Well, the Speaker isn’t very pleased:
Tag Archives: John Perez
No Majority Vote Measures?
Here’s the thing: The Republicans understand that there have to be some additional revenues. They know that even they couldn’t come up with the full $25 Billion in cuts in any way that could possibly help them politically. But, on the other side, they are terrified of their own base.
This is where it gets interesting. Sen. Bob Dutton, the Republican Leader in the Senate asked the Legislative Counsel if there is any way for the Democrats to put something on the ballot on their own, sans the 2/3 majority. Now, Dutton would probably tell you out in public that this is just to stop the tax hikes or something like that. But, you have to think that Dutton was secretly hoping that the Democrats could do the dirty work while the Republicans could maintain their ideological purity by never voting for anything that possibly resembles an increase in taxes.
Speaker Perez, for his part, doesn’t seem to be taking the bait, and has cast that aside right from the get-go:
Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez said Wednesday that he has no intention of sidestepping Republicans by trying to place a tax-extension measure on the June ballot by a simple majority vote of the Legislature.
Pérez downplayed a legislative counsel’s opinion, sought by Senate Republican leader Bob Dutton, that indicated such a measure could be placed before voters without the support of GOP lawmakers, under narrow circumstances.
“No,” Pérez said flatly when asked if he is entertaining such a plan for the tax measure proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown to raise $11 billion for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2012.
“There is not a single legal analysis that I think holds any water that says we could legitimately put this question before voters on a simple majority vote,” Pérez told the Sacramento Press Club. (SacBee)
I’ll admit, I’m a bit split on this move. From a practical standpoint, I’m a bit skeptical that the Democrats will, in fact, be able to lure enough GOP votes. Keeping open the majority vote measure as a way to whip some GOP votes into making some sort of deal seems to make some sense.
But, guessing at the Speaker’s logic here, in order to pass this thing at the ballot, you are probably going to need at least nominal GOP support. If you have them running around saying how awful this package is, it could create a pretty dicey situation for the actual election.
At any rate, despite the Speaker’s protests, I would still not count out the concept of a majority vote measure quite yet.
Perez and Steinberg Announce Clean Energy Jobs Initiative
(Cross-posted from Groundswell, the California League of Conservation Voters blog.)
This morning Assembly Speaker John Pérez and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg announced the Clean Energy Jobs Initiative, a package of four bills that focus on green jobs and clean energy growth.
Why the focus on green jobs? You might remember that a couple weeks ago I reported on a report by nonpartisan think-tank Next 10 that shows green jobs in California growing more than three times faster than overall state employment. During this time of economic recession and high unemployment in California, it makes sense for our legislative leaders to focus on the job sector that's growing relatively rapidly.
From the press release, the four bills in the package are:
- 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard (Sen. Joe Simitian): This measure requires both public and private energy providers to procure 33 percent of California’s electricity from renewable resources (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) by 2020.
- Streamlined Siting for Renewable Energy Projects (Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez): This measure reduces red tape, expediting the siting and construction of renewable energy projects throughout California.
- Career Technical Education (Senator Darrell Steinberg): This measure aligns high school curriculum with high-demand jobs in emerging markets. Grant funding would be provided to high schools for delivering the skills and knowledge students need for successful employment in clean energy field. Such curriculum restructuring will also encourage students to stay in school because they’ll know they’re gaining real-world skills from their studies.
- Economic Incentives to Increase Energy Efficiency (Assembly Member Nancy Skinner): This bill would use a portion of state ratepayer funds to provide loan guarantees for residents and small business owners investing in energy efficiency and renewable technologies on homes and commercial property. Reducing loan risk also reduces loan interest rates, increasing demand for energy improvements which in turn increases production and the jobs that come with it.
CLCV is excited to see the leaders of both houses focusing on the environment. We have not yet fully reviewed the proposed legislation so we're reserving comments on most of the package details.
The one bill we wholeheartedly support is Senator Simitian's 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) bill. We've been working on this issue for years because a 33% RPS would have huge environmental and economic impacts, including:
- displacing nearly 13 million metric tons of global warming emissions in 2020—equivalent to removing almost 3 million cars from the road, or enough to avoid 10 to 15 new large fossil fuel power plants;
- stimulating clean technology investment and innovation, and creating “green collar jobs;”
- diversifying the state’s energy supply and protecting consumers from natural gas price volatility;
- helping to meet our pollution cap under the Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32;
- promoting long-term planning for infrastructure needed to support high levels of renewable energy development; and
- improving air quality in vulnerable communities.
Thanks to Speaker John Pérez and President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg for continuing to lead on building a greener California. We look forward to working with them on this package and to passing RPS legislation in 2011!
Speaker Perez Lays Out a Budget Plan
The Speaker has a budget plan that he is calling the California Jobs Budget. While his language could do better on the framing of revenue, it is certainly a stronger approach than the Governor’s cuts-only madness.
from California Forward Co-Chair Thomas McKernan
“Nothing in the California Forward plan makes it easier to raise taxes or fees. The plan keeps the two-thirds vote requirement to raise taxes, and prevents lawmakers from replacing a tax with a fee to dramatically increase revenue. There’s no doubt in my mind that if the California Forward plan had been in effect years ago, our state would be in far better financial shape,” said Tom McKernan, California Forward’s Republican co-chair.
Comment from former state Senator Bruce McPherson
“The California Forward plan would introduce a key reform to our budget process – performance-based budgeting. That means the Governor, the Legislature and every state agency would have to determine what taxpayers are getting for their money, and how they could do a better job. Many states and local governments have used this practice to balance their budgets and get better results. Why should California get left out?” said former State Senator Bruce McPherson (R-Monterey).
Will New Leadership Bring Change?
Today’s the day. THE DAY? What, you don’t know which day today is? Well, it’s transition day, of course. Speaker Bass is making way for Speaker Perez.
John Perez officially takes over today as assembly speaker, a position considered the second-most powerful job in California politics.
In a ceremony being compared to an inauguration, Perez will outline his priorities – jobs, jobs, jobs and perhaps a bit on education and, oh yeah, that multibillion-dollar budget problem. He is expected to be speaking to a full house, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Gov. Gray Davis and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Perez’s cousin. (LA Daily News)
These are all important goals, but what role does a Speaker really have in today’s broken government? Let’s face it, the past two years, the past 6 years, really, have been something of a disaster. The reckoning that we had feared came to pass. And given the 2/3 supermajority rules, we were unable to really fight back. The best we could get was apparently the February deal, which we can all agree was something of a disaster. See May 19.
And into this disaster walks John A. Perez. While both are pretty staunch progressives, it’s hard not to notice the differences between he and Speaker Bass. He’s an operator of political levers in a way that Speaker Bass never mastered. Perhaps given more time, Bass would have gotten there, but Perez lives and breathes this stuff.
But is that helpful? It’s a defining question for the Assembly Democratic Caucus, but perhaps it should be reframed for general purposes. Can Perez be the guy who brings in not only the day to day of operating the Assembly, but also brings forward a grand vision for California that the Legislature has been lacking. It’s a big burden to put on anybody.
In California’s governmental climate, the role of Speaker must be as much of a media figure as a legislative figure. You must be able to legislate, of course. But given that much of the legislative power now resides in the wishy-washy electorate, the Speaker must be able to go directly to the people.
And that’s the question that must be resolved. Perez can never do it on his own, but he must lead the Caucus and the Party into a drive for real communication with all Californians.
Somebody Started the Music in LA, Commence Chair Swapping
Back when John Perez was just starting to take command of the Speaker race, Sen. Gil Cedillo was threatening to run in the primary against him. He never really gave any clear reasons for doing so, just that he had another 2 years left in the Assembly under term limits. Oh, and he had a poll showing that he could win. But, you know how polls go, when a sitting Assembly speaker is challenged, there might be some money flowing to the race.
So, conveniently enough for Cedillo, Asm. Kevin DeLeon has announced that he will be vacating his Assembly seat and running for Cedillo’s senate seat.
“It has been and continues to be an honor to serve the communities of our region as a member of the Assembly,” De León said, “Today, I am announcing my strong desire to continue that work by running for the California State Senate. Now more than ever we need legislators who are dedicated to protecting vital public services, education, and public safety. These are extraordinarily difficult times and I will work tirelessly for the constituents of the 22nd Senate District.” (Capitol Weekly)
This situation is probably the best for all concerned, except that DeLeon doesn’t get to become Speaker. At any rate, DeLeon had only one Assembly term left, we get a four year Speaker, and avoid a nasty primary fight.
How convenient.
It’s Official: Speaker-Elect John Perez
Congratulations to Speaker-Elect John A. Perez.
Los Angeles Democrat John Perez has been elected the next leader of the California Assembly, becoming the first openly gay lawmaker to lead either house of the Legislature.
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Perez was elected speaker Thursday on a 48-26 party-line vote. (SJ Merc)
The Republicans, who voted unanimously for Speaker Bass, apparently couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a Perez. Whether that is because of his sexuality or his politics, I leave to your judgment, good reader.
Kevin De Leon drops out, leaving John A. Perez to be the Next Speaker
Apparently, some sort of deal was reached, and Asm. Kevin De Leon will be backing down from his attempt at Assembly Speaker. That leaves freshman John A. Perez as the lone Democratic candidate.
Assemblyman John A. Perez’s final opponent has bowed out, setting the stage for the first-term Democrat to be selected Assembly speaker today — the first openly gay man to hold the post.
After behind-closed-door talks this week with Perez and other political leaders, Assemblyman Kevin de Leon agreed to bow out and is expected to nominate Perez in an Assembly Democratic Caucus today, Capitol sources said.(SacBee)
While this was a bit more heated and public than you would like to see, it is a good sign that the caucus was ultimately able to weather this storm without bringing the fight to the floor. A vote is expected very soon, with Bass serving some sort of transition period.