Updating . .
The price tag on universal health care is in, and it’s bigger than California’s budget -- The pricetag is in: It would cost $400 billion to remake California’s health insurance marketplace and create a publicly funded universal heath care system, according to a state financial analysis released Monday. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 5/22/17
Transportation Department releases Caltrain electrification project funding -- In a recent spending bill, Congress directed the administration to fully fund the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project, but it dragged its feet on releasing the funds, saying the president might not ask for funding to complete the project in future years. Chao's move Monday also commits the Department of Transportation to prioritizing an additional $408 million in appropriations for the project in the future. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/17
Trump asked intelligence chiefs to push back against FBI collusion probe after Comey revealed its existence -- President Trump asked two of the nation’s top intelligence officials in March to help him push back against an FBI investigation into possible coordination between his campaign and the Russian government, according to current and former officials. Adam Entous and Ellen Nakashima in the Washington Post$ -- 5/22/17
Man in red Trump hat disrupts Shanghai flight to U.S., triggers chants of 'Lock him up' -- A passenger wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat got kicked off a United Airlines flight from Shanghai on Sunday after he became disruptive, officials said. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
National Democrats name California GOP Reps. Devin Nunes and Duncan Hunter targets in 2018 election -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added congressional districts held by Reps. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) and Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) to their list of 2018 targets on Monday. Both represent traditionally strong Republican districts and have consistently won reelection by large margins, but Hunter and Nunes are facing ethics questions. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
African American Caucus leaders want to know why U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters was cut off during state convention speech -- The head of the California Democratic Party African American Caucus said Monday he was working with state party officials to determine who was responsible for cutting off the sound to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters' microphone as she spoke to the group at the party's convention on Saturday. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
California Assembly Democrats launch progressive caucus -- Riding a wave of activism in state politics, nearly two dozen Assembly Democrats have formed a progressive caucus to prop up the party's left flank in the Legislature. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
After years of planning, California is likely to roll out its earthquake warning system next year -- California will likely roll out a limited public earthquake early warning system sometime next year, researchers building the network say. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
California redwoods license plate dies for lack of interest -- Millions of Californians visit the state’s majestic redwood forests every year. Their love for the venerable trees, however, apparently doesn’t extend to their license plates. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/22/17
Pot Convictions Go Up In Smoke With California Legalization -- Jay Schlauch's conviction for peddling pot haunted him for nearly a quarter century. The felony prevented him from landing jobs, gave his wife doubts about tying the knot and cast a shadow over his typically sunny outlook on life. Associated Press -- 5/22/17
California may bar landlords from reporting immigrants -- The California Assembly has approved a bill to bar landlords from threatening to call immigration authorities on tenants. Lawmakers voted 46-15 to send the bill to the state Senate. Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 5/22/17
Former CIA director expects prosecutions from investigation of Trump campaign and Russian meddling -- Former CIA Director Leon Panetta predicted Friday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia’s possible meddling in the 2016 election will result in “some prosecutions.” Jim Boren in the Fresno Bee -- 5/22/17
Jerry Brown Could Overhaul UC Leadership If He Wanted To. Here's How -- Gov. Jerry Brown’s latest budget proposal calls for withholding $50 million from the University of California until the UC improves its financial accountability and admits more community college transfers. It’s his way of pushing for change despite the UC’s constitutional independence. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 5/22/17
Capitol Weekly podcast: Scott Lay -- In the heat of the convention battle for the state Democratic Party leadership, when the outcome was still in doubt, The Nooner’s Scott Lay sat down with Capitol Weekly Editor John Howard to chat about the intense fight among the party delegates to pick a successor to John Burton, the party chair since 2009. John Howard Capitol Weekly link here -- 5/22/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
State Democrats’ family feud imperils 2018 rebound -- The ongoing family feud among California Democrats just got worse. The election of longtime party insider Eric Bauman as the new chair of the California Democratic Party has inflamed painful feelings among progressives that the party isn’t listening to its grassroots members. Joe Garofoli in the San Fran isco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/17
Democratic divisions on display as Bauman wins California party chairmanship -- A caustic contest between the party establishment and “Berniecrat” activists gripped the nation’s largest Democratic party in Sacramento this weekend, underscoring fierce Democratic divisions at the state level that continue to simmer five months into Donald Trump’s presidency. Carla Marinucci and David Siders Politico -- 5/22/17
A battle of liberal versus more liberal exposes a divided California Democratic Party at state convention -- A blistering contest to lead the California Democratic Party and near-constant protests during its weekend convention provided proof that schisms between party factions at the national level are also pulling apart the ranks at home, where the group has long prospered. Seema Mehta, Christine Mai-Duc and Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
California Democratic chair race angers 'Berniecrats' -- Democratic activists loyal to the Sen. Bernie Sanders aren't ready to give up after their favored candidate came tantalizingly close but fell short of taking control of the California Democratic Party. Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 5/22/17
Barbara Lee brings John Dean, Malcolm Nance to town hall meeting -- Hundreds of Rep. Barbara Lee’s constituents flocked to a town hall meeting Sunday afternoon — not to confront her about health care, pepper her with questions or otherwise put her on the spot. They came instead to listen to a former Nixon attorney and a former spy warn about President Trump and how to best ensure his demise. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/17
Debate over sex offenders moves to court as California undertakes prison parole overhaul -- A Los Angeles-based nonprofit is claiming California prison officials have undermined last fall’s ballot measure to overhaul the state’s parole process by excluding sex offenders from consideration for early release. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
Skelton: Gov. Brown travels the globe talking about climate change. He should focus on this basic program at home -- Gov. Jerry Brown traipses all over the world trying to save the planet from global warming. But he needs to salvage one basic environmental program here at home. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
Walters: Borrowing scheme for CalPERS deserves more scrutiny -- Over the last few decades, the once-straightforward process of fashioning a state budget devolved into duplicitous gimmickry. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/17
Is ‘potential Oroville waiting to happen’ at other spillways? -- Federal dam regulators are reevaluating how they conduct dam inspections in the wake of the Oroville Dam spillway crisis, and they’ve ordered the nation’s dam operators to thoroughly inspect their facilities to see “if they have a potential Oroville waiting to happen,” a federal dam inspector said Sunday. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/17
At remade Nixon Library, finding parallels to today isn’t tricky -- Richard Nixon, the ultimate comeback kid, is trending. Google “Trump Nixon” and you got 26.1 million results Friday, up 1.3 million from the day before. David Allen in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/22/17
More of Bay Area May Be Vulnerable to Refinery Mishaps Than Previously Believed -- The recent conclusion by local air regulators that malfunctions at Chevron’s Richmond facility sent toxic gas 11 miles across San Francisco Bay late last year means that a larger part of the region may be vulnerable to refinery malfunctions than many previously believed, environmentalists and experts say. Ted Goldberg KQED -- 5/22/17
Lifeguards clear the waters off San Clemente after spotting 25 sharks — likely great whites — near the shore -- Lifeguards in San Clemente ordered swimmers and surfers out of the water Sunday after 25 sharks — some of them 10-footers — were sighted near the shore. Marisa Gerber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
How Robert Mueller cleaned up mess as top U.S. prosecutor in San Francisco -- Robert Mueller, the newly named special counsel looking into possible ties between President Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russians, certainly made his presence felt during his three-year tenure as Northern California’s top federal prosecutor. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
CalPERS may cut Trinity water district pensions -- Swinging the blade for the third time, CalPERS may cut the pensions of five current and former employees of a water district serving the small town of Hayfork in Trinity County, a rugged area in the northwest part of the state with heavily forested mountains. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 5/22/17
Education
Gov. Brown's proposal delays $1 billion for schools until 2019 -- Regarding the $1 billion in one-time funding for K-12 schools that Gov. Jerry Brown proposed last week in his 2017-18 budget: The word is don’t count on it – at least not next year. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 5/22/17
How L.A.'s school board election became the most expensive in U.S. history -- Charter school supporters and unions spent nearly $15 million to battle each other in last week's Los Angeles Board of Education races, which crossed the finish line as the most expensive school board election in U.S. history. Howard Blume and Ben Poston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/17
French train hero Anthony Sadler celebrates another milestone: Earning a college degree -- Anthony Sadler, known as one of Sacramento’s hometown heroes, flashed a smile Saturday morning as a small “Made at Sac State” pin was attached to his graduation gown. Nashelly Chavez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/17
Environment
A California Regulator’s Curious Crusade to Remake the Clean Air Act -- The 250-mile-long San Joaquin Valley is an economic powerhouse, producing everything from crude oil to grapes, cotton to pistachios. It’s also a pollution-trapping bowl, bounded on three sides by mountains and punished by meteorological conditions that cause dirty air to stagnate. Jim Morris and Sasha Khokha KQED -- 5/22/17
Health
California bill would protect patients’ access to chosen family planning providers -- As national Republican leaders continue to try to defund Planned Parenthood, California and other states are considering steps to protect access to family planning services. Ana B. Ibarra in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/22/17
Also . . .
Botts’ Dots, after a ha lf-century, will disappear from freeways, highways -- Botts’ Dots — the raised, rumbly markers between lanes on California’s highways and freeways — are on their way out, with Caltrans saying it will no longer maintain or install them. Jonathan Winslow in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/22/17
POTUS 45
Kushner keeps most of his real estate but offers few clues about potential White House conflicts -- As chief executive of his family’s real estate empire, Jared Kushner planned two apartment projects across the street from each other in Jersey City. Amy Brittain and Jonathan O'Connell in the Washington Post$ -- 5/22/17
Trump to propose big cuts to safety-net in new budget, slashing Medicaid and opening door to other limits -- President Trump’s first major budget proposal on Tuesday will include massive cuts to Medicaid and call for changes to anti-poverty programs that would give states new power to limit a range of benefits, people familiar with the planning said, despite growing unease in Congress about cutting the safety net. Damian Paletta in the Washington Post$ -- 5/22/17
Beltway
McConnell steps into Obamacare firing line -- Whether Senate Republicans can repeal the health law largely depends on the longtime GOP leader. Burgess Everett and Jennifer Haberkorn Politico -- 5/22/17
West Wing aides brace for big attorney bills -- President Donald Trump has deep pockets to pay for personal lawyers to defend him from the evolving federal investigation into his campaign’s contacts with Russian officials. It’s a very different story for his staff. Darren Samuelsohn Politico -- 5/22/17
-- Sunday Updates
Bernie Sanders backers say Democrats are ‘in absolute crisis and denial’ -- RoseAnn DeMoro, the outspoken leader of the California Nurses Association, looked out at a horde of red-clad supporters as they prepared to march on the state Democratic Party’s convention Friday to advocate for public-funded, universal healthcare. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/21/17
California Democrats flip off Donald Trump -- The anti-Trump fervor at California’s Democratic Party convention this weekend can be summarized in choice words from outgoing chair of the California Democratic Party, John Burton: “F*%! Donald Trump.” The always foul-mouthed Burton, 84, stood before thousands of Democratic delegates at Saturday’s general assembly and as a rallying cry asked the crowd to join in. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/21/17
Kimberly Ellis calls for an audit of the election for California Democratic Party leader -- Democratic organizer Kimberly Ellis, who lost her bid to lead the California Democratic by a razor-thin margin, on Sunday questioned the validity of the election and called for an audit of the vote. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/17
Some rehabs use loopholes, Obamacare to exploit addicts -- Chronic drug users like Solomon are commodities, exploited by a growing world of drug and alcohol rehab operators who put profit ahead of patient care. Teri Sforza, Tony Saavedra, Scott Schwebke, Lori Basheda, Mindy Schauer and Jeff Gritchen in the Orange County Register -- 5/21/17
Most California farm-water suppliers are breaking this law. Why doesn’t the state act? -- During California’s epic five-year drought, most of the state’s irrigation districts didn’t comply with a 2007 law that requires them to account for how much water they’re delivering directly to farmers, a Bee investigation has found. Ryan Sabalow and Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/21/17
Election of new California Democratic Party leader may face legal challenge -- Lawyers are now involved in the California Democratic Party’s election of a new chairperson. Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman won a razor-thin victory Saturday to be elected the party’s next chairman, beating rival Kimberly Ellis by just more than 60 votes, according to the state party. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/17
Comparing Donald Trump to 4-year-olds isn’t fair to 4-year-olds, Cal professor says -- Over her four-decade career as an author and scholar in child development, UC Berkeley professor Alison Gopnik has emerged as one of the world’s foremost experts in explaining how humans learn. Martha Ross in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/21/17
Anger, protests erupt over results of the California Democratic Party's election of a new leader -- Supporters of the losing candidate in the California Democratic Party’s race for chairperson were out en masse early Sunday morning at the state convention in Sacramento, many calling for an investigation of the party’s voting process. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/17
Feinstein scalded by anti-Trump fervor -- Liberal hecklers have protested outside Dianne Feinstein’s home. She’s been confronted at a Los Angeles fundraiser and a San Francisco town hall meeting by progressives angered by her skeptical view of single-payer health care and support for some of Donald Trump’s earliest nominees. David Siders and Carla Marinucci Politico -- 5/21/17
New Silicon Valley flood project at risk because of red tape, water district says -- Three months after Coyote Creek overflowed its banks and caused $100 million in damage to homes and businesses in San Jose, a flood control project straddling the city’s northern edges with Milpitas may be in danger of being shut down because of red tape. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/21/17
McMaster does not deny details of Trump’s discussion with Russian officials -- McMaster would not directly address details of the meeting, but he did not deny reports that Trump revealed classified intelligence information in that meeting and told the Russian officials that Comey’s firing eased “great pressure” on the White House. Kelsey Snell in the Washington Post$ -- 5/21/17
Protesting Notre Dame students walk out of Pence’s commencement speech -- Some graduating seniors at the University of Notre Dame walked out of their own graduation ceremony to protest Vice President Pence when he began to deliver the commencement speech on Sunday morning. Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post$ -- 5/21/17
Trump Urges Muslim Leaders to Purge Their Societies of ‘Foot Soldiers of Evil’ -- Mr. Trump, who during last year’s presidential campaign said he thought that “Islam hates us” and proposed a ban on all Muslims entering the United States, sounded different themes in a speech to Muslim leaders here in the Saudi capital. Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear in the New York Times$ -- 5/21/17
Gingrich spreads conspiracy theory about slain DNC staffer -- Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a stalwart supporter of President Trump, used a Sunday-morning appearance on “Fox and Friends” to spread the conspiracy theory that former Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich was killed last year to cover up the true story of how WikiLeaks obtained tens of thousands of hacked Democratic Party emails. David Weigel in the Washington Post$ -- 5/21/17