California lawmaker acts like liberal Donald Trump by ripping GOP off committees | Opinion

Two of the state Assembly’s newest members, both Republicans representing parts of the San Joaquin Valley, just got their first lesson in “the tyranny of the ruling class.”

That is what former Assemblymember Jim Patterson, a Fresno Republican, used to call Democrats in Sacramento. Patterson, who was termed out of office last year, served for much of his tenure under Democratic rule. In his final years in office, Patterson was part of a superminority of GOP members. Democrats held the supermajority, meaning they did not need Republican votes to pass any legislation.

Which means the GOP could be ignored whenever the Democrats liked — which was most of the time. Today Democrats hold 60 seats to 19 for the GOP.

Now Robert Rivas, the Assembly speaker and Democrat from Salinas, is continuing that trend of authoritarianism. And Assemblymembers David Tangipa of Fresno and Alexandra Macedo of Tulare are experiencing the “tyranny” for themselves.

Rivas recently removed Tangipa and Macedo from certain committees, without warning or explanation. Similarly removed from committee assignments were Republicans Joe Patterson of Rocklin, Bill Essayli of Riverside and Carl DeMaio of San Diego.

Sacramento politics

In seeking an explanation from Rivas, his spokesman Nick Miller gave this statement:

“The speaker routinely addresses committee needs throughout the year, and his goal is always to ensure members are in optimal roles to collaborate effectively and deliver for Californians.”

That doesn’t say anything. It represents Rivas as one of those Sacramento politicians who skirts accountability by hiding behind obsequious handlers peddling smarmy non-statements. His actions are undemocratic and unacceptable.

Making matters worse, Rivas did not even communicate the changes to his Republican counterpart. “I was not consulted or even given a call,” Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Nicolaus, told The Sacramento Bee.

Republican members lose out

Of note, Tangipa was initially assigned to the Assembly Insurance Committee, a key post now as insurance companies struggle to provide policies to Californians while costs skyrocket due to wildfires. Tangipa, a freshman legislator, requested to be on that committee because he sells real estate and is keenly interested in ensuring Californians can get home insurance.

Tangipa was even slated to be vice chair until Rivas bounced him.

“I think I know insurance better than anybody else in this building,” Tangipa told The Sacramento Bee. “I know it because my business and my background depend on the insurance market, and the insurance market is collapsing here in California.”

Tangipa’s sprawling 8th District covers, in whole or part, the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Calaveras, Inyo, Mono and Tuolumne. Much of the Sierra forests lie in his district, where wildfires frequently break out, making the Insurance Committee seat all the more relevant.

Macedo, a freshman who represents parts of Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties in the 33rd District, was set to be vice chair on the natural resources and the governmental organization committees. No longer.

Patterson was vice chair of the Health Committee, and true to its name, he found out about his removal while working out at a gym.

“Health care policy is a very complicated thing,” he said. “To not only remove me as vice chair, but also remove me from the committee altogether. It’s just wrong and it actually puts Californians in a less healthy situation.”

It should be noted that other GOP members were put into vice chairs on the affected committees. But it is particularly a shame that the Fresno and Tulare members lost out. The Legislature could use the San Joaquin Valley views of Tangipa and Macedo.

Republicans remain in the superminority in the Legislature. But that doesn’t mean Democrats should treat them as inferior. Republicans represent Californians, and should be granted more respect.

This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "California lawmaker acts like liberal Donald Trump by ripping GOP off committees | Opinion."