California pig law exposes a divided America

Though it offers primarily with pigs, the California case that had oral arguments earlier than the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on Tuesday might doubtlessly lead to a choice as far-reaching as these placing down federal abortion protections and increasing gun rights.

At problem is Proposition 12, the poll measure California voters permitted in 2018 requiring larger cages for sure livestock, together with breeding pigs, veal calves and egg-laying hens. Pork producers sued, arguing that since 99% of the pork consumed within the Golden State comes from outdoors its borders, California was primarily imposing its legal guidelines on different states in violation of the U.S. Structure.

• Becoming a member of the pork producers in opposing the California legislation: The Biden administration, which argued in courtroom filings that it will throw “a large wrench into the workings of the interstate market in pork.”

Each conservative and liberal justices on the nation’s highest courtroom appeared skeptical of California’s legislation on Tuesday, whilst they expressed issues in regards to the implications of placing it down. A ruling is predicted by subsequent summer time.

• Justice Amy Coney Barrett puzzled in regards to the ripple results of upholding the legislation: “May you have got California go a legislation that stated we’re not going to purchase any pork from firms that don’t require all their workers to be vaccinated, or from firms that don’t fund gender-affirming surgical procedure?”
• Justice Brett Kavanaugh requested: “What a few legislation that claims you possibly can’t promote fruit in our state if it’s produced — dealt with by people who find themselves not within the nation legally? Is that state legislation permissible?”
• However Barrett additionally puzzled what would possibly occur if the courtroom strikes the legislation down: May that call “name into query a number of legal guidelines which are fairly widespread?”
• Justice Elena Kagan gave the instance of a New York legislation requiring imported firewood to be sprayed with a sure pesticide earlier than getting into the state. “Would that be forbidden?” Kagan requested. “We dwell in a divided nation, and the balkanization that the framers (of the Structure) had been involved about is unquestionably current at present.”

The road of questioning displays the rising ideological divide between the states, which seem more and more intent on regulating — and responding to — actions in different elements of the nation as tradition wars intensify over such points as abortion, LGBTQ rights and gun management.

For instance, Gov. Gavin Newsom lately signed into legislation a invoice to guard from out-of-state prosecution transgender youth who journey to California for what supporters name gender-affirming care. He additionally signed a invoice — modeled on a Texas legislation permitting personal residents to sue anybody who “aids or abets” an abortion after about six weeks of being pregnant — to permit personal Californians to sue anybody who manufactures, distributes or sells sure unlawful firearms.

And he signed a bundle of reproductive justice payments to, amongst different issues, assist pay for low-income ladies from different states to journey to California for an abortion and prohibit the Golden State from cooperating with legislation enforcement in states the place the process is criminalized.

“In state after state, basic freedoms are vanishing,” Newsom stated in an advert launched Monday in help of Prop. 1, which might enshrine the correct to abortion and contraception within the California structure. “However this November, we are saying, ‘Not right here.’”

The pig poll measure isn’t the one California proposition within the headlines:

Examine up on the props: One week from at present, from 5-6 p.m. on Oct. 19, CalMatters will host an election occasion centered on the seven November poll measures. Reporters will focus on the propositions and reply your questions. Register to attend the occasion nearly.

Different Tales You Ought to Know

1
LA Metropolis Council scandal goes nationwide

President Joe Biden, who is about to reach in Los Angeles at present for a three-day journey in Southern California, took the extremely uncommon step Tuesday of weighing in on the racism and redistricting scandal rocking the Los Angeles Metropolis Council, simply the newest scandal ensnaring the Metropolis of Angels: “The president is glad to see that one of many contributors in that dialog has resigned, however all of them ought to,” said Karine Jean-Pierre, the White Home press secretary. She added: “When a Democrat says one thing racist or antisemitic, we maintain Democrats accountable. When a MAGA Republican says one thing racist or antisemitic, they’re embraced by cheering crowds.”

• Biden’s choice to wade into Los Angeles politics made it all of the extra apparent that Newsom is among the many few high-ranking Democrats who hasn’t referred to as on the officers to resign. The governor’s press workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark Tuesday night.

• Of the 4 officers concerned within the secretly recorded 2021 dialog — through which they are often heard making racist feedback, mocking colleagues and plotting the way to consolidate Latino political energy in Los Angeles’ once-a-decade redistricting course of — only one, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera, has resigned. Nury Martinez, who stepped down as metropolis council president Monday, stated Tuesday morning that she’s taking a leave of absence. Her announcement got here not lengthy earlier than a raucous metropolis council assembly stormed by crowds of protesters, a lot of whom shouted profanities and urged Martinez and fellow councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo to resign.

Legal professional Basic Rob Bonta stated in a Tuesday interview with CalMatters for our Voter Information that his workplace is wanting into whether or not “rights and legal guidelines had been damaged, and in that case, whose.” He stated the main target of the investigation is “voting rights” and whether or not “racial animus” was concerned within the redistricting course of. Bonta stated the secretly recorded dialog — which the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has deemed “unlawful” — can be “on our radar.”

2
California training updates

What’s happening within the California training world? Two CalMatters tales take a more in-depth look:

• The latest ransomware assault on Los Angeles Unified College district has left many questioning: If hackers can breach the information system of the biggest district within the state —and the second-largest within the nation — how ready are California’s different public colleges for the rising menace of cyberattacks? CalMatters’ Joe Hong talked to high school cybersecurity and knowledge know-how consultants to seek out out.
• As the price of dwelling continues to rise in California, many faculty college students discover it essential to work part-time and even full-time. However California’s estimated 75,000 undocumented college students don’t qualify for federal work-study applications or most job alternatives, and lots of wrestle to make ends meet. #CaliforniansForAll School Corps, a program Newsom launched final week, might assist change that by giving a whole bunch of undocumented residents a chance to earn cash for faculty whereas doing group service, Carmen González reviews for CalMatters’ School Journalism Community. It’s the newest state initiative that goals to make it simpler for undocumented college students to afford larger training.

Different issues value your time

Some tales could require a subscription to learn

Gavin Newsom ‘needs to be president.’ Republican Brian Dahle simply needs California voters to know his title. // Los Angeles Occasions

California expands largest U.S. unlawful pot eradication effort below AG Bonta. // Related Press

Gascón recall committee to sue L.A. County over invalidation of petition signatures. // Orange County Register

Santa Clara police chief pushes D.A. to analyze council’s involvement with 49ers. // Mercury Information

Star witness affirms pay-to-play for gun permits at Santa Clara County sheriff corruption trial. // Mercury Information

UC Hastings’ title change spawned a possible $1.7 billion lawsuit. Will it maintain up in courtroom? // San Francisco Chronicle

‘Not shocking’: Check scores present San Diego Unified scholar achievement was hit onerous throughout COVID. // San Diego Union-Tribune

Households occupying shuttered Oakland elementary faculty finish their protest after 130 days. // San Francisco Chronicle

Cal State universities try to lure extra candidates. Right here’s why. // San Francisco Chronicle

California welfare workplaces are understaffed, resulting in ‘burnout’ and ‘overwhelmed’ staff. // Sacramento Bee

Amazon staff in Southern California file for a union election in potential first for the state. // CNBC

California’s opening bid gained’t remedy the Colorado River disaster alone. // Politico

Monitor finds flaws in PG&E’s wildfire security efforts. // Sacramento Bee