As goes California, so goes the nation.
For decades, the Golden State has been a legislative and regulatory bellwether for the United States, being the catalyst for many prominent political movements over the years. Because of the importance of California politics on the national stage, POLITICO Pro and POLITICO.com are expanding their editorial footprint of the state’s politics and policy.
California policies have long influenced national conversations
For years, California has played a crucial role in shaping politics and policy across the United States, with the state serving as an incubator for ideas and policies that have gone on to impact the country at large.
The Golden State’s history of influencing national politics and starting trends goes back decades. For example, California is in many ways the birthplace of the modern environmentalism movement in the United States. In 1965, it became the first state to regulate motor vehicle emissions through setting limits on carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon. Shortly thereafter in 1967, the California Environmental Protection Agency enacted the first air quality standards in the country for sulfur dioxide, photochemical oxidants and various other pollutants. More recently, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 was the first state law in the United States to mandate a statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, laying the groundwork for climate change legislation at the state and federal level in the years since.
Elsewhere, California has been a trendsetter in many other political issues, such as the deregulation of cannabis, becoming the first state to allow medicinal marijuana following the passage of the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, as well as gay marriage, being the second after only Massachusetts to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples starting in 2008. Other areas where California has led the way politically include immigration, healthcare, criminal justice reform and more.
These are just a few examples of the state’s vast political reach. As California policy often becomes national policy, professionals need to pay close attention to what’s going on inside Sacramento.
Policy-focused coverage that offers unique insights
Fortunately, there is an easy way for policy professionals to stay abreast of what’s happening in the Golden State.
POLITICO Pro remains committed to delivering accurate and nonpartisan California political news in a timely manner. In a media landscape marked by increasing partisanship, shallow coverage and information overload, POLITICO Pro is the premier source for unbiased, impactful political coverage and analysis of important policy and political developments in Sacramento and across California.
As POLITICO’s subscription-based service, Pro is a crucial resource for helping policy professionals stay one step ahead on California policy and politics. It offers in-depth coverage that goes beyond just reporting on the basic facts or drama of political fights, providing detailed analysis and insights into actual legislation and its impact on Californians across the state and beyond.
An indispensable resource, Pro reporting caters to the needs of public policy professionals who need the inside scoop on all the key policy areas impacting the Golden State. With it, you can explore the intersection of federal and state education policy, discover in-depth coverage and analysis of state ballot initiatives, stay updated on health care policy, dive into the intricacies of California’s budgetary and fiscal issues, learn about labor regulation and legislation and uncover the latest news and detailed analysis for energy and environmental issues, including green energy, water rights and conservation.
Pro subscribers also have access to innovative policy tools such as custom email notifications, bill and rule trackers, stakeholder management solutions and government directories. With Pro, you can stay updated on the latest state legislative and regulatory movements, reach out to lawmakers and organize your team’s workflow through one integrated platform. To further help you make the most out of legislative opportunities in California, you can also access the California legislative calendar in the Pro Calendar, find committee transcripts in Documents, and search for elected officials’ contacts by committee through Pro Directories.
Designed specifically for policy professionals, these tools work in addition to POLITICO Pro’s timely and exclusive news coverage inside California’s politics, allowing you to track the latest news, events and legislation in Sacramento and access the insightful, nonpartisan California political news you need to stay ahead of the curve.
Want to see more from POLITICO Pro? Visit the features section for an overview of how POLITICO Pro is your all-inclusive policy platform or request a demo today.