An unusually long and tumultuous power struggle at the California State Capitol took place on Friday when Robert Rivas took over as Speaker of the House, more than a year after he first tried to secure the most influential position in state politics. Claimed one and finally ended. gavel.
Rivas, a Democrat from Hollister, has vowed to usher in a new era of unity after a period in which Democrats were bitterly divided over congressional leadership, adding to turmoil in the House of Representatives.
“We must work with urgency and unity, a unity based on mutual trust and respect,” Rivas said in his inaugural address. “Today, I pledge to you that I will do whatever I can to strengthen these values. It will show the nation that a capable, progressive government works.”
In his speech, Rivas emphasized his family’s immigrant roots, telling the story of his grandfather, Servando Flores, who left Mexico for the fertile fields of California. Flores started out picking grapes, joined the United Farm Workers Movement to fight for a union contract, and became a vineyard groomer.
“My family and I grew up in farmworker housing, and today I stand before you as Speaker of the California State Legislature,” Rivas said to thunderous applause from the legislative floor. . “That’s the California Dream.”
Rivas, who represents a central California agricultural region rich in strawberry and lettuce fields, will be the first speaker in a generation to speak from a rural background. Seven of his final eight speakers were from Los Angeles. Another was from San Diego.
Rivas “represents the hopes and dreams of all those struggling in the agricultural sector across California today. As a result of the hard work and sacrifices of our parents and grandparents, the next generation will also serve the highest ranks of the California Legislature.” ,” said Luis Alejo, superintendent of Monterey County in the Rivas area.
First of all, rebus I tried to grab the gavel In May 2022, then-House Speaker Anthony Rendon (Democrat, Lakewood) said: But Mr. Rendon argued that the House Speaker should be decided by a new member elected that fall.the confrontation dragged on Negotiations behind closed doors and deep division Between Rendon’s supporters and those who support Rivas.
On paper, the two men don’t look all that different. Both are Latino Democrats and grandchildren of Generation X Mexican immigrants. Both are supported by a wide range of moderates and progressives in the caucuses. The rift was more about leadership style than political differences.
Rivas’ supporters have criticized Mr. Rendon’s management of parliament and believe he is clinging to power even though he has only two years left in office before term limits force him to step down. rice field. They saw Rivas as their future leader.
Mr. Rendon’s supporters feared Mr. Rivas would be influenced by the political ties of his brother, Rick Rivas. Rick Rivas is vice president of the American Beverage Association, a soda industry lobby group, and has served as a political advisor to the beverage industry. Governor of California, Donor Network The group, made up mostly of Bay Area venture capitalists, seeks to counter the influence of civil servants unions on Congress.
Feud with Rivas supporters spilled over into 2022 election Collect donations to political action committees They were there to support candidates who wanted to endorse Rivas for the presidency. Mr. Rivas traveled all over the state to make stumps for them, as was customary for speakers.
A few days after the November elections, Congressional Democrats finalized the plan Rendon will hand over the chairman’s gavel to Rivas on June 30th.
The timing makes Mr. Rendon the second-longest-serving president in California history, Willie Brown, who famously called himself the “Ayatollah of Congress” when he served as president in the 1980s and 1990s. He became the next person after Mr. After that, however, voters passed a law limiting the term of office of representatives to three two-year terms in the House (and two four-year terms in the Senate), ushering in an era of high turnover of Speakers.
In 2012, the same year Mr. Rendon was elected, voters amended the Term Limits Act to allow members to serve up to six two-year terms in the House (or up to three four-year terms in the Senate). . that is, A new generation of legislators with time To acquire further expertise during my tenure. Rendon led the committee with a “decentralized” approach, delegating effective powers to an appointed chairman.
It was a departure from the more autocratic style of previous speakers. Reflecting on a speech earlier this week, Rendon said he had put up with a lot using a different word that started with an ‘s’, adding that maybe he shouldn’t have been so ‘tolerant’ with his members. who put it out
“I don’t necessarily think I punished as quickly as I should,” he said Wednesday in an interview with the California Institute of Public Policy.
Mr. Rendon helped the Democrats win on key policies such as: raise the minimum wagestrengthen labor protection for gigs and farm worker, Established Universal Preschool and, Programs to fight climate change.Lawmakers revised California’s position police use of force law under his leadership, Expansion of lessor protection and crack down on predatory lending.
Rendon’s strongest achievements were in politics, where he may have helped increase the number of Democrats in Congress. Under his leadership, the Democratic Party has grown to three-quarters of the seats, more than half of two-thirds This allows tax increases and expedited bills to pass without a Republican vote.The caucuses also made enough additions Help women and LGBTQ+ members break diversity records in Congress.
But his legacy also includes a chaotic final night of Congress in 2020, when he was publicly denounced and ultimately forced into an enforcement action. apology Despite having Rep. Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) come to the Capitol during the COVID-19 pandemic, recently gave birth. Mr. Wickes’ vote was required to pass the controversial housing bill, but Mr. Rendon had rejected Mr. Wicks’ request for a remote vote. So she carried her new baby to Sacramento, cradled it to her breast and took it up on the floor of Congress.
The backlash increased after the housing bill was passed later that night. Mr. Rendon was accused of letting the bill sit for hours before it was put to a vote, at which point it was too late for the Senate to complete the bill by the midnight deadline.
Wicks garnered national attention As a symbol of the plight mothers face at work photograph how she crads a baby Remarks during a speech in the parliamentary hall went viral. Two years later, she became one of Rivas’ most important allies, helping him organize the support he needed to become a public speaker.
