They were at least eight votes short, with stiff resistance from business-friendly moderates in their party. Senate Bill 406 had been a major target for the California Chamber of Commerce, which placed the measure on its list of “job killer” legislation. Earlier, it had been weakened in the Assembly to reduce the number of businesses to which it would apply.
Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, paced the floor trying to drum up votes. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, energetically tugged at heartstrings, sharing a photo of a colleague’s newborn child. Later, as the bill hovered just below a majority, she shouted the names of lawmakers who hadn’t yet cast votes.
Ultimately, the bill cleared the Assembly by a single vote.
