Siyamak sits down with Melissa Melendez, former California State Senator. Today she'll provide insights on how California’s legislature works, why lobbyists are so impactful in shaping our legislative system, and why it matters to us Californians.
“People don’t understand, just the outsized influence that a lot of these special interest groups have. I have been in committee hearings where I have watched labor union leaders standing at the back of the committee hearing room, nodding ‘yes’ or ’no' to the members of that committee when it came time to vote on certain bills. That is no joke. It’s like the mafia sometimes.”
*Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of California Insider.
