Capitol Weekly

Email As a practicing rheumatologist, I was pleased by the legislative push to pass SB 966, which would have increased oversight and reporting requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), the drug pricing ‘middlemen’ who drive up prescription costs for pharmacies and patients while pocketing rebates and discounts from insurers. Many patients statewide—particularly the rheumatology patients I care for—require long-term, expensive treatments to manage their chronic conditions. PBMs have steadily driven up their costs through unfair rebating practices and market control tactics. I applaud our lawmakers for working to address medication access barriers and patient financial protections through the advancement of SB 966, but I am very disappointed in Gov. Newsom’s decision to veto this much-needed bill.

The 8 th District has a accessible and responsive representative in Rep Garamendi. I reached out as a private citizen with concerns about the lack of implementation of military medical training mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017 to nearly 60 lawmakers and military leaders. Only one answered. Rep Garamendi’s staff set up a meeting, heard my concerns, and came up with a follow up plan to seek change. I envy the Californians of the 8 th district for having a representative that answers letters, shows concerns, and seeks positive change.

OPINION - The return of Donald Trump to the White House magnifies all the threats that make voter-approved Proposition 4 necessary, increases the likelihood of poisoned air and water and runaway climate change, and destroys the hope that the federal government will help California navigate those challenges in the next four years.

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: While most political junkies have their eyes on DC in the wake of Donald Trump's successful bid to return to the White House, we're looking south, where Los Angeles voters delivered a seismic shift to the region's politics, passing Measure G, which expands the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five members to nine, and Charter Amendment DD, which creates an independent redistricting commission for the city.

Email In recent years, Capitol observers have witnessed vacancies occur in state legislative offices and even constitutional offices in California. What is the process for filling vacancies in the California Legislature? What is the process for filling vacancies in constitutional offices?

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: As her final term in the senate comes to an end, Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman joined us to reflect on her twelve years in the state legislature. A self-described “pragmatic progressive,” Eggman represents the 5th Senate District – San Joaquin County, parts of Stanislaus County and the Sacramento County community of Galt – areas which saw a significant Republican shift this year; San Joaquin County went to Trump in 2024. We asked what she thought her party could do to speak to disaffected voters, what she saw as her successes from her time in office, and where she goes from here.

Email OPINION – California faces a dual crisis of escalating climate impacts and an acute housing affordability challenge. Seventy nine percent of renters in our state spend more than half their income on housing, and my home city of Los Angeles has the most unaffordable housing

Email There are two areas of confusion regarding properly addressing the presiding officer of a legislative committee or on the floor. In committees, the presiding officer may be addressed by fellow legislators, advocates, or members of the general public. On the floors, the presiding officer is only addressed by fellow legislators. In both instances, there have been questions about how to do so properly and what rules are applicable.

OPINION - As California looks to continue its bold leadership in climate action and clean energy development, we need new solutions that enable the state to meet its ambitious clean energy goals while keeping rates affordable for Californians.

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: One of the many stories out of the 2024 election was President Trump’s improved performance with voters of color. While voter data is still being analyzed, it is clear that the former and future president made significant inroads in 2024 with constituencies with whom he has historically lagged, notably Latinos. For a politician who based his first presidential campaign on a promise to build a wall between the US and Mexico and referring to Mexican immigrants as drug dealers, criminals and rapists, ANY improvement is a big shift.