We’re shocked that there’s politics going on here

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In Washington. House Speaker Paul Ryan feigned shock that Democrats pulled a publicity stunt with their sit-in. In Sacramento, we’d be shocked if a Democrat would let petty personal politics play into a decision about the fate of another Democrat’s important legislation. Shocked, we say! That, plus various takes on SCOTUS’ immigration decision, or lack of it.

Take that

Late Wednesday, Assembly Labor Committee Chairman Roger Hernández, D-West Covina, made the bold decision to abstain from voting on Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s Senate Bill 1166, which sought to significantly expand the rights of parents to take leave after the birth of a child.

Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, voted for the bill, as did Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, D-Richmond. Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, voted against it. Other Labor Committee members – Kansen Chu, D-San Jose, Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach, and Eric Linder, R-Corona – followed Hernandez’s lead by ducking the vote.

The all-male Labor Committee thus killed the bill, which was a priority for the Legislature’s Women’s Caucus.

Jackson, a Santa Barbara Democrat, chairs the caucus. In April, Jackson and Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, a Bell Gardens Democrat who is vice-chair of the caucus, signed a letter citing allegations of domestic violence by Hernández’s wife. They urged Hernández to temporarily resign his committee assignments and chairmanship of the labor committee.

Coincidence?

“I don’t want to speculate,” Jackson said after the vote. “The best answer comes from Assemblyman Hernández.”

Hernández issued a statement: “I think we need to be cognizant of the cumulative burden of these provisions, particularly on small businesses.” – Aly Pachter, apachter@sacbee.com

Take a number: 4

The U.S. Supreme Court split 4-4 Thursday and failed to resolve an important issue of President Barack Obama’s use of executive power to implement his immigration plan. That inspired editorials in at least four of the state’s newspapers. We don’t all think alike.

The Sacramento Bee: In a nine-word order, the U.S. Supreme Court underscored Congress’ multiple failures.

The Los Angeles Times: A deadlocked Supreme Court has real consequences for 4 million people.

The Mercury News: The non-ruling leaves a cloud over millions of residents.

The San Diego Union Tribune: Imagine if the high court had ruled in Obama’s favor and established the precedent of a president being able to set immigration policy – and then Donald Trump got elected.

Our take

Editorial: No one can control the web – so stop trying, Paul Ryan.

Ben Boychuk: Rep. John Lewis and the Democrats are going too far on guns.

Darrell Issa: Obama must follow through on transparency pledge by signing legislation, S.337, which will help undo D.C.’s culture of secrecy.

Joe Mathews: How did homelessness suddenly become such a hot issue across California?

Their take

San Francisco Chronicle: Democrats should consider changing rules for presidential contest. We at The Bee agree.

The Orange County Register: The Legislature is gutting transparency.

The Dallas Morning News: The Supreme Court was right to uphold the University of Texas’ admissions policy.

Lexington Herald-Leader: In Kentucky, worship of the National Rifle Association is bipartisan.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Japan, France and China all are eying Texas’ proposed bullet trains.

Syndicates’ take

Charles Krauthammer: Hillary Clinton’s election would mean more of the same.

Eugene Robinson: Will a sit-in make Congress stand up on gun control?

Michael Gerson: The Christian right surrenders faith for the politics of Donald Trump.

Dana Milbank: For Trump, fringe conspiracies take center stage.

Trudy Rubin: In Europe, the great unraveling has begun.

Gail Collins: Hillary Clinton gossip redux.

Nicholas Kristof: Rest In Peace, Jo Cox.

Tweet of the day,

Apparently frustrated with the Sacramento Kings’ inexplicable decisions during the NBA Draft, DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins): Lord give me the strength.

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 5:31 AM with the headline "We’re shocked that there’s politics going on here."