Lena Gonzales sen
<div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><strong>Climate change:</strong> Democratic Sens. <a href="https://calmatters.org/legislator-tracker/scott-wiener-1970/">Scott Wiener</a> of San Francisco, <a href="https://calmatters.org/legislator-tracker/lena-gonzalez-1981/">Lena Gonzales</a> of Long Beach </span>and<b> <a href="https://calmatters.org/legislator-tracker/henry-stern-1982/">Henry Stern</a> from Calabasas</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_Wiener/status/1620160839365046272?s=20&t=_KVBb68DDqKwnIQBLx3OlA">introduced, or rather reintroduced, a package of bills</a>.</font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Wiener put forward<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"> <strong>SB 253</strong>, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act </span>— a <a href="https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/key-corporate-climate-accountability-3692165/#::text=Senator%20Scott%20Wiener's%20S.B.,to%20disclose%20their%20greenhouse%20emissions.">bill that failed last year</a> to require corporations<strong> </strong>with more than $1 billion in revenue that operate in California to <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article271831502.html">publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions</a>. He said the bill would make corporations “a heck of a lot more interested in buying clean energy.” </font></p>
<ul><li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Wiener:</strong> “It gives large corporations two options:
disclose your emissions publicly or stop doing business in California —
and they won’t choose the latter.”
</font></li></ul>
<p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Gonzalez introduced SB 252, a proposal that was <a href="https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/06/california-crisis-lawmakers-solutions/">also blocked last year</a> and that seeks to force the state’s public pension funds to divest from fossil fuels</b>. Stern introduced <strong><a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261">SB 261</a></strong>, another measure that also failed last year. It requires companies that earn more than $500 million in revenue to prepare <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/Scott_Wiener/status/1620160852031832065">climate-related financial risk reports</a>. </font></span>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The climate efforts come in the midst of negotiations to cover a projected $22.5 billion budget deficit. Newsom has <a href="https://calmatters.org/environment/2023/01/california-climate-budget/">proposed cutting $6 billion</a> from the $54 billion, five-year <a href="https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/09/california-climate-change-legislature/">climate package he pushed through last year</a>. </span>
</font></p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">---
</font></div><h1 class="page-header"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> Press Democrat: New state senate bill would force CalPERS, CalSTRS to divest from major fossil fuel holdings</font></h1>
<div class="region region-content">
<section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col node node-news node-promoted view-mode-full clearfix">
<div class="field field-name-field-addthis field-type-addthis field-label-hidden share_icons"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style ">
</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="date-display-single">February 17, 2022</span></font></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By MARY CALLAHAN</font></div>
<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></div>
<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">California’s two powerful public employee pension funds would be
required to withdraw their investments from fossil fuel companies to
help fight climate change under a state Senate bill introduced Thursday.</font></div>
<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></div>
<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Authored by Sen. Lena A. Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, and co-sponsored
by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, the legislation would give the
California Public Employees' Retirement System and the California State
Teachers' Retirement System until July 2027 to divest a combined $9.9
billion from the Carbon Underground 200 — a list of companies considered
to have the greatest potential for future emissions from their coal,
oil and gas reserves.</font></div>
<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> </font></div>
<div>
<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The bill also would prohibit any new investments in those companies....</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></section></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> Sen</span><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgba="rgba">.<b> Lena</b> Gonzalez (D-</span><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">Long Beach</span></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">
</span></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">ntbcw </span><b style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">San Diego </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Assembly</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> seat opened up when progressive Lorena Gonzalez,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> a one-person factory of state-shaping, headline-grabbing legislation, stepped down in January to take the top job at the California Labor Federation, the state branch of the AFL-CIO.</span></b></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">see divest</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">see calpers teacher pension</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">senate appropriations 5 22</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://sd25.senate.ca.gov/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Senator Anthony J. Portantino (Chair)</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><a href="https://senate.ca.gov/sd36" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Senator Patricia C. Bates (Vice Chair)</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><a href="https://senate.ca.gov/sd35" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Senator Steven Bradford</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><a href="https://jones.cssrc.us/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Senator Brian W. Jones</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><a href="https://sd30.senate.ca.gov/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Senator Sydney Kamlager</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><a href="https://senate.ca.gov/sd17" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Senator John Laird</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><a href="https://senate.ca.gov/sd10" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Senator Bob Wieckowski</a></font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2022</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2022/04/california-special-election-special-interest-money/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">https://calmatters.org/politics/2022/04/california-special-election-special-interest-money/</a></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CHRIS B april</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...I</font><span times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large">f you want a vision of California’s political future in 2022, consider San Diego a crystal ball.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">After Tuesday’s results, there will almost certainly be a June runoff election in one of the more contentious of an unusual flurry of special elections prompted by the “Great Resignation” of state legislators. </span><b style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A south </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">San Diego </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Assembly</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> seat opened up when progressive Lorena Gonzalez,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> a one-person factory of state-shaping, headline-grabbing legislation, stepped down in January to take the top job at the California Labor Federation, the state branch of the AFL-CIO. </span></b></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">That left a surprise vacancy that organized labor groups and deep-pocketed business interests — the two political forces that regularly battle for the soul of the California Democratic Party — are eager to fill with the candidate of their choosing. </font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">So far, the two Democratic candidates, Georgette Gómez and David Alvarez, have raised a total of more than $770,000 in direct contributions. </font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But even more, more than $1.2 million, has been spent by independent expenditure committees — groups typically funded by large corporations and unions that are not subject to the contribution limits that restrict a candidate’s fundraising efforts. </font></p></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1173">https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1173</a></font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><div class="status" style="border-width: 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(49, 81, 102);"><div class="statusHeader" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(49, 81, 102);"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bill Votes</font></span></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Date</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:voteDate" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">05/02/22</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Result</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:result" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(PASS)</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Location</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:location" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sen Appropriations</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ayes Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:ayes" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">7</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Noes Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:noes" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">0</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" title="Absent, Abstaining, or Not Voting" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NVR Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:nvr" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">0</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Motion</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:motion" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Placed on suspense file</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ayes</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:ayesLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bates, Bradford, Jones, Kamlager, Laird, Portantino, Wieckowski</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Noes</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:noesLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></font></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NVR</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:0:nvrLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></font></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div class="status" style="border-width: 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(49, 81, 102);"><div class="statusHeader" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(49, 81, 102);"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bill Votes</font></span></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Date</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:voteDate" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">04/19/22</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Result</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:result" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(PASS)</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Location</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:location" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sen Judiciary</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ayes Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:ayes" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">8</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Noes Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:noes" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" title="Absent, Abstaining, or Not Voting" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NVR Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:nvr" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">1</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Motion</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:motion" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ayes</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:ayesLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Caballero, Durazo, <b>Gonzalez</b>, Hertzberg, Laird, Stern, Umberg, Wiener</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Noes</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:noesLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Borgeas, Jones</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NVR</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:1:nvrLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Wieckowski</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div class="status" style="border-width: 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(49, 81, 102);"><div class="statusHeader" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(49, 81, 102);"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bill Votes</font></span></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Date</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:voteDate" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">04/04/22</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Result</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:result" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(PASS)</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Location</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:location" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sen Labor, Public Employment and Retirement</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ayes Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:ayes" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">3</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Noes Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:noes" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">1</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" title="Absent, Abstaining, or Not Voting" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NVR Count</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:nvr" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">1</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Motion</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:motion" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Judiciary]</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ayes</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:ayesLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Cortese</b>, Durazo, Laird</font></span></div></div><div style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Noes</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:noesLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ochoa Bogh</font></span></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both;"><div class="statusRow" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><div class="statusCell" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 219.75px; font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NVR</font></span></div><div class="statusCellData" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0.2em; margin: 0px 0px 0px 219.75px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 224, 220);"><span id="j_idt197:j_idt199:2:nvrLeg" class="statusLabel" style="border-width: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Newman</font></span></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">APPR suspense file</font></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">no lnx</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On Thursday, scores of bills in the California Legislature were killed without public debate. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It's part of a twice-yearly procedure known as the suspense file hearing. The process releases hundreds of bills to the Senate and Assembly floors, where they can go up for debate before the entire chamber of lawmakers. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>But for other bills, the suspense hearing provides a quiet, anticlimactic end that often leaves the bill authors and the groups who care about the legislation fuming – and scratching their heads. </b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The practice has been around for decades, but the decision-making process for which bills the committee advances to the floor and which bills it holds back is still done in private.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Here's a look at how the suspense process works, and what it means for how California bills become laws (or don't).</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What is suspense?</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Thousands of bills are introduced in the Legislature each year. Already this year, 2,421 have been introduced.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The bills then go to policy committees, which focus on specialized issues such as business, energy and health.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">After passing a policy committee, any piece of legislation with a price tag of more than $150,000 is sent to its respective appropriations committee, which are responsible for deciding which bills to fund. Senate bills are sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee and Assembly bills to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. </span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Later in the year, bills that are passed out of the house in which they are introduced go through the appropriations committee in the other chamber, too.</span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hundreds of bills pile up — suspended in the legislative process — until the suspense file hearing, when the appropriations committees decide all at one time which bills get to move on for debate.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">At the suspense hearing, the appropriations chair reads through the list of legislation auctioneer-style and announces which bills will live to see another day (The decision making process is secretive, but more on that below).</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Here's what could happen to each bill:</span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Bills that pass on an “A roll call” vote mean both Republicans and Democrats on the appropriations committee voted to move the bill forward. </span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“B roll call” means the bill passed with support from the majority party — currently the Democrats — only. </span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“Held in committee” means the bill will not move to the floor and is dead for the year. </span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In the first half of a two-year legislative session, appropriations committees can designate “two-year bills.” These proposals will be paused until the following year. If passed by Jan. 31, they have another shot at survival.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Appropriations committees can also amend bills before moving them to the floor. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In deciding which bills to fund for the year, the appropriations committees also have a similar but separate task from the Legislature’s budget committees, which decide how much money to attach to an item. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Why do it this way?</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Traditionally, the first suspense hearings of a legislative session happen in May, when lawmakers and their staff have a better idea of the budget picture for that year. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“The suspense file was developed as a mechanism for stopping bills, pushing the pause button, and giving legislators a way to consider all the bills that are going to put significant pressure on the budget,” said University of Redlands political science professor Renee Van Vechten.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pausing all the bills in the chamber at the same time allows lawmakers and legislative leaders to consider the picture holistically in order to weigh priorities, she said.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The process also serves as “a gatekeeping mechanism,” Van Vechten said. “If legislators got their way all the time, there would be too many bills that overspent the budget.”</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Mike Gatto, a former lawmaker who served as chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee for several years beginning in 2012, puts it another way.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>
</b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>“It is a cost-benefit analysis,” he said. “You really are determining: does this bill do something good and important and worthy? And it is subjective” to legislative and committee leaders.</b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Gatto said the procedure serves another purpose: quality control. “California is a bill factory ... and the Appropriations Committee is a giant filter.”</span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What happens behind closed doors</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>
</b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>Behind closed doors, Gatto says the appropriations chair — and, to some extent, the top leaders in each legislative chamber — have final say on which bills pass and which ones are held. </b></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“It is indeed a great power,” he said. “You are determining single-handedly, more or less, whether [hundreds of] bills will proceed or whether they will stop in their tracks.”</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Decades ago, as part of her dissertation research, Van Vachten sat in on a meeting where top lawmakers decided which bills to pass off the suspense file. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The meeting took nearly a full day. It was long enough that lunch was brought in. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Van Vechten said the decision makers in the room at the time were the legislative chamber’s appropriations committee chair, vice chair, and the majority and minority leaders.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“They all sit around the table, and they go through a long book, and they say ‘yes or no,’ ‘yes or no,’ ‘yes or no,’” on the list of hundreds of bills. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>“They would have a short discussion about [each bill] on the merits” before deciding, she said. But questions that guided decisions were largely: “‘What can we afford? Who gets rewards? What's the right thing to do?’</b>”</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Van Vechten notes the decision making process and who’s involved in it has likely changed over the years and as legislative leaders and appropriations chairpeople turn over. But the secrecy — and likely the questions driving each decision — remain. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Why is this done privately?</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">If a bill someone really cares about fails in a policy committee, they know who to complain to: the lawmakers who voted against it. But when a bill fails to pass out of the suspense hearing, it’s less clear who to blame, especially for those who aren’t well-versed on the legislative proce</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ss. </span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><b style="">Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), who chairs the Assembly Appropriations Committee,</b> </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">noted that “everybody's vote is public. It is in the record” via the A or B roll call vote tally. And just like other committee chairs, she said the appropriations committee chair can decide not to hear a bill, effectively killing it. </span></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Gonzalez argues recording votes in private makes the process more efficient. “With hundreds of bills, that would take us hours to get through every bill if we had to do a roll call vote because we have 19 members of our committee,” she said. “What we do is have people tell us their vote beforehand.” </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Gatto, who used to hold Gonzalez’ post, notes the appropriations committees are still subject to all rules of the Legislature, and that the pre-tallying of votes is legal. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Still, the private decision-making makes rank-and-file lawmakers and members of the public alike wonder why a certain bill may have been killed. Was it too expensive? Was there something wrong with the proposal? Did the Appropriations chair have a vendetta?</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Gatto says all can be true, though he maintains decisions driven by Capitol politics are rarer than decisions driven by policy agendas and budgetary needs. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">He speculates one reason suspense file decisions are made outside the view of a public hearing could be that they require very frank conversations — the kind political observers may not be accustomed to seeing in the Legislature, which is generally collegial. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“You would have the staff, who are subject matter experts, tearing apart [members’] bills and saying ‘this is really a bad idea,” he said. “I think it would strike people as a little bit disrespectful if certain bills were torn apart publicly.” </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But love it or hate it, the suspense hearing is engrained in California’s legislative process. Leaders argue it works for a body that churns out so many bills, which often overlap. </div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And the journey doesn’t stop after one suspense file hearing. Bills that eventually go on to become law have to go through the entire process again in the opposite house.</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov</font></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Assembly Member Chris R. Holden,</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">Chair of the Appropriations Committee</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">Frank Bigelow, Vice Chair</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">Assembly Member Frank Bigelow,</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee</div><div>
</div></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></span></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Assembly Appropriations Committee reviews all bills with any fiscal impact after passage by a policy committee. The committee hears more bills than any committee in the Legislature. In the 2009-10 and 2011-12 sessions combined, the committee heard about 4,600 bills. For contrast, the Business, Professions and Consumer Protection and Public Safety Committees each referred about 400 bills over the course of these two sessions.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The goal of the committee is sound, responsible, affordable fiscal policy.</font></p></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.desmog.com/2022/05/13/calstrs-calpers-pension-fossil-fuel-divestment-california/">https://www.desmog.com<b>/2022/05/</b>13/calstrs-calpers-pension-fossil-fuel-divestment-california/</a></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>a newly published <a href="https://fossilfreeca.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Hyperbole-in-the-Hearings.pdf" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">report</a> by Fossil Free California finds California’s pension fund managers are circulating divestment “misinformation” by exaggerating the costs involved in shedding their fossil fuel investments in documents prepared for state lawmakers</b>.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">California lawmakers are currently considering </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1173" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Senate Bill 1173</a> (SB-1173), California’s Fossil Fuel Divestment Act,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> which would require the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), to stop investing in fossil fuels before the decade is out. The move would impact billions of dollars currently invested in oil, gas, or coal on behalf of California’s teachers, </span><a href="https://www.desmog.com/2020/09/27/california-pension-fund-whose-members-include-firefighters-battling-wildfires-still-invested-coal/" data-wpel-link="internal" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">firefighters</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, and other public employees.</span></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The report titled “Hyperbole in the Hearings” found that the pension “funds have wildly exaggerated losses from past divestments” like those involving tobacco, firearms, and some forms of coal. It concludes that CalPERS and CalSTRS estimates for costs associated with fossil fuel divestment are also exaggerated.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Extraordinary sums of money, invested on behalf of California’s public employees and teachers, are on the line. The two pension funds have estimated holdings of $7.4 billion and $4.1 billion respectively in fossil fuel investments that would need to be divested if the law went into effect. [twt]</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx twt</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">B-1173 is under consideration as the worst drought in 1,200 years continues to parch the American southwest this May and Californians are once again warily eyeing stunningly low reservoir levels. Federal officials have already diverted water from the Colorado River to ensure that the Glen Canyon Dam can generate hydroelectric power for millions, water restrictions will soon go into effect in parts of Los Angeles, and it’s been so dry that in some areas, experts are predicting lower-than-normal wildfire activity because it’s been too arid for the grass that usually fuels wildfires to grow.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“This is a crisis unlike anything that we’ve seen before,” Deven Upadhyay, CEO for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, told the Washington Post.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The drought and heat have been made far worse by climate change and the burning of fossil fuels. And as the hazards of climate change become increasingly disruptive, in California and around the world, there’s been a growing push for investors to stop funding fossil fuel companies and to walk away from oil, gas, and coal.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Before it’s enacted, SB-1173 has to survive what California lawmakers call “suspense,” where the fiscal impacts of the law are considered — and it’s become known in the state as the place where bills “are killed without public debate.</b>” That’s because debate between lawmakers during the suspense process is done behind closed doors and there’s no public vote when a bill is killed “on the suspense file.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" size="4" face="Times New Roman">In late April, CalPERS and CalSTRS submitted estimates for the costs of fossil fuel divestment for consideration during suspense — claiming that shedding a combined $11.5 billion in fossil fuel company holdings would cost them millions of dollars, with CalPERS estimating the transaction costs between $75 to $100 million and CalSTRS estimating up to $11.6 million.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[“Any good investment advisor should be able to craft a strategy with minimal transaction fees.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">– Tom Sanzillo</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Fossil Free California challenges those numbers, arguing that transaction costs should be minimal. “In reality, the trading cost of divesting (selling shares) should not add a huge amount to trading costs that are already in the budget,” the new report concludes. “Fund managers buy and sell shares all the time, and these costs are already covered in the ordinary course of business.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The $75-$100 million in transaction costs is crazy,” said Tom Sanzillo, director of financial analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, who did not author the new report but reviewed a draft. “Again there is no methodological explanation.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Sanzillo, who supervised New York’s state pension fund as it increased from $97 billion to $150 billion over four years, noted that divestment, from an administrative perspective, “should not cost much if anything.</b>” He added that the rise of ESG funds — which emphasize environmental, social, and governance issues — and the number of other asset managers divesting from fossil fuels means that “any good investment advisor should be able to craft a strategy with minimal transaction fees. If they cannot, there are advisors who can.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" size="4" face="Times New Roman">The report also alleges that pension funds have overstated the costs of previous divestments from controversial industries like the tobacco industry (which CalPERS voted to divest from in 2000) and from thermal coal (divested under a 2015 state law). Officials from CalPERS and CalSTRS recently said that those earlier divestments cost pensioners $8 or $9 billion. But Fossil Free California’s report notes that those estimates appear to be based on their financial performance up to June 30, 2016 — nearly five years ago.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The “Hyperbole in the Hearings” report cites an analysis by consulting firm Wilshire and Associates which found that “for the period up to June 30 2020, all active CalPERS divestment programs have delivered positive performance.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">To some degree, that’s a debate made more difficult by the absence of official figures, the report authors added. “It’s regrettable that no real-world audit of past divestment costs has taken place: the Legislature is thus at the mercy of the Funds’ estimates,” Fossil Free California wrote.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>CalPERS declined to comment on the report. </b></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Both pension funds have previously argued that they prefer to engage with fossil fuel companies as investors, rather than walk away. In April, the CalPERS board of directors voted to oppose SB-1173 and another divestment bill related to Russian and Belarusian firms. Divestment would mean that “we will not have a seat at the table, and our seat will be taken by investors that may not have the same interest in long-term sustainability as CalPERS,” Danny Brown, chief of CalPERS’ legislative affairs division, said at that meeting.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“CalSTRS’ mission is to ensure a secure retirement for California’s nearly 1 million working and retired public school educators,” Rebecca Forée, a spokesperson for CalSTRS said in an email. The Teachers’ Retirement Board, which administers the fund, has said it opposes SB-1173. “CalSTRS’ approach is more holistic and includes measuring emissions, engaging directly with companies, working to expand government policies, and investing in solutions.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 51);" size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The Teachers’ Retirement Board committed CalSTRS to a<b> net zero investment portfolio by 2050 </b>or sooner to guard against the worst impacts of climate change, preserve a livable planet and enhance the long-term value of our investments,” Forée added. “Based on the Board’s direction and their net zero pledge, we are focused on developing a Net Zero Action Plan. As part of the plan, CalSTRS is investing $20 billion in climate-oriented solutions, and these investments are accelerating as we identify new opportunities.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While they might disagree about the specific numbers, CalSTRS and Fossil Free California have appeared to agree that divesting from one fossil fuel, thermal coal, has been the pension fund’s best performing divestment. During a March 9, 2022, hearing, CalSTRS CIO Chris Ailman testified that while he believes “every divestment has cost us money … thermal coal divestment has come the closest to breaking even.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The true cost of divestment is the failure to divest — staying invested in fossil fuels has been, and is, a financial risk.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">– “Hyperbole in the Hearings”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Arguments for divesting from fossil fuels have been bolstered by the sector’s recent struggles. The past five years have been full of extraordinary upheaval not only for coal companies but also for oil and gas companies — and investors have traveled a very rocky road during that time</b>. Oil prices have swung wildly, infamously touching negative numbers in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic before surging to over $100 a barrel today. Fossil fuels’ role in causing the climate crisis has certainly not escaped the eye of many investors, who have become increasingly skeptical about the long-term prospects for the 20th century’s energy giants.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Take, for example, what’s happened to ExxonMobil over the past five years. CalPERS annual investment report shows that as the pension fund’s fiscal year drew to a close in 2016, it held over 13 million shares of ExxonMobil stock, with a market value of over $93 a share. Today, ExxonMobil’s stock is valued at around $85 a share — after dipping into the $30 range twice, in the spring and fall of 2020. Between those two dips, the long-time blue-chip company was dropped from the Dow Jones Industrial Average. And even as oil prices have surged again, Exxon’s stock prices remain below the over-$100 heights its shares reached in 2013 and 2014.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Meanwhile, the Dow has soared from around 18,000 points in 2016 to over 32,000 points today, meaning that while Exxon’s value was falling, much of the rest of the stock market was surging.</b></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And Exxon is hardly alone. Reuters called the 2010s a “lost decade for shares of U.S. energy companies overall,” citing bankruptcies and overspending on shale, and noting that during that time, “the energy sector’s total earnings have declined 14.8%, while all other major sectors have seen growth of at least 28%.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">That kind of financial underperformance adds to the pressure on CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest — as do the financial risks associated with the impacts of a rapidly changing climate. </font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Evidence shows that CalPERS’ and CalSTRS’ assertions that every divestment has cost them money are wildly exaggerated,” the report concludes. “What they don’t say is that the Funds have already lost tens of billions from value destruction in the entire Energy sector.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The true cost of divestment is the failure to divest — staying invested in fossil fuels has been, and is, a financial risk.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">And of course, as the drumbeat of climate change-related catastrophes grows ever faster, the hazards involved for California’s pension funds and their members aren’t just financial. </font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The data is clear: Fossil fuels are a risky financial investment, and they are furthering the climate crisis,” state senator Lena A. Gonzalez, who introduced SB-1173, wrote in an April op-ed in the Sacramento Bee. “From oil spills to land contamination and air pollution, it’s low-income Black and brown communities that suffer the most. In my district, Southeast Los Angeles and Long Beach suffer from high air pollution, public health burdens and social and economic disadvantages.”</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“California cannot be a climate justice leader,” she added, “if we continue to invest in the companies that are polluting our environment.”</font></p></div><div style="" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><div style=""><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">sac bee</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">OPINION AND COMMENTARY </font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> VIEWPOINTS How California’s pension funds can invest in the future by divesting from fossil fuels BY<b> [state senate] LENA GONZALEZ</b> SPECIAL TO THE SACRAMENTO BEE <b>APRIL 20, 2022 </b></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> The CalPERS building in downtown Sacramento. JAY MATHER Sacramento Bee file</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> As the state and economy make the transition to cleaner energy sources to help reach a global goal of zero net emissions by mid-century to stop global warming, a growing number of institutions worldwide are choosing to divest trillions of dollars from fossil fuel companies. This is the ethically and financially responsible choice, and more union members in California are demanding divestment and standing up for climate justice.<b> The California Faculty Association passed a resolution calling for the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) to divest from fossil fuels</b>. Their members count on them to make healthy financial decisions about their funds for retirement. The faculty group was joined in calling for divestment by state associations representing higher education faculty, the academic senates at California State University and the University of California, and local chapters of unions representing teachers in cities from Los Angeles to Oakland. </font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">These educators and public employees have made it clear that they do not want their hard-earned pensions to be invested in the destruction of our planet. TOP VIDEOS × <b>OPINION </b></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Fossil fuel stocks have underperformed for the last five years and are exposed to significant market risks</b>. Looking into the future, the financial risk will be even greater as California and governments around the world continue to commit to more ambitious goals for lowering emissions.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b> Markets are moving away from fossil fuels and toward carbon-free technologies</b>. It’s increasingly evident that fossil fuels are simply a bad investment. In fact, studies have shown that if CalPERS had divested from fossil fuels in 2010, it would have generated an estimated additional $11.9 billion in returns by 2019. But the risks go beyond the financial costs of fossil fuel mining and drilling. Fossil fuels also have a disastrous impact on our environment and our health. From oil spills to land contamination and air pollution, it’s low-income Black and brown communities that suffer the most. In my district, Southeast Los Angeles and Long Beach suffer from high air pollution, public health burdens and social and economic disadvantages. </font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">These places have been referred to as “Asthma Alley” and called a “Hot Spot for Polluted Air” by the media. It’s time to take more expeditious action to protect our vulnerable communities from the harmful effects of fossil fuel pollution. Economic prosperity and a clean environment are not mutually exclusive goals, and that’s where <b>Senate Bill 1173</b> comes into play. SB 1173 continues the bold and progressive actions California must take to address climate change. It will prohibit CalPERS and CalSTRS from investing in fossil fuel companies and require that they divest from current investments by 2027. T</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">. Among the nation’s largest pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS are powerful entities that can help make a difference through their investment power. They have an estimated $469 billion and $327 billion in assets, respectively, and they invest the retirement futures of California’s state and school employees. California cannot be a climate justice leader if we continue to invest in the companies that are polluting our environment. The data is clear: Fossil fuels are a risky financial investment, and they are furthering the climate crisis. From South African Apartheid to Big Tobacco, divestment has been proven effective in bringing about change. Let’s do what’s right for our communities and our future: Divest from fossil fuels, starting with state pension funds. <b>Sen. Lena Gonzalez is a Democrat from Los Angeles County.</b></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Read more at: <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article259465499.html">https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article259465499.html</a>#storylink=cpy</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">wacko epoch times?!</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">sOUTHERN CALIFORNIA</font></font></font></p><p style=""><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" size="4" face="Times New Roman">Los Angeles Calls for State Pension Funds to Divest From Fossil Fuels</font></font></font></p><p style=""><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">By </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">City News Service</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> April 5, 2022 Updated</span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">: April 5, 2022</b></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">LOS ANGELES—A Senate bill to have the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the State Teachers’ Retirement System divest from fossil fuels was supported by the Los Angeles City Council on April 5.</font></font></font></p><p style=""><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The council passed a resolution, introduced by Councilman Paul Koretz, to support Se</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">nate Bill 1173</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, which was introduced by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D- Long Beach) and Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).</span></b></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The resolution passed 12–0</span> and notes that the pension funds have more than $9 billion invested in fossil fuel production.</b></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Given the damages of climate breakdown, it is in the best long-term interest of the city of Los Angeles to support the dismantling of the fossil fuel system, both physically and financially,” the resolution states.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The bill, if passed, would prohibit the boards of the state’s pension systems from making new investments or renewing existing investments in a fossil fuel company. It would also require the boards to liquidate investments in fossil fuel companies on or before July 1, 2027.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The board would not be required to take any action that is determined to be inconsistent with its fiduciary responsibilities established in the California Constitution.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joyce Kuo contributed to this report.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">City News Service </font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></font></p><header style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;"><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 25px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Teachers’ Retirement Board opposes legislative proposal on fossil fuel divestment</font></span></font></font></h2></header><section class="profile-fields" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 25px;"><div class="body" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; letter-spacing: 0em !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senate Bill 1173 (Gonzalez) would prohibit CalSTRS from making additional or new investments in fossil fuel companies but risk teacher pension security</font></font></font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Statement | Karen Doron</font></strong></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (<b>March 7, 2022)</b> – At its March 2022 meeting the Teachers’ Retirement Board (board) voted to oppose Senate Bill 1173 (Gonzalez), which would prohibit CalSTRS from making additional or new investments in fossil fuel companies and require divestment from such investments by July 1, 2027. The board has a policy to oppose legislation that restricts or infringes on the plenary authority of the board to administer its retirement plans and infringes on the investment authority of the board.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> <b>A majority of the board (nine) voted to oppose the measure </b>with one abstention and <b>two votes not in favor of opposing the bill.</b></span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Our policy is unequivocal that we oppose bills that force divestment,” said Teachers’ Retirement Board Chair Harry Keiley. “We all want to get to the same place, to take powerful action to address climate change. We can do that and ensure a secure retirement for California’s hard-working teachers through our plan to leverage our relationships, coalitions and investments.”</font></font></font></p><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; letter-spacing: 0em !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">SB 1173 analysis</font></font></font></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In its <a href="https://www.calstrs.com/files/1628e7800/TRB+032022+Item+03.00+-+State+and+Federal+Legislation+v3.pdf" class="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; border: 20px red;">analysis of SB 1173</a>, CalSTRS determined its exposure to fossil fuels by including companies that have fossil fuel reserves for energy application and sales being more than 1% of revenue. CalSTRS invests in 174 companies with a combined market value of approximately $4.1 billion that meet this definition</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. Fossil fuel divestment, combined with existing CalSTRS divestments, would create roughly a 1% tracking error, or deviation from the benchmark. Potential costs resulting from a tracking error would put at risk the CalSTRS Funding Plan to reach full funding for California’s public educators. Any resulting costs would increase the unfunded liability and may also result in an increase in the state’s contribution to the Defined Benefit Program.</span></font></font></font></p><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; letter-spacing: 0em !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CalSTRS’ approach to climate change</font></font></font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CalSTRS believes climate change is one of the greatest threats to the future, with undeniable links to business and financial investments. The vast impacts of climate change threaten health and safety, our environment and the global economy, which put the CalSTRS Investment Portfolio at risk.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CalSTRS is focused on ensuring a secure retirement for California’s nearly 1 million working and retired public school educators. Climate change is about more than fossil fuel companies; our entire investment portfolio is affected by climate risk.<b> Divesting from fossil fuels ignores the larger climate change risks to the CalSTRS portfolio.</b> CalSTRS’ approach is more holistic and involves our entire investment portfolio, including measuring emissions, engaging directly with companies, working to expand government policies, and investing in solutions.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">CalSTRS has been addressing climate risk in its portfolio for nearly 20 years. CalSTRS is aligned with the State of California in combatting climate change and worked closely with the state’s Department of Finance in the development of the California Climate Investment Framework. Our efforts to address climate risk are rooted in our promise of a secure retirement for California’s public school educators and their beneficiaries.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> In September 2021, the board gave further direction to address climate change by adopting a pledge to achieve a <a href="https://www.calstrs.com/path-to-net-zero" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; border: 20px red;">net zero portfolio</a>.</span></font></font></font></p><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; letter-spacing: 0em !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Media contact</font></font></font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Karen Doron<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Phone: 916-414-1440<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. PDT<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="mailto:Newsroom@CalSTRS.com" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; border: 20px red;">Newsroom@CalSTRS.com</a></font></font></font></p><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; letter-spacing: 0em !important;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">About CalSTRS</font></font></font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CalSTRS provides a secure retirement to more than 980,000 members and beneficiaries whose CalSTRS-covered service is not eligible for Social Security participation. On average, members who retired in 2020–21 had 25 years of service and a monthly benefit of $4,813. Established in 1913, CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world with $319.8 billion in assets under management as of January 31, 2022. CalSTRS demonstrates its strong commitment to long-term corporate sustainability principles in its annual <a href="https://www.calstrs.com/sustainability-report" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; border: 20px red;">Sustainability Report</a>. For more information, visit CalSTRS.com.</font></font></font></p></div></div></section></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">===</font></font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On February 17, Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) introduced a bill in the California Legislature that would mandate that California’s public pension funds stop investing in fossil fuel companies. SB1173, the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, would require these state pension funds to make no new investments in fossil fuel companies and to divest existing fossil fuel investments […]</font></font></font></div><div style="" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Dan Bacher </span><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">February 21st</b></font></font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div style="" times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><h2 class="post-title" style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 16px; line-height: 24px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">C<a href="https://redgreenandblue.org/2022/02/21/california-state-senator-lena-gonzalez-introduces-fossil-fuel-divestment-bill/" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">alifornia State Senator Lena Gonzalez introduces fossil fuel divestment bill</a></font></font></font></h2><div class="at-above-post-arch-page addthis_tool" data-url="https://redgreenandblue.org/2022/02/21/california-state-senator-lena-gonzalez-introduces-fossil-fuel-divestment-bill/" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On February 17, Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) introduced a bill in the California Legislature that would mandate that California’s public pension funds stop investing in fossil fuel companies. SB1173, the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, would require these state pension funds to make no new investments in fossil fuel companies and to divest existing fossil fuel investments […]</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest non-federal pension funds in the country, have over <b>$9 billion invested in fossil fuel </b>companies and related energy sector industrie</span><span style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2);">s. CalSTRS has about $469 billion in assets, while CalPERS has $327 billion in assets.</span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>A recent report estimates that out of these funds CalPERS invests $5.5 billion in fossil fuel companies and CalSTRS invests $3.4 billion.</b></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">For decades, predominately black and brown, low income communities have suffered from the harmful health effects of living in communities surrounded by oil and gas wells in California, a state that styles itself as a “green” and “progressive” leader but still does not have setbacks from oil and gas wells like other states like Colorado, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and even Texas do.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">For Nalleli Cobo of Los Angeles, the need for divestment from fossil fuel companies is very personal. When the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) met publicly with advocates of fossil fuel divestment at a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P6qUO7w7u6gNfg1dLhuTsNc_o0CoCyjR/view?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">virtual Sustainability Symposium</a> on<a href="https://fossilfreeca.org/sustainability-symposium/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;"> </a>February 9, Cobo shared her experience growing up near an oil well.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“My health declined,” she testified. “I started getting body spasms so severe I couldn’t move. My mom would have to carry me from one place to another. At the age of 19, I was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer.”</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“It’s important that teachers’ money doesn’t go to killing kids, it doesn’t go to damaging their organs or their health; it goes to protecting them and guaranteeing a beautiful life for them,” Cobo said.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Likewise, Lizbeth Ibarra, a 17 year old climate activist who grew up near the Chevron refinery in Richmond, asked CalSTRS, “How much more does my community have to suffer, how much does my future have to be in question for you to decide that your moral responsibility is to pull support from those causing the suffering?”</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Do teachers know that you’re investing their money in supporting destructive projects, from <a href="https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/21549-investing-in-destruction-california-teachers-pension-money-should-not-be-funding-line-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">Line 3</a> to the <a href="https://www.stopeacop.net/why-stop-eacop" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">East Africa crude oil pipeline</a>?” she stated.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2);">Accompanying the introduction of the bill, Gonzalez held a press conference Thursday that featured Miriam Eide, Coordinating Director</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">, Fossil Free California; Carlos Davidson, Professor Emeritus, San Francisco State University and California Faculty Association member; Raven Fonseca Jensen, Member, Youth vs Apocalypse;</span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senator Gonzalez, who as a mother of three and a resident of a district where residents suffer from exposure to toxics, knows first hand about the impacts of fossil fuel corporations on frontline communities.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Investing billions in the fossil fuel companies that are polluting our environment while at the same time trying to meet ambitious emissions reduction goals is contradictory and incongruous,” she said. “SB 1173 will ensure we remain true to our values and honor our commitment as a State to protecting the environment and the health and future of all Californians, including historically disadvantaged communities of color that are disproportionately impacted by the hazardous pollutants released into our communities by these companies.”</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In response to my question about how divestment bill proponents will overcome the grip that the oil industry lobby has on the Legislature, she said the Legislature passed a similar bill in 2015 requiring CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from coal companies.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b style="">She also noted that an estimated 1,500 institutions with over $39 trillion in assets have already committed to divestment</b>, including the University of California, the California State University, the State and City of New York, the State of Maine, the Vatican, and the province of Quebec.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“I think the political appetite is out there now for this bill,” she said.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Miriam Eide, Coordinating Director at Fossil Free California, said after eight years of CalSTRS and CalPERS ignoring the calls of students, teachers, and state workers to divest their pensions, her group is “grateful to Senator Gonzalez for leading the way in today’s legislative push for pension divestment.”</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2);">“Divestment is the right thing to do for climate change and is a smart financial move for our pensions,” echoed Carlos Davidson, </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">CFA Peace & Justice Committee member and retired San Francisco State professor. “</span><span style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2);">We have to stop pretending that fossil fuel companies are good corporate citizens. Their own scientists knew their product was causing climate change, but the companies kept it secret.”</span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>”CFA wields a powerful credential in California</b>, and we can best serve our principles of social and racial justice by taking a lead in climate justice for future generations of students, families and communities,” said Davidson, who helped organize the campaign for CFA to vote for CALPERS divestment last year.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Another CFA member, Anne Luna-Gordinier, a sociology professor at Sacramento State who is of Cherokee and Choctaw ancestry, emphasized SB 1173 is urgently needed now, since “we are facing an existential crisis.”</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">She cited a recent scientific journal article (<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01290-z" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01290-z</a>) revealing that the drought in the Western states that started in 2000 represents the driest two decades in 1200 years, in addition to citing a NOAA report stating that coastal areas in the U.S. will see frequent flooding due to climate change.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Finally, Anaya Sayal, a member of Youth Vs Apocalypse, also urged support for SB 1173.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Divestment is essential to the wellbeing of the large community of people of color being affected by fossil fuel investments, along with the entirety of the planet, which is being greatly harmed,” stated Sayal. “Fossil fuels are heavily contributing to the climate crisis, placing future generations in a horrible situation, even though the current generation could make great strides towards solving this issue so the burden does not completely fall on them.”</font></font></font></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 22.4px; line-height: 24px;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman">Background: Big Oil’s Grip on Sacramento </font></span></font></font></h3><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the largest and most powerful corporate lobbying group in Sacramento, has spent over $17.5 million alone lobbying the California Legislature and other state officials over the past three years</span><span style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2);">.</span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>In 2021, WSPA spent $4,397,004 lobbying legislators </b>and state officials to serve Big Oil’s agenda, according to data filed with California Secretary of State’s Office.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The association spent $957,137 on lobbying in the fourth quarter of 2021. The money went to an array of in-house lobbyists and outside lobbying firms, topped by Ramball Environ in Philadelphia that received $116,981 in the fourth quarter and $366,864 in 2021</span><span style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2);">.</span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>WSPA spent a total of $8.8 million in 2019 and $4,267,181 in 2020 on lobbying California legislators and officials as thousands of oil and gas drilling permits were approved by CalGEM, the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency</b>: <a href="https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/21259-big-oil-spent-10-million-lobbying-california-officials-in-2020" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">www.citywatchla.com/…</a></font></font></font></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" size="4" face="Times New Roman">In 2020, even a weak bill recommending health and safety setbacks around oil and gas failed to get through the oil industry-friendly California Legislature.</font></font></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font style="" size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Then in 2021, another stronger bill, SB 467, failed to pass throughout the legislature because of heavy oil industry lobbying of legislators, including those who had received big campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry</span><span style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2);">.<b> The bill would have banned fracking by 2023 eliminating fracking and instituting mandatory health and safety zones between oil and gas extraction and places where Californians live, work, and study</b>.</span></font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The inordinate influence by Big Oil on California politicians and regulators is most dramatically evidenced by the approval of thousands of new and reworked onshore oil and gas well permits by CalGEM, the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency, since Newsom took office in January 2019.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On the same day the LA City Council voted to ban oil and gas wells in city limits, <b>Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance </b>reported at <a href="https://consumerwatchdog.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=16fdf633d6cc08468a8275737&id=30ffd0651a&e=012a06ab40" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">www.NewsomWellWatch.org</a> that Governor Newsom has approved 10,212 oil drilling permits since he assumed office in 2019. The total is nearly identical to the number of permits Governor Jerry Brown approved in his first three years.</font></font></font></p></div><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lobbying is just one of the seven methods that Big Oil uses in California to exercise inordinate influence over California regulators. WSPA and Big Oil wield their power in 7 major ways: through (1) lobbying; (2) campaign spending; (3) serving on and putting shills on regulatory panels; (4) creating Astroturf groups; (5) working in collaboration with media; (6) creating alliances with labor unions; and (7) contributing to non profit organizations.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In one glaring example of oil and gas industry officials serving on regulatory panels, Catherine Reheis-Boyd, President of the Western States Petroleum Association, chaired the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Blue Ribbon Task Force to create “marine protected areas” in Southern California from 2009 to 2012, as well as serving on the task forces to create “marine protected areas” on the Central Coast, North Central Coast and North Coast from 2004 to 2012.</font></font></font></p><p style="background-color: rgba(216, 216, 216, 0.2); margin: 0px 0px 1.4em; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">----</font></font></font></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>