Why CA lawmakers miss votes — and why it issues

For the final 5 years, Democrats have had supermajorities in each legislative chambers — resulting in “yes” votes more often than not. Generally, nevertheless, a legislator doesn’t vote, both as a result of an absence or an abstention. However as a result of each are categorized the identical approach — as “No Vote Recorded” — it’s tough for constituents to discern if legislators are really serving their wantswrites CalMatters Capitol reporter Sameea Kamal.

This yr, seven legislators missed greater than 1 / 4 of their alternatives to vote. All are within the Meeting — 4 Democrats (Sabrina Cervantes of Corona, Liz Ortega of Hayward, Luz Rivas of Arleta and Chris Holden of Pasadena) and three Republicans (Devon Mathis of Visalia, Megan Dahle of Redding and Invoice Essayli of Corona).

Most had been absent as a result of medical causes: Dahle, for instance, missed 74 days after a stroke she suffered in January. Cervantes, who missed extra votes than every other legislator, had excused absences as a result of a demise in her household and a bout with COVID-19.

However different instances the explanations are unclear, so constituents don’t know if their legislators didn’t vote as a result of they disagreed with the invoice however wish to stay in good standing with their colleagues; they’re ready for the invoice to be amended; or they’re simply out sick.

• Lorena GonzalezCalifornia Labor Federation president and former Assemblymember: “Abstain, absent, truly absent, excused absence, unexcused absence, and just sitting at your frickin’ desk and choosing not to vote. … I don’t think there’s any transparency for constituents.”

These no recorded votes, that are counted as “no” votes, can have actual penalties: Digital Democracy knowledge reveals that 45 payments died within the present two-year legislative session. And in August, throughout the penultimate week of the session, 21 lawmakers attended the Democratic Nationwide Conference. On one of many days, a controversial invoice by Sen. Dave Cortese associated to legal sentencing was up for consideration. It failed, however had the legislators been there, the Campbell Democrat mentioned there may need been extra dialogue of amendments he added to assist resolve some points.

Learn extra in regards to the penalties of legislators not voting in Sameea’s story.

Digital Democracy: There are numerous extra methods to make use of Digital Democracya groundbreaking CalMatters challenge, to know how state authorities works and create extra accountability for politicians. Take a spin.

Abortion rights is cropping up in California legislative campaigns, however the subject’s affect could possibly be greater in key congressional races that might assist resolve management of Congress, once more.

As CalMatters’ Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang and politics intern Jenna Peterson clarify, Democrats in tight races are hoping to steer voters by hammering on their opponents’ inconsistent stance on abortion rights.

In 2021, 4 California Republicans in Congress signed a short urging the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to overturn federal abortion protections, which the excessive courtroom ultimately did a yr later. Three of the Republicans additionally co-sponsored a invoice, which by no means made it out of committee, that basically proposed to ban abortions nationwide with no exceptions.

However this spring, they walked away from the invoice, and several other of these in toss-up races say they don’t help a federal ban. In response, Democratic candidates and abortion rights advocates are calling out what they see as Republican backpedaling, hoping that may assist them win again the U.S. Home majority.

• Jennifer WonnacottDeliberate Parenthood Associates of California spokesperson: “A lot of these candidates … really all of them, have tried rewriting their records or reframing it, but their votes, previous comments and statements speak for themselves.”

Republicans, nevertheless, are accusing Democrats of exaggerating their positions to distract voters from different points. Stated a Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson: “Democrats are lying … because they cannot win on their disastrous handling of inflation and crime.”

Be taught extra about how abortion rights are influencing key California congressional races in Jeanne and Jenna’s story.

Early voting: The Secretary of State has began monitoring what number of ballots have been returned — practically 1.9 million as of Saturday. together with 1.3 million by mail and 500,000 in drop containers. That’s of twenty-two.7 million ballots despatched to registered voters. Reminder: As we speak is the final day to register to vote within the common election (although same-day, conditional registration is allowed till Nov. 5).

Evidently Gov. Gavin Newsom has one thing of a love-hate relationship with tech billionaire Elon Musk.

In July, the 2 clashed over a gender identification legislation that Musk known as the ultimate straw in threatening to transfer the headquarters of his SpaceX enterprise from California to Texas. In addition they sparred over a legislation to cease deepfakes in marketing campaign adverts (which a decide quickly blocked this month), with Newsom calling out Musk for sharing a video through which Vice President Kamala Harris’ voice was doctored.

However now, the governor is backing Musk over the state Coastal Fee, which SpaceX is suing after it rejected a Protection Division proposal to extend launches from Vandenberg Area Drive Base. Some commissioners cited Musk’s help of former President Donald Trump, which additionally angered legislative Republicanswho known as it an assault on free speech.

• Newsom, to Politico: “I’m with Elon. … You can’t bring up that explicit level of politics.”

Within the interview with Politico after stumping for Harris in North Carolina, Newsom additionally mentioned the fee, which incorporates his appointees, ought to resolve the allow on its deserves: “These are good commissioners. But you got to call balls and strikes. And trust me, I’m not big on the Elon Musk bandwagon right now. So that’s me calling balls and strikes.”

Whereas Newsom and Musk agree on this case, they’re undoubtedly on reverse sides within the presidential race.

In his newest look on MSNBC, Newsom known as Trump “increasingly acting deranged, unhinged.” Musk promised throughout an occasion Saturday in Pennsylvania to give $1 million every day to a voter who indicators a web based petitionalthough Democrats and others are questioning whether or not such funds are authorized.

This week, CalMatters continues to share variations of our “Prop. in a Minute” movies with viewers of our companion PBS SoCal. Watch the one on Prop. 6.

SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.