Other Organization Updates
January 17, 2022
Weideman Group Weekly
Show Me the Money!
Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his budget proposal for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The Governor’s proposed budget totals $286.4 billion, which takes into account an estimated $45.7 billion surplus. This marks consecutive years where California will see a significant surplus, giving the Governor and the Legislature the opportunity to make historic investments in some of the most pressing issues facing the state.
January 10, 2022
Weideman Group Weekly
Back in Action
The California Legislature is back in Sacramento for the 2022 legislative session and so is omicron. The new COVID-19 omicron variant has taken a little of the excitement out of back to session – causing both houses of the legislature to limit the number of staff in the Capitol – but lawmakers are forging ahead introducing new measures, considering two-year bills that were introduced last year and getting ready for the Governor’s unveiling of his state budget proposal on Monday.
December 24, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
New Maps Solidify Democrats
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission has released their final maps for Congressional, Assembly, Senate and Board of Equalization districts. For Congress, the maps seem to favor Democrats, who are expected to hold strong in competitive districts with Republicans playing defense to hold onto their seats in the state. In the State Legislature, the new maps are likely to result in several members of the same party being forced to run against each other.
December 17, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Mask Up
Following an increase in California’s COVID-19 cases and the
highly transmissible Omicron variant, California has reinstated
its mandatory indoor mask mandate. The mandate will be in
place until January 15, 2022 and applies to all individuals in
indoor public spaces and workplaces. Health and state
officials are hoping the mask mandate will deter another increase
in cases following the holidays and prevent a strain in the
healthcare system.
December 10, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Legislative Budget Preview
Leadership and budget chairs in the Senate and Assembly released their respective key values for the upcoming 2022-2023 budget. The budget plans serve as a marker outlining priority issues ahead of the Governor’s January Budget release. Highlights include maintaining the state’s historic reserves, aligning new commitments with Gann Limit requirements such as maximizing infrastructure investments, expanding access to healthcare, investments in combating climate change, addressing housing affordability and homelessness, and more.
December 5, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Omicron
The first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been identified in California. With growing concerns around the transmissibility of the new variant and a potential spike in cases due to the holidays, President Biden has outlined an approach designed to curb the spread of the virus.
November 24, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
New CPUC President
Governor Newsom has named Alice Reynolds to succeed Marybel Batjer as President of the California Public Utilities Commission. Reynolds has been a senior energy and climate advisor to both Governor Newsom and Governor Brown since 2017 and previously worked at the California Environmental Protection Agency.
November 20, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
More Money
The Legislative Analyst’s office released the projections for the 2022-2023 budget year forecasting that California will see a budget surplus of about $31 billion. This number does not take into account additional federal money the state will receive from recently passed infrastructure legislation.
November 12, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Winter is Coming
Governor Newsom is warning that as winter takes hold, California will see a rise in COVID-19 infections during the winter months for the second year in a row. As part of a winter surge strategy, the Governor signed an Executive Order to ensure health care facilities continue to maintain necessary staffing and resources.
November 5, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Hedging Your Bet
Discussions about the future of online sports betting are heating up as multiple state ballot initiatives are being circulated by competing interests. The entities seeking to place an initiative on the November 2022 ballot are California Tribes, the cardroom industry and out-of-state gaming corporations including DraftKings and FanDuel.
October 29, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Let’s Make a Deal
President Biden and Congressional Democrats have announced they reached a deal on the framework for a $1.75 trillion spending package.
October 22, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Budget Surplus
California is on track to experience a second year with a significant budget surplus. The state passed a $262 billion budget that included a $75 billion surplus in fiscal year 2021-2022 and the Governor announced that the state is once again projecting a windfall. The state has collected approximately $14 billion more in tax revenue than the Department of Finance had projected for the year.
October 22, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Budget Surplus
California is on track to experience a second year with a significant budget surplus. The state passed a $262 billion budget that included a $75 billion surplus in fiscal year 2021-2022 and the Governor announced that the state is once again projecting a windfall. The state has collected approximately $14 billion more in tax revenue than the Department of Finance had projected for the year.
October 15, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Got Your Goods?
In an effort to address the significant supply chain issues facing the country, two of the biggest ports – Los Angeles and Long Beach – have announced they will be expanding their operating hours to 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Major goods carriers are also taking steps to operate around the clock.
October 8, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Oil Spill
Southern California beaches are covered in crude oil after the rupture of a pipeline from an off-shore oil rig. Orange County beaches are currently closed as crews attempt to prevent further damage and clean up the spill.
October 1, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
School Vaccine Requirement
Earlier this morning, Governor Newsom announced that all California students will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine if attending in-person classes. The mandate applies to kids in public and private schools alike and will take effect once the vaccine has been officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
September 24, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Tackling Climate Change
Governor Newsom signed a package of climate measures yesterday that makes a $15 billion investment to tackle the climate change crisis in California.
September 17, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Newsom Defeats Recall
Governor Gavin Newsom decisively defeated the effort to recall him. Within about 30 minutes of the polls closing on Tuesday, the election was called for the Governor. Nearly 10 million votes were cast in the recall election and, per the Secretary of State’s current tally, an overwhelming 63.6% of voters voted to oppose the recall. This win gives Newsom significant momentum leading up to his 2022 gubernatorial reelection, where we do not expect him to draw a serious challenger.
September 10, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Turn Out the Lights
The legislature wrapped up the first year of the 2021-22 legislative session today. Weideman Group helped secure a number of legislative victories in the final days of session, including:
September 3, 2021
Weideman Group Weekly
Newsom Creating Separation
A recent recall poll was released by the Public Policy Institute of California showing that 58% of likely California voters oppose the recall of Governor Newsom compared to 39% who favor it. These are welcome numbers for the Governor, who had seen polls narrowing up until recently.