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Politico
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
California Republicans help clinch megabill
DRIVING THE DAY: If your inbox exploded this afternoon, it was the sound of the House passing Donald Trump's megabill. Vulnerable California Republicans who helped push the legislation across the finish line were facing enormous pressure from the president and his allies. But it was a perilous vote. Central Valley Rep. David Valadao and Orange County Rep. Young Kim ultimately supported the domestic spending package in spite of deeper Senate Medicaid reductions they criticized in a letter to Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson just last week. Now, they will confront a barrage of attacks from Democrats. More than 60 percent of Valadao's constituents are recipients of Medi-Cal, the state's version of the federal health care program for the poorest Americans. Valadao said in a statement that the vote was 'not an easy decision for me.' While he still has concerns about some of the Medicaid changes, he was heartened to see money for rural hospitals included in the bill. 'Ultimately, I voted for this bill because it does preserve the Medicaid program for its intended recipients — children, pregnant women, the disabled, and elderly,' he said. FUNDS LACKING: Five years after Gov. Gavin Newsom created a task force to study reparations, California Democrats still can't get an agency to administer programs off the ground. The latest setback came this week, with lawmakers and Newsom unwilling to put money behind a state office needed to power programs for descendants of slaves — a project that's become mired in deficit woes and shifting politics. The state budget Newsom signed did not contain funding to stand up the agency. Caucus Chair Akilah Weber Pierson's bill establishing the office continues to move through the Capitol, although without funding it will be vulnerable to a veto even if it clears the Legislature. Caucus members and their allies insist they've made progress enacting hundreds of recommendations to address discrimination and create a more equitable state. But Black lawmakers have struggled to advance foundational legislation that requires ongoing state dollars, especially as leaders just spent most of the year closing a $12 billion spending gap. They're also up against a backlash to the racial justice movement that took hold five years ago, as well as a presidential administration trying to rid the country of DEI initiatives. Last year, a proposal to stand up a reparations agency stalled on the final day of session amid infighting in the Black Caucus and last-minute amendments from Newsom. This year's attempt is now on shaky ground, hinging on a longshot effort to fund it. Los Angeles Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, caucus vice chair, acknowledged these difficulties during an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing this week. 'If anything is to get established, it's probably going to take some incredible lifting from the Black Caucus,' he said. 'We're not talking about one-time money. We're talking about ongoing money during a deficit.' The budget did include the $12 million state leaders had set aside for reparations last year. Half of that will go to a California State University study determining how people will prove they're descendants of slaves, and the rest will fund an educational campaign about reparations administered by the Tides Foundation, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that supports progressive social causes. Riverside Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a caucus member, said the group 'always knew this was going to be a long process.' 'We know we're going to get it done,' Jackson said of the agency. 'The question is when? And so every year we'll reintroduce it, because you never know what the budget situation is going to be.' Despite the setbacks, Jackson and task force member Lisa Holder framed lawmakers' progress as significant, given the state of the reparations movement nationally. 'Since emancipation, African Americans have been calling on these governments to put money toward harm repair, reparations,' Holder told Playbook in an interview before the budget was finalized. 'This is the first time that a state has put $12 million just to create a pathway for legislation.' Jackson called California's movement 'the only game in town in the nation,' a situation underlined in May, when Maryland Gov. Wes Moore vetoed a bill that would've created a similar reparations task force in his state. Illinois and New York previously passed bills to study reparations. But some reparations supporters are tired of studies. One faction has gone as far as opposing Black Caucus bills, arguing they are too incremental and don't advance their cause. Bryan said he fears the agency money won't come through because of such 'distractions,' which offer an 'easy out to not do anything budgetarily because folks are confused by spectacles like this.' 'It's important for the governor to put dollars into this effort,' he said. 'And it's important for the state to put efforts [into] this. And I'm hoping there's future budget trailer bills coming down the line that include priorities for Black Californians.' IT'S THURSDAY 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 lholden@ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY DEPORTATION DEBATE: State senators today debated for hours over a resolution condemning ICE raids and the president's troop deployment in response to Los Angeles deportation protests. Democrats spoke about how they had been personally affected by ICE arrests, while Republicans said federal action was the result of California policies making it harder for immigration officials to target criminals. But with Democrats in charge in Sacramento, the resolution passed. Baldwin Park state Sen. Susan Rubio said she carries her passport with her because she's afraid of being deported. San Fernando Valley state Sen. Caroline Menjivar said immigration officials detained the father of one of her staffers, even though he's a citizen. 'What is it?' she asked. 'It's that I'm too brown. You're too brown. Your skin is not pale enough. That's what it is. That's what it comes down to.' As we reported last week, the Latino and AAPI caucuses are pushing to fast-track a slate of immigration bills responding to the raids. Latino Caucus Chair Lena Gonzalez told Playbook today she hopes to get them through the Legislature before lawmakers go on a month-long summer recess starting July 18. She said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and the governor are supportive of the effort. 'We're just trying to figure out what timing, but the sooner the better,' Gonzalez said. 'We're in negotiations right now about that, but we want to get these done.' IN OTHER NEWS NEWSOM HITS THE TRAIL: The governor is headed to South Carolina next week to meet with natural disaster victims, touching down in an early primary state ahead of a likely run for president in 2028, our Jacob Wendler reports. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced the trip today, saying Newsom will 'speak to the urgent need for federal support and investment' in the wake of Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires. Newsom traveled to the state in January 2024 to stump for then-President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the run-up to the presidential election. He received some early interest, but also doubts about his liberal reputation, POLITICO reported at the time. The state has held a key role in recent nominating contests as the first state in the South to vote. The Democratic National Committee — under Biden — elevated it to be the first sanctioned primary contest in 2024. CALLING STRIKES: State Attorney General Rob Bonta released his long-awaited opinion on fantasy sports betting today, declaring that online platforms operating in California are in violation of a state law that bans betting on the outcome of sporting events. Bonta wrote that daily sports fantasy sites, which allow gambling based on the real-world performance of individual athletes, are merely a 'modern variation' of sports betting. 'California law prohibits the operation of daily fantasy sports games with players physically located within California, regardless of where the operators and associated technology are located,' Bonta concluded. It's unclear what enforcement action Bonta's office might take as a result. In a statement, the state Department of Justice said it 'expects companies to come into compliance with the law.' But Newsom's office was quick to say he disagrees with Bonta's conclusion — a rare split between the state's Democratic governor and its top prosecutor. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Newsom, noted that the attorney general issued the opinion 'in his independent capacity.' 'While the Governor does not agree with the outcome, he welcomes a constructive path forward in collaboration with all stakeholders,' Crofts-Pelayo said in a statement. Bonta's opinion is a response to a request from Republican state lawmakers, who asked him to evaluate the legality of online fantasy sports. Tribal communities — which spent tens of millions of dollars to defeat a 2022 measure to legalize sports gambling — also pushed for the opinion. Tribal casinos want to block the fantasy industry's growth, and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association on Friday urged Bonta to enforce his opinion by cracking down on sports betting platforms. 'Untold millions if not billions have been illegally wagered over the past decade,' CNIGA Chairman James Siva said in a statement. 'Where is the enforcement? Where is the accountability?' Fantasy sports platform operators argue that their sites shouldn't be considered traditional sports wagering because selecting players to create a fictional roster of athletes is a game of skill, not chance. JT Foley, executive director of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, said the industry agrees with Newsom that 'AG Bonta got it wrong.' 'We are hopeful the attorney general heeds the governor's call to find a constructive solution that preserves the games that California sports fans love,' Foley said in a statement. — Dustin Gardiner WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY — Some communities in the Los Angeles region have been canceling Fourth of July plans amid heightened fears and anger following recent immigration raids at farms and businesses in the city. (New York Times) — Two of the largest school districts in and around the Fresno region expect to lose a combined $9.3 million following the Trump administration's decision to withhold billions of dollars that Congress allocated to K-12 schools in the country. (Fresno Bee) — The El Rancho Unified School District released a video allegedly showing ICE and Border Patrol agents urinating at a school campus in Pico Rivera. (ABC 7) AROUND THE STATE — Federal cleanup crews from the Eaton and Palisades wildfires improperly sent truckloads of waste tainted with asbestos to nonhazardous landfills, state and local records show. (Los Angeles Times) — A federal judge in San Diego struck down two state laws that effectively banned most non-California residents from carrying guns in the state. (San Diego Union-Tribune) — Palmdale Mayor Richard J. Loa was stripped of his title and responsibilities pending an investigation into 'confidential allegations.' (KTLA 5) — compiled by Juliann Ventura
Axios
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Metro Council members revive Black Caucus
Metro Council members are bringing back the legislative body's Black Caucus, which hasn't been active since 2011. Why it matters: The Black Caucus "recognizes that there are issues unique to Black Nashvillians that require a more targeted focus," according to the group's press release.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin state leaders celebrate Juneteenth, say fight for freedom continues
'We honor the legacy of those who fought for our emancipation and those who continued to fight for our civil rights and economic progress,' Sen. Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee) said at the Tuesday celebration. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Exmainer.) Wisconsin state leaders spent the week leading up to Juneteenth recognizing the holiday and calling for the fight for freedom and equality to continue. Juneteenth marks the official end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. On that day, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to announce to more than 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were free, about two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The Juneteenth flag was raised over the Wisconsin State Capitol on Wednesday afternoon for the sixth year in a row. Gov. Tony Evers spoke at a ceremony held on the observation deck in the rain. The flag will be up over the Capitol until sunset on Thursday. The star in the center of the flag is meant to represent Texas — the Lone Star State — as well as a nova to signify a new beginning and freedom for Black Americans, while the red, white and blue colors are meant to represent that enslaved people and their descendants are Americans and shall be forever free. Evers said the holiday is a time to celebrate the 'critical progress' that's been made and to commit to 'make sure our work is building a more just, a more equitable and a freer state and country.' 'Now more than ever, we must not be silent about the realities faced by communities who have felt the disproportionate impacts of centuries of injustice. Now, more than ever, we must work towards the future where every family, no matter their background, race, zip code, or socioeconomic status has the tools and resources required,' Evers said And now, more than ever as leaders in D.C. try to sow division We must remember that there is more that unites us than divides us and that our diversity is our strength, not our weakness.' The legislative Black Caucus hosted a celebration of Juneteenth in the rotunda of the state Capitol on Tuesday and the theme of the celebration was 'Voices of Freedom: Justice in Motion, Leading with Purpose.' The caucus also honored La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington Spivey and Racine Judge Jamie McClendon, who are both the first black elected leaders to serve in their respected roles. Sen. Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee) said they were gathered to celebrate 'not just Black history but American history.' 'We honor the legacy of those who fought for our emancipation and those who continued to fight for our civil rights and economic progress,' Drake said. Drake noted that the significance of Juneteenth has grown with its recognition as a federal holiday reflecting 'a broader acknowledgement and importance of freedom and equality in American history.' At the celebration, D'Mario Cockfield, co-chair of the Milwaukee County Youth Council, spoke, quipping that he was sure people were wondering why a teen was giving remarks at the Capitol. 'If you grew up like I did you probably had a Black mother who told you to stay out of grown folks' business but — believe me I've heard that more times than I can count — but as I've gotten older, I've learned something very important that when it comes to freedom, justice and equality that this is my business and it's all of yours as well. It's a shared responsibility,' Cockfield said. Cockfield told the crowd that Juneteenth is about remembering how much Black Americans have struggled and overcome and also remembering to be present, aware and to be the change that those who came before us could only wish to see. He said the work towards justice is the work of every generation. 'Freedom isn't given, it's earned through struggle, through sacrifice and through courage,' Cockfield said. He said it also takes the will to be 'in grown folks' business.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tulsa mayor proposes $100M reparations plan for descendants of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Tulsa's first Black mayor proposed creating a $100 million private trust as part of a reparations plan for the impact of the Tulsa Race Massacre which took place more than 100 years ago. Mayor Monroe Nichols IV, elected mayor in November, says the trust would be used to provide scholarships and housing to the descendants of those impacted by the massacre. He clarified that the trust would not involve direct cash payments, however. "For 104 years, the Tulsa Race Massacre has been a stain on our city's history," Nichols said Sunday. "The massacre was hidden from history books, only to be followed by the intentional acts of redlining, a highway built to choke off economic vitality and the perpetual underinvestment of local, state and federal governments." "Now it's time to take the next big steps to restore," he added. Black Caucus Chair Accuses Trump Of 'Purge' Of 'Minority' Federal Workers The private charitable trust would be created with a goal to secure $105 million in assets, with most of the funding either secured or committed by June 1, 2026. Read On The Fox News App Nichols says the City Council would have to approve the transfer of any city assets to the trust. The plan calls for the bulk of the funding, $60 million, to go toward improving buildings and revitalizing the city's north side. 'Tipping The Scales': House Gop Leaders Rip Actblue After Dem Fundraising Giant Hit With Subpoena "The Greenwood District at its height was a center of commerce," Nichols told the Associated Press. "So what was lost was not just something from North Tulsa or the Black community. It actually robbed Tulsa of an economic future that would have rivaled anywhere else in the world." Nichols' push comes just weeks after Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., announced plans to introduce the Reparations Now Resolution, which calls for the U.S. to spend trillions of dollars on reparations for Black Americans. Lee's resolution cites U.S. slavery, Jim Crow laws, and other racially discriminatory laws and policies to justify spending trillions of dollars supporting the descendants of Black Americans in the U.S. Click To Get The Fox News App "That's why we recognize that the fight to restore Black folks has to be so much more substantive," she added. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Tulsa mayor proposes $100M reparations plan for descendants of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jerrauld C. Jones, civil rights pioneer and state delegate, dies at 70
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Jerrauld C. Jones, a longtime judge and state delegate, has died at 70. In a statement issued by the Jones family, they announced he died on Saturday, May 31. 'It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jerrauld C. Jones,' the letter said. 'His legacy of service, integrity, and dedication to justice will continue to inspire all who knew him.' Jones became one of the first African American students to integrate Ingleside Elementary School in 1961 and later the Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg in 1967. Jones went on to graduate cum laude from Princeton University in 1976 and earned his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1980. He became the first African American law clerk to the Supreme Court of Virginia, served as a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates for 14 years, represented Norfolk's 89th District and served as the long-time chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Virginia Speaker of the House Don Scott offered his condolences in a statement. Scott and Jones served together in the General Assembly. 'Jerrauld Jones was more than a judge or a legislator — he was a giant. A presence. A mentor. A friend. For so many of us, he was a guiding light. He spent his life breaking down barriers — integrating Virginia Episcopal School, becoming the first Black law clerk to the Virginia Supreme Court, serving in the House of Delegates, and later as a respected judge. 'But Jerrauld's legacy wasn't about titles — it was about how he treated people. At Grace Episcopal Church, he welcomed me and my family, and had a steady, genuine way of making others feel like they belonged. 'To his wife, Judge Lyn Simmons, and to Jay — I feel your loss deeply. My heart is with you, and I hope you find comfort in knowing how many lives Jerrauld touched and how much he meant to all of us.' Jerrauld Jones is survived by his wife, the Hon. Lyn Simmons, who serves on the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court; their son, Jay Jones, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and his wife Mavis; and two grandsons Charles and Zachary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
