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Apr 06, 2023

Welcome to the jungle

By RACHEL BLUTH and LARA KORTE 05/23/2023 07:20 PM EDT POLITICAL ANIMALS:

By RACHEL BLUTH and LARA KORTE

05/23/2023 07:20 PM EDT

POLITICAL ANIMALS: Budget season is always a wild time in Sacramento, but today it's really gone to the dogs.

Just across the street from the swing space, Capitol staff spent their lunch breaks oohing and aahing over wildlife brought in by Sea World's conservation and education division. Sea World, perhaps best known for elaborate (and controversial) water shows, got a chance to tout its rescue efforts with animals like Miss Piggy the python, Edward Scissorhands the sloth and Morocco the porcupine.

"I have a purse just like this," Secretary of State Shirley Weber said while she and her daughter, Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), petted a rescued alligator named Spike.

That's actually a good thing, Spike's handler said. Responsibly using alligators for watches, belts and bags can help maintain and conserve the reptiles — though PETA and other animal advocates would beg to differ.

The ASPCA and Humane Society, along with some other animal welfare groups, were also in town pushing four bills. AB 1399, from Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), would let animals see vets through telemedicine, alleviating the same health care workforce shortages plaguing humans.

A bill from Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) would award $30 million in grants to domestic violence and homeless shelters to set up vet services. Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) wants California to require some shelters or warming and cooling centers to open their doors to people with pets during emergencies like heat waves.

Another bill from Maienschein would require companies to use alternatives to animal testing in consumer products; it would not apply to biomedical research.

Tasha Boerner, a Democrat whose Assembly district encompasses SeaWorld in San Diego, got to hold 1-year-old kangaroo Fuzz Bucket, who delighted the audience of state workers by bouncing up and down the aisles of red auditorium chairs.

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner holds Fuzz Bucket the kangaroo in Sacramento on May 23, 2023. | Lara Korte

HAPPY TUESDAY AFTERNOON! Welcome to California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to [email protected] or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open!

GAME TIME: No matter what happens with the 49ers, the Bay Area will be going to the Super Bowl in 2026. Or at least the Super Bowl will be coming to the Bay Area. The NFL announced today that Levi Stadium will host Super Bowl LX. It's a big win for California no matter what happens on the field, as Gov. Gavin Newsom noted in a statement welcoming the decision. "We look forward to the opportunity to showcase our state on one of the world's biggest stages," he said.

BUDGET BUMMER: Newsom's administration is working with the Legislature to figure out how to close a projected $31.5 billion budget deficit. But that projection could be off, especially in the coming years, according to a new report from the Legislative Analyst's Office. The LAO says next year's deficit could be significantly larger, requiring $6 billion more in cuts. It also says the administration is way off on its five-year projection, with non-education spending projected to outpace revenue by $10 billion in the 2026-27 budget year. LAO gives the state a less than one-in-six chance of being able to afford the administration's five-year spending plan, even after the governor proposed slashing and delaying billions in spending. — Blake Jones

KNOCK IT OFF: It's illegal to sell brass knuckles in California, but that rule apparently escaped the notice of Walmart. Attorney General Rob Bonta and the district attorneys of three counties today announced a settlement with the company following a yearslong investigation that found about 250 products sold through Walmart's website met the definition of brass knuckles, an illegal weapon in the state. Bonta said 60 percent of the illegal products were sold by Walmart, with the rest coming from third-party vendors selling via the giant retailer's website. As part of the settlement, the company agreed to pay $500,000 in civil penalties and costs — divided among the state and the counties of Merced, Ventura and Yolo. The company also agreed to block California sales of brass knuckles and to notify people who bought them that the product is illegal and should be turned over to law enforcement.

Bonta had conciliatory words for the company. "The selling of illegal weapons on their site should never have happened in the first place. But once it was made known to them, they worked in good faith to get to a resolution," he said at a news conference. The company said in a statement that it believes its policies comply with California law but that the agreement is "in the best interest of all parties." — Ramon Castaños

MC-NO TAX: Senators in today's health and human services budget hearing expressed deep skepticism about Newsom's proposal to balance the budget and provide some Medicaid funds with a renewed tax on health plans. Lawmakers said the money will take too long to get to distressed hospitals and doctors who treat Medi-Cal patients. They’re also worried that most of the money coming in from the tax, which is supposed to be set aside for Medi-Cal investments in the future, will be drained the next time Newsom needs to balance the budget. "I’ve never voted for a tax in my life," said state Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield). "And if I’m going to vote for this tax, I want to make sure the people I represent get access to health care."

"Risk of ‘catastrophic flooding’ has diminished in Tulare Lake Basin, officials say," by the Los Angeles Times’ Susanne Rust and Haley Smith: But the main area of concern remains the Tulare Lake Basin, [UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain] said, which has no outlet and is still filled with deep and stagnant water from this year's winter storms.

— "California wants to increase pay for some Medi-Cal providers. How it might help patients access care," by CalMatters’ Ana B. Ibarra: Now, recent investments in the state's Medi-Cal program, including a newly proposed pay boost for primary care providers and others, is renewing [Dr. Sumana] Reddy's excitement about the program.

— "Florida and California go their own ways on healthcare," by the Los Angeles Times’ Noah Bierman: [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’] attempts to push his state further to the right have drawn him into a public rivalry with Gov. Gavin Newsom on a growing number of topics as each governor seeks to raise his own state's profile ahead of the 2024 election.

— "Metro's new Regional Connector: From East L.A. to Santa Monica - Los Angeles Times," by the Los Angeles Times’ Rachel Uranga

— "Rushing Valley rivers have already taken people with them as Sierra snowmelt intensifies," by KVPR's Joshua Yeager

— "If John Fisher's stadium deals flop, who should buy the A's? Steph? Reggie? Trump?" by the San Francisco Chronicle's Scott Ostler

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