A band of Republican lawmakers – and at least one Democrat – have apparently touched a nerve with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister).
Rivas, in a late Friday night announcement, booted five Republican lawmakers from key committee posts.
Breaking down a ‘Friday Night Massacre’: Rivas’ moves centered on Asms. Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare), David Tangipa (R-Clovis), Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), and – to lesser extent – Asms. Bill Essayli (R-Riverside) and Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin).
- Rivas booted freshman Asm. Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare) from the following committees and subcommittees:
- Assembly Budget Committee
- Assembly Budget Subcommittee #4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation
- Assembly Governmental Organization Committee (formerly Vice Chair)
- Assembly Natural Resources Committee (formerly Vice Chair)
- Rivas appointed Macedo to become the Vice Chair of the Assembly Elections Committee, ousting Essayli. Essayli was also removed from the committee altogether. Rivas also appointed Macedo to the Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.
- Rivas removed Clovis’ Tangipa, a loud advocate for reform in the face of growing wildfire threat in his Sierra-centric district, from the following posts:
- Assembly Insurance Committee (formerly Vice Chair)
- Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee
- Rivas appointed Tangipa to the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee with Macedo.
- Rivas removed DeMaio from the following committees:
- Assembly Budget Committee
- Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration
- DeMaio was appointed to the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee by Rivas.
- Rivas also stripped Rocklin’s Patterson of his post as Vice Chair of the Assembly Health Committee. Patterson authored a measure banning the use of non-disclosure agreements by California lawmakers to conceal legislative negotiations or taxpayer spending decisions.
- Rivas also removed Asm. Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento) from the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
What they’re saying: “When they try to silence you, keep asking questions, Tangipa said in a statement on X.
- “I don’t care what they do to me,” Tangipa continued. “[B]ut Democrat Asm. Maggy Krell is being punished by her own party for working with Republicans on a bill to strengthen laws against child sex trafficking for 16- and 17-year-olds.”
- “Not even a courtesy call…” Patterson tweeted out, jesting about the move on Friday night.
- “First tomatoes…. Now this?” Macedo said in a statement on X. “I must be doing something right. Sounds like somebody is scared of the new girl on the block asking a few questions.”
