Atkins observes Roe v. Wade anniversary + Rendon speaks out + A state mushroom?

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

ATKINS OBSERVES ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE DECISION

Sunday marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.

That decision was overturned last year by the current SCOTUS in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, sending shockwaves across the nation and leading several conservative state legislatures to ban abortion outright, or restrict it past the point of viability.

While states like Alabama, Idaho and Texas passed near-total bans, California went the other way. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, introduced a constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to abortion and contraception in California’s constitution.

She took a moment in a statement Friday to celebrate the five-decade anniversary “of relentless, courageous activism that carried us to this moment and the advances in reproductive rights that people rely on every day.”

Atkins said that countless health care providers have stepped up for their communities in a time of need, “sometimes in the shadows and at great personal risk.”

“The fact that here in California, leaders from city hall to the Capitol are fired up and fighting back. Dobbs was not our defeat, it was our rallying cry, and we should celebrate the work that continues and stridently support all those who are championing the cause,” she said.

Nearly 67% of Californians voted in favor of Atkins’ amendment, Proposition 1.

RENDON TALKS TO POLITICO

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is officially a lame duck.

But before the Lakewood Democrat calls time on a historic career in the Assembly, he took time to speak to Politico California’s Lara Korte and Jeremy B. White.

The interview spans the gamut of topics, from whether to open up Califoria’s “rainy day fund” to thoughts on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to penalize oil company profits in the wake of sky high gas prices.

Rendon also opens up about whether his hands-off speakership will stand up to historical scrutiny, and whether tensions in the Legislature prevented lawmakers from accomplishing their goals. Spoiler for that last one: Rendon doesn’t think so.

“You’re a big baseball fan, right? The ’72, ’73, ’74 Oakland A’s used to beat the s--- out of each other in the dugout and they won consecutive World Series,” Rendon offered by way of analogy.

You can read the whole (uncensored) interview by clicking here.

A STATE MUSHROOM? IT COULD HAPPEN

You probably already knew that California has a state animal (California grizzly bear), flower (California poppy) and mineral (gold). But what about a state mushroom?

Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose has introduced AB 261, to make the California Golden Chanterelle the official state mushroom, where it would join the official state dance (West Coast Swing), fabric (denim), fish (golden trout), fossil (saber-toothed cat), insect (Calfornia dogface butterfly) and rock (serpentine) as trivia you can use to impress at parties.

“Cantharellus californicus, known as the California Golden Chanterelle, is a commonly collected edible mushroom found beneath California oak trees. Long loved by Californians, scientists recently recognized it as a unique endemic species. Thus, Cantharellus californicus is a symbol of the rich and special biodiversity of California,” AB 261 reads in part. “Naming Cantharellus californicus as the official state mushroom of California will promote appreciation, education, and study of mushrooms in this state.”

It remains to be seen whether the bill will pass, but Kalra has to be hoping there are at least a few mycophiles in the Legislature.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“2 years.”

- Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, discussing the anniversary of his wife Kamala Harris becoming vice president and Joe Biden becoming president, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

• California’s official responsible for overseeing the oil and gas industry unexpectedly resigned, prompting speculation from environmental advocates that Uduak-Joe Ntuk faced pressure to step down after overseeing a recent spike in new drilling permits, via Ari Plachta and Stephen Hobbs.

• After a three-week barrage of winter storms devastated communities across California, President Joe Biden on Thursday stood in front of a calm Pacific Ocean under blue skies and vowed to help residents of the Golden State rebuild, via Maggie Angst and Lindsey Holden.