Newsom Signs Vaccine Bills and PG&E Bond Bill Put on Hold

Plus California's GOP Gathers in the Desert If you are having trouble reading this email, [read the online version](. [KQED Logo]( September 10, 2019 Good morning! Katie Orr with KQED's politics team here. It’s the final week of the state Legislative session and it’s off to a busy start. Various interest groups have descended on Sacramento for some last minute lobbying on bills close to their hearts. They include people both for and against AB 5, which would limit who can be considered a contract worker in the state. A coalition in favor of rent control is filling the Capitol rotunda with chants. And people opposed to mandatory vaccines blocked an entrance to the Capitol and the door to the governor’s office -- but didn't succeed in their lobby against two vaccine bills. — Katie Newsom Signs Vaccine Bills as Protestors Fill Capitol [vaccine] California will now have more oversight over the vaccine medical exemptions of school children in the state. Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom [signed both]( Senate Bill 276 and Senate Bill 714, both authored by Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento). The Legislature [passed SB 276 last week]( and passed SB 714 on Monday. "This legislation provides new tools to better protect public health, and does so in a way that ensures parents, doctors, public health officials and school administrators all know the rules of the road moving forward," Newsom said in a statement. The legislation will require, among other things, reviews of doctors who write at least five medical exemptions a year. But, in a [compromise with the governor]( Pan allowed for the exemption count to start in 2020. Despite the late changes to the legislation, Pan said it will still protect children. PG&E Tax-Free Bonds Put on Hold Another last-minute legislative push has stalled for now. State lawmakers are [shelving a bill]( that would have given PG&E the ability to issue billions of dollars in tax-exempt bonds, money the company said it would use to pay victims of the 2017 and 2018 wildfires. AB 235 was one of a menu of options that PG&E is pushing as a way to maintain control of the company as a fight plays out in bankruptcy court and in Sacramento between warring investors. The bill’s author, Assemblyman Chad Mayes, vowed to bring it back next year when there’s more time to debate the measure. San Francisco Seeks to Buy PG&E Power Grid In other power related developments, San Francisco city officials are [offering to purchase PG&E's electrical grid]( in the city for $2.5 billion, according to a letter sent to the utility on Friday by Mayor London Breed and City Attorney Dennis Herrera. The city has been considering a purchase since the utility filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January as it faced mounting liability for wildfires sparked by its equipment. City officials are arguing that San Francisco could provide power that is more affordable, more reliable and safer than PG&E does in the city. The utility wasn’t interested in the offer. # California GOP Gathers in Desert, Looks to Regroup This weekend, California Republicans [gathered in Indian Wells]( for their state party convention. The state GOP has lost so many voters it is now a third party — there are more Californians registered "no party preference," than GOP in the Golden State. But now, Republican faithfuls are hoping the party's first female chair (who also happens to be Latina) will help reverse that long downward slide. Political Breakdown: Ted Lieu Scott and Marisa spoke with Congressman Ted Lieu about his family’s emigration from Taiwan, selling jewelry in his parent's store, serving in the Air Force, taking on President Trump on Twitter, and running against (and now supporting) Kamala Harris. SPONSORED BY Wells Fargo Wells Fargo aims to pave a path to economic opportunity and financial success for underserved communities by focusing on housing affordability, small business growth, and financial health, among other local community needs. In 2018, Wells Fargo’s Foundation donated $444 million to more than 11,000 nonprofits. For more information, visit [wellsfargo.com/impact](. This Week: Eric Garcetti Scott and Marisa head to Los Angeles this week and Thursday's guest on Political Breakdown is Mayor Eric Garcetti. [TUNE IN: Thursday at 6:30pm on KQED Public Radio.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Donate]( [Manage Subscription]( | [Privacy Policy]( KQED 2601 Mariposa St. San Francisco, CA 94110 Copyright © September 10, 2019 [KQED](. All Rights Reserved.