California Speaker Recall Effort Reflects Democratic Tension

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Democrats control every lever of power in California state government. Free from worrying about major losses to Republicans, they’re training fire instead on each other.The latest example is a recall effort against Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, a strong progressive now targeted by party activists upset that he derailed a bill seeking government-funded health care for all.The Rendon recall comes as the California Democratic Party contends with a protracted leadership battle.It follows a contentious battle among environmentalists over the state’s cap-and-trade law to fight climate change, which some thought was too deferential to oil companies. Rendon said he supports single-payer health care in concept, but that the bill was “woefully incomplete.” His critics say it’s the Legislature’s job to work through loose ends.

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