We are nearly three years into the pandemic. At the same time we face an escalating climate crisis and are fighting to protect democracy from the rising tide of fascism. Add to this our "normal" struggles of every day life and work. We are coping with a lot. Too much. During this traditional time of reflection and rest, I am sharing my conversation with Victor Narro, faculty at the UCLA Labor Center, author, and renown labor and immigrant rights activist. Mr. Narro recently rel...

It's mid November and California budget revenue collections are way below projections. Paired with historically high rates of inflation, the Legislature may be facing a $25 billion deficit in FY 23-24. One big difference from budget deficits of the past, however, is the state has $23 billion saved in rainy day funds. Experts agree: Is the situation serious? Without a doubt. Is it a crisis? No. So what does this mean for advocates? Lobbying for new program investments is going to be h...

How do you compel lawmakers to take the hard votes needed to pass bold worker's rights and climate action policies when they have Corporate America breathing down their necks? Last fall I had the honor to interview Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-27 - San Jose) during my advocacy webinar “All Politics is Local”: How Communities can Build Political Power. Mr. Kalra represents the city of San Jose and made history in 2016 as the first Indian-American elected to the California Legislature. An una...

Jennifer Kent, knower of all things California health care policy, shares her valuable insight on how the state budget sausage gets made. Currently the CEO of the Kent Group, Jennifer Kent served under three different Governors, most recently as the Director of the California Department of Health Care Services. She’s held leadership roles in the Health & Human Services Agency and Governor's Office and also spent time in the third house as a lobbyist. Here are my top 5 takeaways from ...

There are few who can speak on electoral politics in California with as much authority as Bill Wong. As former Political Director for the California Assembly Democrats, Bill led efforts in 2018 and 2020 to build the largest Democratic “giga” majorities in the state Assembly in over a century. He served as a political advisor to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and is a regular feature in Capitol Weekly's Top 100 Power List. When I needed to know what was really going on behind the scenes in a...

How many times have you heard this? “I know federal elections are important, but I live in California - there’s nothing I can do.” Yes, California is as blue a state as they come. But the reality is pro-Trump extremists are active throughout the state and some of them are members and/or candidates for Congress. In California there are many critical Congressional races where grassroots support is urgently necessary. In other words, there is a lot you can do to ensure Trumpists do not ...

Who are the most influential groups in Sacramento? We all know the traditional power players. Organizations that play big in electoral politics. Either they write big campaign checks, mobilize big voter turnout, or perhaps do both. Dig deeper, though, and you’ll see they aren’t the only ones at the Capitol with clout. Just because you don’t participate in electoral politics - for whatever reason – it doesn’t mean you are relegated to the sidelines. Take stock of where you...

You won’t understand politics until you understand power. How it works. Who has it and who doesn’t. And most important of all, how you grow and use it to get what you want. You know there is inequality and injustice and you want to change it. But how? I had the opportunity to talk at length with Jovan Agee, Founder and CEO of Agee Global Solutions. Jovan served as Legislative & Political Director (and my supervisor) at UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, Senior Advisor to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Capi...

Lobbying is not “one size fits all”. As any savvy lobbyist will tell you, securing funding in the California budget is very different from working to get a policy bill signed. You must follow timelines and committees that are separate and distinct from the legislative process. All of this can be intimidating and confusing for advocates, which is why I’m thrilled to have Senator Sydney Kamlager, (D-30) on the podcast. As the new Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 Chair, Senator Kamlager gives us an...

In 2019, Kipp Mueller, a workers' and civil rights attorney, entered the race for California State Senate District 21, challenging incumbent and then Republican Senate Minority Leader Scott Wilk. Encompassing northern Los Angeles county and parts of the High Desert, SD 21 was a Republican stronghold for over a decade but voter registration has been trending Democratic. A "dogfight" of a campaign, millions of dollars were pumped into the race by both sides. Neck and neck on election n...

The Gann limit hovers over the California capitol like an ominous cloud on an otherwise sunny day. Despite massive tax revenues and a projected discretionary budget surplus of $20.6 billion (with a strong potential to exceed this amount by $15 billion), the state must abide by an arbitrary spending cap adopted over 40 years ago - the Gann limit. This limit severely restrains any new investment by the Governor and Legislature. Budget advocacy is already very challenging. Gann ensures ...

Before you can build political power you need a base. And Aquilina Soriano Versoza knows exactly how to get it done. Aquilina is co-founder and Executive Director of the Pilipino Workers Center based in Southern California. She is President of the Pilipino Action Center, 501(c)4 sibling organization to the PWC. She is a leader in the California Domestic Worker Coalition, which in 2013 won the historic AB 241 (Ammiano) - the Domestic Worker Bills of Rights. And because that’s not enou...

Is your legislation on the infamous Chamber of Commerce "job killer" list? Is your campaign facing stiff opposition from corporate America with its infinite resources? In a battle of David and Goliath, how can marginalized communities come out on top? Today I am honored to be joined by Victor Narro, a nationally recognized expert on immigrant and low-income workers. Project Director at the UCLA Labor Center, Mr. Narro is also on faculty at the UCLA Department of Labor and Workplace Studies...

Trying to break through the noise at the California Capitol to get your issue front and center? You're hustling. But why is your message is not resonating? Today I talk with Eduardo Martinez, Legislative Director for the California Labor Federation, who shares his insight - based on years of experience as a legislative staffer - on how to ensure your message is not only received but resonates. Eduardo most recently served as Chief of Staff to former Assemblymember and now Mayor...