Newsletter: Essential Politics: A powerful regulator’s reorganization

Few state agencies are as influential or have as broad a mandate as does the California Public Utilities Commission. But it looks like that’s about to change.

Good morning from the the state capital. I’m Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers, and a broad proposal to revamp the powerful agency was proposed on Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers.

The commission regulates California’s electric and gas companies, and has faced years of criticism after high-profile incidents — including the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion in 2010, the decommissioning of the San Onofre nuclear power plant and the Aliso Canyon gas leak in Porter Ranch last year.

As Liam Dillon writes, the package of new legislation to be voted on later this summer will boost transparency over the agency’s decisions.

Beyond that, the deal with change how CPUC regulates Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies shifting enforcement of state rules to the Department of Motor Vehicles, California Highway Patrol and other agencies.

STATE BUDGET GETS BROWN’S SIGNATURE

Brown was making news on the state budget at the same time on Monday by placing his signature on a new $171-billion spending plan.

You could have blinked your eyes and missed the debate on most of this year’s state budget, a largely consensus package of spending priorities from the governor and Democratic legislators. A few remaining budget-related items remain pending, though, and one of them — on energy related issues — sparked a noticeable disagreement between Brown staffers and lawmakers in a committee hearing on Monday.

One fun fact: There were no line-item vetoes in this year’s budget. The last time that happened was in 1982 … and yep, the governor was Jerry Brown.

LORETTA SANCHEZ’S SIESTA IN SPAIN RAISES EYEBROWS

When California congressional Democrats took a prominent role in last week’s sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Orange) was nowhere to be found.

Well, Sarah Wire found her: Sanchez was in still in Spain, taking a few extra days after the end of a trade mission.

Sanchez also missed nine floor votes while overseas. Less than an hour after Wire’s story was published, campaign advisers to Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris began tweeting about Sanchez’s absence during the high-profile gun violence event. It seems a safe bet that we haven’t heard the last of this from the Harris camp.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS’ BENGHAZI REPORT: OOPS

It was all about getting out in front of Republicans, as Democrats on the House committee investigating the Benghazi attack released their own report. And they had redacted some parts of an interview conducted with Sidney Blumenthal, a longtime confidant of Hillary Clinton.

But as Evan Halper reports, the redacting was easily — well — un-redactable.

What was revealed was some insight into both Republicans and Democrats involved in the investigation, as well as details about Blumenthal’s payments from others in the Clinton orbit.

CLINTON’S BACK FOR CASH

The presumptive Democratic nominee is back in California today for presidential campaign fundraisers, including an event at the Los Angeles home of Napster founder and former Facebook president Sean Parker.

She’s also being feted by former studio boss and UC regent Sherry Lansing at the home of Jane and Marc Nathanson.

‘THREE DAYS IN PRINT’ BALLOT MEASURE QUALIFIES

As we’ve said, this is the week we see which initiative efforts qualify for the Nov. 8 statewide ballot. On Monday, an effort to change the legislative process in Sacramento joined the list.

That initiative, if voters approve, would require all legislation be in print for at least three days before a final vote in the state Capitol. It also seeks to expand online video feeds of legislative votes, and it removes the ban on using legislative video in political campaign ads.

<>TODAY’S ESSENTIALS

— Monday’s 5-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a Texas abortion law was likely another reminder of how the political world closely watches the high court and the presidential power of appointees. And the ruling may change the practices in other states too.

— Steve Barr, founder of the nonprofit charter school chain Green Dot Public Schools, filed papers to run against incumbent Eric Garcetti for mayor of Los Angeles.

— Donald Trump and Clinton are expected to boost the local economies of Cleveland and Philadelphia, respectively, this month as the major party conventions roll into town.

— Elizabeth Warren may not end up being Clinton’s running mate. But there’s no question she’s mastered one aspect of the job: attack dog.

— And Marco Rubio as Trump’s running mate? Not going to happen.

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