In the "California POV," California Senators Roy Ashburn and Jack Scott share their points of view on immigration, education and the state of the federal partnership.
The California Senate may lose a quarter of its members every two years via term limits, but Chief Sergeant-at-Arms Tony Beard Jr. remains at the helm. Following in his grandfather's and father's footsteps, he assumed the post 28 years ago at the age of 29. Today, many would argue that Beard is the legislature's deepest well of institutional memory remaining.
In taming the "career politician," term limits have also gutted the Legislature's body of experienced lawmakers.
California legislators feel the pull of constituent interests, personal beliefs, party politics and interest group pressure.
PT talks to Michael Villines, California Assemblyman for Fresno, Clovis and Madera about redistricting, the committee process and restoring efficiency to the Legislature.
With institutional memory largely archived with professional staff, California lawmakers have had to find new paths to old policy places.
Don Perata, President pro Tem of the California Senate, talks to PT about the forces driving the campaign for legislative redistricting.
PT talks to California Assemblymen Keith Richman and Joe Canciamilla about their plan to break the partisan gridlock in the California Legislature by means of a novel political force: the people.
After intense political wrangling, voters will see a $37 billion bond package in November. Many are wondering how it finally came to pass, and why it didn't happen in time for the June ballot.
