1. Looking Ahead to 2017
In her year-end blog post, Roosevelt President and CEO Felicia Wong reflects on the work that the Roosevelt Institute has done this year and how it has laid the foundation for many important fights in the year ahead, from taming corporate power to rewriting the racial rules and empowering a new generation of leaders.

2. The Return of Voodoo Economics
Roosevelt Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz argues that Donald Trump’s economic promises are based on the “big lie” that big tax cuts and higher infrastructure and defense spending can coexist with lower deficits – and it’s going to cost American workers.

3. Police Violence in the Trump Era
Roosevelt Fellow Dorian Warren writes in Ebony that the Trump presidency, with its promises of a harsh “law and order” approach, brings with it an increased threat of police violence against black and Latino Americans, and the only solution may be local movement-building and activism.

4. The Student Debt Crisis Is Real
In the Boston Review, Roosevelt Fellow and Senior Economist Marshall Steinbaum makes the case that the cost of acquiring a college degree has become a toll that Americans must pay to enter the workforce, and that the best response is to expand free public college and eliminate the gatekeepers to higher ed.

5. Remembering FDR's Call for Unity
Reflecting on Barack Obama’s post-election call for shared commitment to democratic norms, Roosevelt Senior Fellow David Woolner recalls FDR’s own message about the importance of national unity and what it means in the face of electoral interference by the FBI and Russia.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016
 
SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) has announced his leadership members and nominees for Senate standing committee chairs and members, forming a legislative team focused on job creation, long-term economic growth, and protecting the historic progress California has made in the last decade.
Designated committee chairs and membership will be formally adopted by the Senate Rules Committee when it convenes on January 11, 2017.
 
Majority Leader:
Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel)
 
Majority Whip:
Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
 
Democratic Caucus Chair:
Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino)
 
Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair:
Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg)
 
Agriculture
Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), Chair
Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), Vice Chair
Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Stanislaus)
Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa)
Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)
 
Appropriations
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), Chair
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), Vice Chair
Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose)
Senator Steve Bradford (D-Gardena)
Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo)
Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama)
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
 
Banking and Financial Institutions
Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa), Chair
Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford), Vice Chair
Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton)
Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego)
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)
Senator Mike Morrell (R-Inland Empire)
Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge)
 
Budget and Fiscal Review
Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), Chair
Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), Vice Chair
Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)
Senator Joel Anderson (R-San Diego)
Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose)
Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa)
Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg)
Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia)
Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel)
Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa)
Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove)
Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)
Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge)
Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside)
Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
Senator Jeff Stone (R-Temecula)
Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont)
 
Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education
Portantino (Chair), Allen and Moorlach
 
Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation
Wieckowski (Chair), McGuire, Mendoza and Nielsen (Vice Chair)
 
Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services
Pan (Chair), Monning and Stone
 
Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration and General Government
Roth (Chair), Glazer and Nguyen
 
Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety and the Judiciary
Skinner (Chair), Beall and Anderson
 
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), Chair
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), Vice Chair
Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa)
Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton)
Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa)
Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina)
Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton)
Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)
Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita)
 
Education
Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), Chair
Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), Vice Chair
Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton)
Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino)
Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia)
Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)
Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford)
 
Elections and Constitutional Amendments
Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park), Chair
Senator Joel Anderson (R-San Diego), Vice Chair
Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)
Senator Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles)
Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino)
 
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), Chair
Senator Mike Morrell (R-Inland Empire), Vice Chair
Senator Steve Bradford (D-Gardena)
Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres)
Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado)
Senator Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles)
Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo)
Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg)
Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park)
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
 
Environmental Quality
Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), Chair
Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford), Vice Chair
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel)
Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo)
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)
Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park)
 
Governance and Finance
Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), Chair
Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove), Vice Chair
Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose)
Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina)
Senator Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles)
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)
Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa)
 
Governmental Organization
Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa), Chair
Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Stanislaus), Vice Chair
Senator Steve Bradford (D-Gardena)
Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres)
Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa)
Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado)
Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton)
Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo)
Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego)
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)
Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia)
Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge)
Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford)
 
Health
Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), Chair
Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove), Vice Chair
Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)
Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino)
Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles)
Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel)
Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton)
Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama)
Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside)
 
Human Services
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Chair
Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Stanislaus), Vice Chair
Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa)
Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton)
Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove)
 
Insurance
Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia), Chair
Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado),Vice Chair
Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Stanislaus)
Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa)
Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina)
Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles)
Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton)
Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge)
Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside)
 
Judiciary
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), Chair
Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa),Vice Chair
Senator Joel Anderson (R-San Diego)
Senator Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles)
Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel)
Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park)
Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont)
 
Labor and Industrial Relations
Senator Steve Bradford (D-Gardena),Chair
Senator Jeff Stone (R-Temecula), Vice Chair
Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)
Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles)
 
Legislative Ethics
Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), Chair
Senator Mike Morrell (R-Inland Empire), Vice Chair
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel)
Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado)
Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel)
Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont)
 
Natural Resources and Water
Senator Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles), Chair
Senator Jeff Stone (R-Temecula), Vice Chair
Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)
Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)
Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego)
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)
Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel)
Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park)
Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford)
 
Public Employment and Retirement
Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), Chair
Senator Mike Morrell (R-Inland Empire), Vice Chair
Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino)
Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa)
Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge)
 
Public Safety
Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Chair
Senator Joel Anderson (R-San Diego), Vice Chair
Senator Steve Bradford (D-Gardena)
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara)
Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles)
Senator Jeff Stone (R-Temecula)
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
 
Rules
Senator Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), Chair
Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres), Vice Chair
Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)
Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Stanislaus)
Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino)
 
Transportation and Housing
Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose), Chair
Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres), Vice Chair
Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)
Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel)
Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado)
Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg)
Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia)
Senator Mike Morrell (R-Inland Empire)
Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside)
Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont)
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
 
Veterans Affairs
Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), Chair
Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), Vice Chair
Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa)
Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego)
Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove)
Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside)
Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita)

1. It's the Economy, Stupid
Roosevelt VP of Research and Policy Nell Abernathy moderated a discussion with Roosevelt Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz and Roosevelt President and CEO Felicia Wong about the Trump administration’s economic policies and what progressives must do now to support workers. Click here to watch it on Facebook.

2. Michelle Obama's Legacy
In The Nation, Roosevelt National Network Director Joelle Gamble examines how the First Lady has embodied the tension between respectability and authenticity experienced by black women in the public sphere, and how women like her have opened the door to a different kind of movement politics.

3. The Fake News Solution
Writing for Jacobin, Roosevelt Fellow and Senior Economist Marshall Steinbaum argues that the answer to the problem of “fake news” is not to let Facebook and other companies self-police, but for Congress to take action to limit private corporations’ power to control the flow of information.

4. Trump's Economic Radicalism
Bryce Covert and Roosevelt Fellow Mike Konczal write in The Nation that although President Obama had modest economic victories, including his response to the Great Recession, the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank, and his executive orders, they are worth defending—and they will all be under fire.

5. Could Putin Trigger a Revote?
Roosevelt Fellow Todd Tucker and law professor Steven J. Mulroy write that Russia’s interference in the 2016 election could provide grounds for courts to order a do-over of the November election, particularly if evidence emerges that ballots were tampered with.