento Bee .
Gov. Brown Vetoes Measure to Lessen Drug Charges in Final Flurry of Bills Some prison reformers claim that California prisons are overcrowded in part because so many inmates are sentenced for nonviolent drug crimes that don’t harm other people. Senate bill 649 would have given prosecutors discretion to charge misdemeanors, instead of felonies, for drug possession. Over the weekend, Governor Brown vetoed the measure. David Siders covers state politics for the Sacramento Bee .
A 'Watershed Moment' for High-Speed Rail The ultimate cost of California's high-speed rail system has doubled from $43 billion to almost $100 billion, and the completion date has now been moved from 2020 to 2033. Those announcements came today from the High-Speed Rail Authority, which is taking its latest proposal to the state legislature under deadline pressure.
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