Negotiations over wildfire liability relief for the state\u2019s utilities have been raging all year<\/a> between Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders with insurance and utility interests advocating for their interests alongside consumer advocates and wildfire survivor groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the state legislature adjourned for the year two months ago \u2013 with a compromise bill (SB 492<\/a>) enacted by Newsom, there\u2019s intense speculation<\/a> that the governor may call a special session after the Nov. 3 election to deal with the wildfire liability issue in his last month in office.\u00a0<\/p>\n While Petrie-Norris didn\u2019t take questions directly on her interaction with the utility lobbyist, her staff did forward a comment from her, quoting one of California\u2019s most famous bare knuckle power brokers in the last century.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSeventy years ago, when speaking to his colleagues in the Assembly about the importance being a conscientious legislator, Speaker Jesse Unruh put it best:<\/p>\n \u2018If you can\u2019t take their money, drink their booze, eat their food, screw their women and vote against them, you don\u2019t belong here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Nonetheless, the lobbyist golf tab is triggering alarm bells among consumer advocates watching what they see as precursor hearings intended to set the stage for a special session of the legislature to consider a utility bailout.\u00a0<\/p>\n Consumer Watchdog\u2019s President Jamie Court<\/a> raised concerns with Petrie-Norris\u2019 actions, pointing to a competing quote<\/a> from Unruh.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my dilemma: If I had stayed away from the lobbyists, I would have been ineffective. If I take their money and give them nothing for it, I am a cheat. If I do their bidding, I could be cheating the public,\u201d Unruh said<\/a>, noting in summary, \u201cI find myself rationalizing what I have done. The tragedy is that I may wind up serving the very elements I set out to beat\u2013yet not even know that I have changed.\u201d<\/p>\n Court also called out Petrie-Norris\u2019 soiree of lobbyists himself, highlighting how the timing of the meeting was suspect.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unseemly for the chair of the utilities committee to host a PG&E lobbyist at her fundraiser within two weeks of a hearing that will determine whether PG&E is eligible for a legislative bailout in a special session, which is what the CEO told shareholders she wanted on a call days before and claimed the assembly hearing would be helpful in getting,\u201d Court said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Petrie-Norris\u2019 legislative staff in Sacramento confirmed to Voice of OC that Cesar Diaz<\/a>, a powerful statewide lobbyist who is registered as representing PG&E was indeed at the golf event.\u00a0<\/p>\n Diaz did not respond to a request for comment sent to his email address at the firm, Capital Advocacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n But Petrie-Norris\u2019 staff make an important distinction.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe was not there on behalf of PG&E,\u201d said Petrie Norris\u2019 Chief of Staff Taylor Giroux, \u201che was there for the California Hydrogen Business Council.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AP_0732-copy.jpg\")
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris during a media event in Orange County. Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n