“We are aware that we need to be more proactive as a state in our efforts in Washington.”
It was Gov. Gavin Newsom’s delicately worded assessment of how California might fare under Kevin McCarthy, the Bakersfield Republican who took over as speaker of the U.S. House after his party won a narrow majority in the midterm elections. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco Democrat, announced Thursday that she plans to step down from the leadership post next year, even if she remains in Congress.
At a press conference Thursday in Napa Valley to highlight California’s firefighting investments and announce that the peak fire season is over for most of the state, Newsom said “nobody has been more influential in modern American history” than Pelosi.
Meanwhile, McCarthy speculated on Fox Business that Pelosi decided to make her announcement now because “she just doesn’t want to put the knife in my hand.” Instead, the Democratic House Minority Leader, who is suspected to be Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, will handle the official change of power.
While Pelosi has said she plans to continue serving in Congress — she was just re-elected to a two-year term that ends in 2024 — her decision to step down from the leadership role is likely to heighten the behind-the-scenes battle between ambitious San Francisco politicians. to succeed him.
Also brewing in the background: the battle to replace another San Franciscan, Dianne Feinstein, in the US Senate. Feinstein, who recently became the nation’s longest-serving female senator, has not yet announced whether she will seek re-election after her current term expires in 2024, but officials are already eyeing a seat that hasn’t been open since 1992 — especially in the middle. reports of Feinstein’s alleged mental decline.
“Don’t ever count her out,” Newsom said of Feinstein on Thursday. “I don’t care what the pundits say. … He still commands the room, gives us respect, and I don’t expect him to step down.
During his 2021 anti-recall campaign, Newsom promised to nominate a black woman to replace Feinstein if she were to resign before the end of her term. (He nominated another senator from California, Alex Padilla, to replace Kamala Harris after being elected vice president.) But that backfired among some prominent Democrats, prompting Newsom to walk back his comments.
The coronavirus bottom line: California had 10,573,758 confirmed cases and 96,494 deaths as of Tuesday, according to state data, now updated only once a week on Thursdays. CalMatters also tracks coronavirus hospitalizations by county.
In California, 84,917,740 vaccine doses have been administered and 72.3% of eligible Californians have received their primary vaccine series.
Other Stories You Should Know
1 California election results, visualized
After an avalanche of attack ads, record spending on get-out-the-vote campaigns and an influx of independent spending aimed at influencing legislative races, what does California have to show for its Nov. 8 election? While the state still has about 1.5 million ballots to count, some clear patterns are beginning to emerge — and CalMatters’ Ben Christopher visualized them in six easy-to-read charts, maps and graphics. Here’s a look at some of the key questions he answers — and what they reveal about power and political divides in the Golden State:
2022 Election
The latest coverage of the 2022 general election in California
2 COVID cases rising, state health official warns
CalMatters Health Reporter Ana B. Ibarra: With the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strain arriving early in health systems in parts of California, public health officials are also warning that the number of COVID-19 cases appears imminent.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s secretary of health and human services, said in a call with reporters Thursday that all measures — from case numbers and referrals (sewage monitoring) to hospitalizations — are increasing. California had a 6.3% positive test rate as of this week, up from 4.3% just a month ago.
What the state experienced in the spring, summer and early fall was manageable, but that’s about to change, Ghaly said. “Unlike the last two years where we discussed the collision of COVID and influenza, this year we’re actually starting to see it,” he said.
In Los Angeles County, the figures are alarming enough that health officials there are “strongly recommending” that people re-mask indoors in public. The county on Thursday reported a 26% increase in COVID-related hospitalizations from last week and a 54% increase since Nov. 1.
Statewide, only about 13% of the eligible population has been vaccinated with the bivalent booster. Experts warn that low uptake could contribute to pressure on the health care system.
3 Two controversial water projects clear big hurdles
Water is one of the most politically thorny issues in California at the best of times, but as the state comes through its driest three-year period on record and approaches its fourth year of drought, tensions are rising. Two examples from Thursday:
Other things worth your time
Some stories may require a subscription to read
Death threats against Sacramento councilwomen follow months of misogynistic messages. // Sacramento Bee
Handcuffs in the Hallways: Thousands of California Children Arrested on K-12 Campuses. Why? // CBS Sacramento
Ann Hsu, a race-based candidate, loses the school board election to an anti-recall candidate. // San Francisco Chronicle
Santa Clara mayor resists 49ers spending and wins re-election. // San Francisco Chronicle
The UC Regents are delaying a final decision on UCLA’s move to the Big Ten until December. // Los Angeles Times
UC says tying workers to paying for housing costs could have a severe impact on costs. // Los Angeles Times
Shrinking household sizes are weighing on California’s housing market. // Public Policy Institute of California
S.F. warns FBI about non-profit activity after supportive housing illegally sold to residents. // San Francisco Chronicle
How a Putin-Linked Mega-Rich Oligarch Derailed a Bay Area Homeless Shelter. // San Francisco standard
A California county is considering ending a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drug activity in taxpayer-funded housing. // Fox News
S.F. launches a guaranteed income program for transgender residents. // San Francisco standard
30 water suppliers vow to solve Colorado River shortage by targeting ornamental grasses. // Los Angeles Times
California Plant Rescue: The Race to Save Valuable Wild Seeds and Germs. // Mercury News
Biologists fear that the Mojave desert tortoise in California is headed for extinction. // Los Angeles Times
Is this experimental green suburb in California the future of single-family housing? // Bloomberg
How much is the Speaker of the House paid?
| Executive, legislative and judicial officers | 114/1 |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Parliament …………………… | $223,500 |
| House Majority & Minority Leaders ………… | $193,400 |
| Members of the House/Senate & Delegates………….. | $174,000 |
| President of the Supreme Court…………………. | $258,100 |
How much are senators and members of the House of Representatives paid? Most senators and representatives make an annual salary of $174,000. Those who lead earn a little more. For example, the Speaker of the House of Representatives earns $223,500, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House and Senate earn $193,400. Congressmen earn this annual salary during their term.
What is vice president salary?
How much does a Vice President make in the US? The average salary for a Vice President in the United States is $301,083 as of October 27, 2022. The range for our most popular vice president positions (listed below) typically ranges from $167,708 to $434,459.
What role does a Vice President do?
The vice president’s only constitutional duty, other than becoming president in the event of the president’s death or resignation, is to preside over the Senate. Vice Presidents may not vote in the Senate except to break a tie, nor may they formally address the Senate except with the permission of the Senators.
Is being a Vice President a job?
Individuals in the role of vice president often oversee internal employees and operations to ensure that all necessary company goals are met. Depending on the structure and job description of the VP, the VP plays a central role in the success of the company.
How much does the president make a year?
What is the president’s salary? In September 1999, President Bill Clinton signed legislation increasing the presidential salary to $400,000 beginning in January 2001.
How much President make an hour?
How much does the President of the United States make per hour? The average hourly wage for the President of the United States is $68 as of October 27, 2022, but the salary range is typically between $60 and $77.
How much does a President earn per month?
How much does the president earn? As of November 10, 2022, the average monthly salary for the President of the United States is $7,160 per month.
How old is Pelosi Nancy?
Who was the oldest Speaker of Parliament? The youngest person elected was Robert M. T. Hunter, 30 years old when he became Speaker in 1839; the oldest person first elected was Henry T. Rainey in 1933 at age 72.
How long is the Speaker of the House term?
The chairman is the chairman of the chamber, who is elected by the members for two years.
How long are the terms for the House?
The term of office of members of the House of Representatives is two years, and their election is considered every even-numbered year. However, senators serve six-year terms and Senate elections are split in even-numbered years, so only about 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election at any given election.
What man has the longest term as Speaker of the House?
Longest-serving Speaker of the House: Representative Sam Rayburn of Texas served as Speaker for a total of 17 years, two months and two days.
Who is sitting to the left of the Speaker of the House?
In the House of Representatives, members of the government sit to the right of the chair of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and ministers sit in the front bench (first row). To the left of the Speaker’s chair sit the opposition, independent and minor party members.
How does the chairman of the chamber get his position? The speaker is elected at the beginning of the new congress from among the candidates with the majority of the elected representatives, who are selected separately from among the candidates of the majority and minority parties. These candidates will be elected in caucuses organized by their party members, which will take place shortly after the election of the new Congress.
How is the seating in the House set up?
By tradition, Democrats sit to the left of the center aisle, while Republicans sit to the right, facing the chairman’s chair.
Does the House of Representatives have assigned seats?
Members of the House of Representatives do not have assigned seats in the House, but are traditionally seated according to party, with Democratic members sitting to the right of the Speaker and Republican members to the left of the Speaker.
How is Congress seated?
âSenate Chamber (in the US Capitol)â Today, Democrats traditionally sit to the right of the president and Republicans to the left.
Who holds the position of the Speaker of the House?
The current Speaker of the House of Representatives is Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California. He was elected to a fourth (second consecutive) term as Speaker on January 3, 2021, the first day of the 117th Congress. She has led the Democratic Party in Parliament since 2003 and is the first woman to serve as Speaker.
Where does the Speaker of the House fall in the line of succession?
The original act of 1792 placed the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House in the line of succession, but Congress removed them in 1886. A 1947 law restored these officers but placed the speaker pro tempore ahead of the president.
What position is the leader of the House of Representatives?
The Speaker, elected by the entire membership of the House of Representatives, leads the House as its administrative head and is the leader of the majority party in the House.
How long is the Speaker of the House term?
The chairman is the chairman of the chamber, who is elected by the members for two years.
How long are the chamber’s terms? The term of office of members of the House of Representatives is two years, and their election is considered every even-numbered year. However, senators serve six-year terms and Senate elections are split in even-numbered years, so only about 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election at any given election.
What man has the longest term as Speaker of the House?
Longest-serving Speaker of the House: Representative Sam Rayburn of Texas served as Speaker for a total of 17 years, two months and two days.
What man had the shortest term as Speaker of the House?
On the last day of the 40th Congress, Theodore Pomeroy of New York became Speaker of the House for a day, the shortest tenure for a Speaker.
Who has the longest tenure as Speaker of the House?
The longest serving speaker was Sam Rayburn – 17 years and 53 days. Elected 10 times, he led the chamber three times: from September 1940 to January 1947; January 1949 to January 1953; and from January 1955 to November 1961. Tip O’Neill had the longest uninterrupted term as speaker at 9 years and 350 days.