The Barbed Wire - January 11, 2019

Governor Newsom Releases 2019-20 Budget Proposal

On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom released details of his first proposed spending package for the state.  In The Rural Rundown, RCRC’s governmental affairs team provides an in-depth look at Governor Newsom’s 2019-20 proposed Budget, analyzes its implications for member counties, outlines RCRC’s advocacy efforts on specific issue items, and offers an insider perspective into the reasoning and rationale behind elements of the proposal.  Read More…

Governor Newsom Announces Plans for Enhanced Wildfire Response, Appoints New CAL FIRE Director

On his first full day in office, Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference in Placer County to announce a comprehensive plan to address California’s wildfire and emergency response deficiencies in light of 2018’s devastating wildfire season. 

Governor Newsom, accompanied by California Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Warren Stanley, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Director Thom Porter, and local officials, including RCRC Board of Directors Member and Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes, announced plans for a historic investment in wildfire prevention, emergency preparedness, and forest health that would include upgrades in state communication and fire detection technologies, public education and outreach on disaster preparedness, and a full funding of the $200 million investment in forest health and resilience promised in Senate Bill 901 (Dodd) last year.  

The Governor also issued two Executive Orders, one ordering CAL FIRE to prepare a report exploring all waivers and exemptions that would be feasible and necessary for the Governor to execute in order to maximize the state’s ability to prevent wildfires, and the other to enable the state to more readily procure emergency management technology and equipment.  Released on Thursday, the Governor’s 2019-20 proposed State Budget backed the Governor’s promises from the press event, allocating more than $400 million to wildfire prevention, forest health, and emergency response programs in 2019-20.

Governor Newsom also permanently appointed Chief Thom Porter as Director of CAL FIRE during the press event on Tuesday.  Chief Porter has been serving as Acting Director since former Director Ken Pimlott’s retirement on December 14, 2018.  Chief Porter is a long-time CAL FIRE employee, having been involved with the Forest Health Task Force and Tree Mortality Task Force, and is a Registered Professional Forester.

Governor Newsom’s Executive Order on waivers and exemptions can be accessed here.  Governor Newsom’s Executive Order on procurement can be accessed here.

Governor Newsom's First Formal Actions Target Health Care Improvements

Governor Newsom capped off his inaugural festivities on Monday by announcing a health care expansion package, dubbing it the California For All health care plan.  

The plan includes the following elements:

• Prescription Drug Purchasing: The Governor signed an executive order on Monday that takes steps to create a single purchaser system for prescription drugs in California.
• Coverage Expansion: The Governor is proposing to expand Medi-Cal to undocumented adults ages 19 through 25 who otherwise meet the program’s eligibility requirements. 
• Affordability: The Governor is proposing to increase subsidies for families who already receive them under the Affordable Care Act and to expand subsidies to California families that don’t qualify for assistance enrolled in Covered California. The proposal would provide subsidies for families with incomes between 400 and 600 percent of the federal poverty level. To pay for increased financial help for families, the budget proposes to reinstate the individual mandate at the state level.
• Federal Flexibility: The Governor sent a letter to President Trump and Congressional leaders calling of the federal government to empower states like California to enact changes that would allow California to develop a single-payer health system to achieve universal coverage, contain costs, and promote quality and affordability.
• California Surgeon General: The Governor also signed an executive order to establish a California Surgeon General. This new position will lead all Californians in addressing the root causes of serious health conditions, such as adverse childhood experiences and the social determinants of health. 

RCRC Addresses PG&E Fall 2018 De-Energization Procedures with California Public Utilities Commission Following Member County Survey

Last Friday, RCRC sent a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in response to Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) Public Safety Power Shutoff policies and procedures related to turning off power for safety due to extreme weather and wildfire danger. 

During the week of October 14, 2018, a number of RCRC member counties and residents located in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sonoma, and Yuba Counties were advised they would likely experience power shutoffs due to severe winds that could trigger wildfires.  Advance notice and preparation for such shutoffs is extremely important for communities, particularly in rural areas populated by a higher percentage of elderly persons that rely on electricity to sustain vital health care needs.  Following the event, RCRC surveyed the affected RCRC member counties, and has learned that there is no universal procedure for PG&E power shutoffs.  The letter can be accessed here.

President Trump Suspends California FEMA Funds

On Wednesday, President Trump announced he ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security to suspend federal funds to California until the state government reforms its forest management policies.  In the past, President Trump has blamed California’s devastating wildfires on the state’s environmental and forest management policies while ignoring the potential impact of climate change.  

Many suggest the President’s claims about wildfire and forest management are unsubstantiated.  President Trump’s critics argue he is using life-saving funds from FEMA for political purposes.  Political leaders from California, including Senator Kamala Harris, quickly took to twitter to criticize the President for “threatening to withhold funds from survivors of a deadly natural disaster.”  Senator Harris was joined by California Representatives Ami Bera, John Garamendi, and Jim Costa, who each condemned the President’s announcement.  Governor Gavin Newsom also responded that his office is “already taking action to modernize and manage our forests and emergency responses.”

It is unclear whether President Trump has already ordered FEMA to withhold the funds, or whether the order is forthcoming.  News outlets and social media are divided on whether the President’s tweet is detailing an executive order or suggesting the policy change.  Today, FEMA has not made any announcements on its website that it would be withholding any funds from California, and is not responding to press inquiries due to the partial shutdown.

FEMA has already approved $48 million in aid in response to over 6,600 applications for individual assistance from California residents.  While President Trump could most likely order FEMA to withhold further funds from California, it is doubtful that FEMA would be able to withhold the $48 million it has already approved for recovery projects.

Federal Legislative Update

The federal government remains in partial shutdown with no sign of an agreement to re-open federal agencies and departments that lack funding authority from Congress.  While the partial shutdown continues to drag on, Democrats in the House of Representatives are outlining their legislative agenda for the 116^th Congress.  

An emergency disaster supplemental package could be the first major legislative action to pass the House, aside from any potential appropriations agreements with Republicans.  House Democrats released a draft of a $12.14 billion disaster aid package on January 4^th that would provide relief for victims of recent wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.  The package is tied to House Democrats’ budget proposal for Fiscal 2019 that would end the partial shutdown.  The total package remains a “non-starter” for President Trump until Democrats agree to include dedicated funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.  The future of the disaster supplemental is uncertain as long as it is tied to the politics of the partial shutdown, but it is a positive sign that House Democrats are willing to provide more emergency funds for Californians.  The disaster aid package includes $720 million to repay depleted funds at the U.S. Forest Service.  In addition, the package includes $480 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), a $280 million increase from Republican proposals.  EFRP provides funding to assist private forest owners to repair their land from devastating wildfires.

THE RURAL RUNDOWN PODCAST

The Rural Rundown discusses the legislative and regulatory issues impacting California’s rural counties, featuring commentary and interviews from individuals committed to improving the quality of life in rural California. 

The Rural Rundown can be accessed here.  

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

Lenny Mendonca Appointed Chief Economic and Business Advisor and Director of the Office of Business and Economic Development

Click here

Jamie Callahan, 33, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Cabinet Secretary. Callahan previously served as Director of External and International Affairs in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2015 to January 2019, where she was Special Advisor to the Executive Secretary from 2013 to 2015. Callahan served as the Chief Executive Officer of the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit. Before that, she was a Legislative Assistant at The Crane Group and a Research Assistant for the British Parliamentary Labour Party. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $166,404. Callahan is a Democrat.

Richard Figueroa, 60, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Cabinet Secretary. Previously, Figueroa was Director of Prevention for The California Endowment, the nation’s largest state-specific health care foundation. He served in several previous administrations, including as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Deputy Legislative Secretary for Governor Gray Davis. Richard was also Legislative Director for Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and served as a Legislative Consultant for the California State Senate Insurance and Budget and Fiscal Review Committees. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Figueroa is a Democrat. 

Christine Hironaka, 31, of San Francisco, has been appointed Deputy Cabinet Secretary. Hironaka has most recently served as Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). Prior to joining CalEPA, Christine served as Assistant Director for Policy Development at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), where she previously served as Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs. She also served as a legislative assistant in the Office of State Senator Mark Leno, and as a capital fellow in the Office of State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. Hironaka is a Democrat. 

Sonya Logman, 30, of Antelope, has been appointed Deputy Cabinet Secretary. Logman was most recently the Deputy Secretary for Business and Consumer Relations at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. She was the Director of External Affairs at the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento from 2013 to 2015 and was Deputy Appointments Secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. from 2011 to 2013. From 2006 to 2010, she served four administrations in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,008. Logman is a Democrat. 

Daniel Seeman, 33, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Cabinet Secretary. Most recently, Seeman served as deputy legislative secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., where he advised on matters related to criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections and the judiciary. Prior to working for Governor Brown, he served as a legislative consultant to State Senator Mark Leno, working on criminal justice issues, as well as privacy and technology. He also worked for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on legislation relating climate. He began his career at the State Capitol as a legislative aide to State Senator Fran Pavley. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $145,008. Seeman is a Democrat. 

Nettie Sabelhaus, 71, of Sacramento, has been appointed Special Advisor on Public Safety. Sabelhaus previously served as a Special Advisor on Appointments and Public Safety for Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Prior to that, she held roles as Appointments Director for the Senate Rules Committee, Deputy Director of the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento, Director of the Senate Fellows Program, Chief of Staff to Senator Barry Keene, consultant to Assembly Majority Consultants, legislative aide to U.S. Senator Alan Cranston, research assistant for the International Union of Radio, Electric and Machine Operators, AFL-CIO, and research aide to the National Sharecroppers Fund. This is a part-time position and does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation $81,897. Sabelhaus is a Democrat.

Emily Swide, 25, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of Scheduling for the Governor. Most recently, she served as Director of Scheduling and Advance for Governor-elect Newsom’s Transition and the Newsom for Governor campaign. Before that, she worked for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf on her re-election campaign and managed the successful campaign of Shanell Williams for Board of Trustees at City College of San Francisco. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100,008. Swide is a Democrat. 

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

United Policyholders Hosts Roadmap to Recovery Workshops

Click here

Glenn County Resource Conservation District Seeks Fuels Reduction & Fire Prevention Education Program Coordinator

Click here

County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) Seeks Executive Assistant

Click here

Lake County Seeks Assistant Auditor-Controller

Click here

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to share letters addressed to state and federal representatives and regulatory bodies with RCRC’s Government Affairs staff. 

Assembly Bill 41 (Gallagher): Disaster Relief: Camp Fire. Assembly Bill 41 provides that the State share for disaster relief is born by the State as it relates to the Camp Fire that started in November 2018 in Butte County. Status: AB 41 awaits consideration in the Assembly. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 62 (Dodd): Endangered Species: Accidental Take. Senate Bill 62 would make permanent an “accidental take” of candidate, threatened, or endangered species resulting from acts that occur on a farm or a ranch in the course of otherwise lawful routine. Status: SB 62 awaits consideration in the Senate. RCRC Status: Support