Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
News You Might Have Missed
By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
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Sen. Rosilice Ochoa Bogh Praises U.S. Senate for Voting to End Taxes on Service Workers’ Tips
In a unanimous vote on May 20, the U.S. Senate voted to eliminate federal taxes on tips for service workers.
California State Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Redlands) praised the U.S. Senate for passing the bill, which was introduced by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
“I applaud the U.S. Senate for putting service workers first and providing much-needed tax relief. Now it’s California’s turn,” said Ochoa Bogh, who has authored similar legislation in California, Senate Bill (SB) 17. The U.S. Senate bill, which codifies into federal law a campaign promise made by President Trump, establishes a tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips for employees who earn less than $160,000. The deduction is limited to cash tips workers earn and report to employers for withholding on their paychecks.
“Tipped workers are taxed on inconsistent and unpredictable income causing instability in their families already struggling to make ends meet,” said Ochoa Bogh.
However, on May 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to send Ochoa Bogh’s no-state-tax-on-service-workers bill – along with hundreds of others – to the “suspense file,” where bills are sent for further consideration of costs to the state.
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Could This Be a Call to Black Church? California to Fund Special Ed at Religious Private Schools
California will now allow public funds to pay for students with learning disabilities to attend religious private schools, marking a major shift in longstanding state policy. The change follows a court settlement reached May 19 between state officials and a group of Orthodox Jewish parents who had challenged the state’s exclusion of religious schools from its funding program.
Since 1993, California law has permitted the use of public funds to cover the cost of private school education for students with disabilities, but only at nonsectarian institutions. That requirement was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in October that the law appeared to violate the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom.
“For too long, California has discriminated against children with disabilities simply because of their faith. This settlement puts that injustice to an end,” said Daniel Mitzner of the Teach Coalition, affiliated with the Orthodox Union, which backed the legal challenge.
The plaintiffs included three Orthodox Jewish families in the Los Angeles area, each with children diagnosed with autism. One family described their 14-year-old son being served nonkosher meals at his public school, while another struggled to afford speech therapy for their 4-year-old enrolled in a private Jewish school that had no access to state funding.
Eric Rassbach, senior attorney at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said the resolution “ensures that Jewish kids with disabilities can access the resources they need and deserve” without compromising their religious beliefs.
The challenge drew support from 22 states led by Idaho and religious groups such as the California Catholic Conference and the Rabbinical Council of America. The California Department of Education, led by Superintendent Tony Thurmond, did not issue a statement, but attorneys for the department agreed in court that the settlement was “fair and equitable” and would not be appealed.
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California Seizes $123.5 Million in Illegal Cannabis in Largest-Ever Enforcement Operation
In the largest coordinated crackdown to date on California’s illicit cannabis industry, a state-led task force seized more than $123 million worth of illegal cannabis during a week-long operation in the Central Valley. The multi-agency enforcement, carried out in early May, targeted unlicensed growers and distribution sites across Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties.
Through the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, more than 200 personnel from 15 state, local, and federal agencies executed 71 search warrants across 4,600 square miles. Authorities seized 105,700 cannabis plants and 22,057 pounds of processed cannabis. They also confiscated nine firearms. Multiple arrests were made, and charges are being coordinated with local district attorneys.
Gov. Gavin Newsom reaffirmed the state’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal cannabis and praised the joint enforcement effort behind the massive seizure.
“Let this be a reminder to all who grow cannabis illegally: we won’t tolerate the undermining of our legal industry and impacts to our environment,” said Newsom. “I appreciate the multi-agency, cross-county efforts to take on the illicit market.”
The operation also uncovered environmental violations at eight sites where banned or restricted pesticides were used. Officials warned that these substances pose a threat to native wildlife and public health when consumed through tainted cannabis.
“This operation represents the power of collaboration across agencies with a shared commitment to protecting our natural resources and preserving the integrity of California’s legal cannabis market,” said Charlton H. Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Nicole Elliott, Director of the Department of Cannabis Control, said, “This operation sends a clear message: California will not tolerate illicit cannabis activity that threatens public safety, the environment, and the integrity of the legal market.”
This latest action adds to more than $534 million in illegal cannabis seizures made by the task force in 2024 alone. Since its establishment in 2022, the task force has served 500 warrants and seized over $650 million in unlicensed cannabis.
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Barbara Lee Sworn in as Oakland’s First Black Woman Mayor
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee was sworn in on May 20 as the 52nd mayor of Oakland, becoming the first Black woman to hold the city’s highest office. The longtime East Bay congresswoman received a standing ovation as she entered Oakland City Hall to take the oath of office following her victory in a special election.
Before her swearing-in ceremony, Lee revealed she has been collaborating with interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins on a comprehensive budget proposal that includes job cuts at City Hall, while prioritizing funding for public safety. Lee emphasized the urgency of addressing the city’s fiscal challenges alongside her broader goals.
Lee expressed a commitment to revitalizing the community.
“I want to restore hope, create opportunities for our young people, ensure a safe path for our sons and daughters to have long, productive lives and to be housed in our own homes in a safe, clean city,” said Lee.
Lee highlighted her progressive values, adding that she aims to “address the moral disgrace of our unsheltered population with dignity, to support our senior citizens and our artists, and yes, to recommend solutions to make our city and its people economically healthy and vibrant.”
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Lee’s successor in Congress, praised Lee’s leadership and historic achievements.
“Mayor Lee has always led the path forward — as the first Black woman to represent Northern California in the State Assembly, State Senate, and Congress, and now as the first Black woman to serve as Mayor of Oakland,” said Simon.
Simon described Lee as “a champion for human rights, the forgotten, for peace and democracy” and affirmed that Lee “is the right person to make the difficult decisions that will help bring Oakland into its next chapter.”
“I am excited to see the mayor’s work to rebuild trust in our city’s leadership at this critical time,” Simon added.
Lee was elected last month following a special election held after the recall of former Mayor Sheng Thao. While she did not reference the recall, Lee acknowledged the city’s expectations for change.
“Oaklanders expect and demand that we must govern in a new way,” she said while addressing the crowd. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And it starts with the people.”
Looking ahead, Lee said her administration plans to engage a diverse group of residents, promising that within 100 days, people “from all walks of life” will help City Hall better serve the community and “usher in a new era of prosperity and progress.”
California Leaders Blasts U.S. Senate Vote to Revoke State’s Clean Air Rules Against the guidance of the Senate Parliamentarian, the U.S. Senate voted 51-44 on May 22 to revoke a federal government waiver that allows California to set its own clean air emissions standards.
Responding to the vote, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that they will sue the federal government for the move they say will “make America smoggy again” and undermine U.S. leadership in the global race to green energy conversion.
“This Senate vote is illegal. Republicans went around their own parliamentarian to defy decades of precedent,” said Newsom.
“We won’t stand by as Trump Republicans make America smoggy again — undoing work that goes back to the days of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan — all while ceding our economic future to China. We’re going to fight this unconstitutional attack on California in court,” he added.
Before the vote on May 20, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) condemned his Republican colleagues for their plan to bypass Senate rules and revoke California’s Clean Air Act waivers. Padilla accused Republicans of using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to rescind the waivers with only 50 votes, thereby avoiding the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Speaking on the U.S. Senate floor, Padilla made clear that this move would set a dangerous precedent and threaten the health of millions. “I will be back here again and again throughout this process to make sure that everyone knows what these votes mean not just for the precedent and procedures of the United States Senate, but for the health of my constituents in California,” he said.
Padilla criticized the Republicans for a “total 180-degree reversal” on their previous defense of the filibuster, noting that Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) had earlier described overriding the Parliamentarian as “totally akin to killing the filibuster.” He emphasized that what Republicans are attempting is “more than going nuclear on the Parliamentarian. They are going nuclear on the Congressional Review Act itself.”
The senator warned that such a precedent would allow the next Democratic administration to face similar attacks on agency actions, stating, “All bets are off. Every agency action that Democrats don’t like — whether it’s a rule or not, and no matter how much time has passed — will be fair game if Republicans go through with this.”
Padilla highlighted the broader consequences of ignoring Senate rules and law. “By voting to go nuclear on the CRA, they are ignoring the law — not just Senate rules but the text of the law,” he said. “By voting to overrule the Parliamentarian, they are saying the rules are whatever Republicans say they are.”
He concluded with a reminder of the stakes. “We’re in the minority today. But Democrats will be in the majority again one day. We will not forget what happened here. History won’t forget. And Mr. President, California won’t forget what’s at stake today either.”
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Federal Glover, Contra Costa County’s First Black Supervisor, Dies at 69
Hon. Federal Glover
Federal Glover, the first African American elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, died on May 18 at age 69.
Glover served District 5 for more than two decades, representing communities including Pittsburg, Martinez, Bay Point, and parts of Antioch.
“Federal’s leadership and tireless commitment to improving the lives of residents left a lasting legacy that continues to benefit our County today,” read a statement from the Board of Supervisors. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of working with him.”
Glover’s wife of 47 years, Janis Glover, confirmed his passing at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center in a statement.
“It is with deep sorrow that our family announces the passing of my beloved husband, Federal D. Glover,” she stated. “His legacy is one of unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and service.”
First elected to the Board in 2000, Glover served six terms. Before his tenure as supervisor, he was a city councilmember and mayor of Pittsburg. Born on May 9, 1956, Glover grew up in Pittsburg, the son of parents who migrated from the South during the Great Migration. He was the first in his family to attend college and was one of 12 siblings.
In a 2020 reflection on his health battles during the COVID-19 pandemic, Glover described a 16-hour heart and kidney transplant surgery that saved his life five years earlier.
“Even though our communities are faced with a daunting public health crisis, I cannot help but be thankful that I am here with both the passion and the power to face life’s challenges,” he stated.
Glover announced last year that he would not seek re-election.
“I know I’ll be turning in my card key, so I won’t be coming to the building,” he said to his colleagues. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing people down through the years.”
Glover is survived by his wife, two children, and grandchildren.
The funeral service for Glover will be held on May 28 at 11a.m. at The Bay Church in Concord. The church is located at 4725 Evora Road.
