Essential Politics: When death meets politics

I’m Christina Bellantoni, the Essential Politics host today. Let’s get started.

It’s not often politicians openly contemplate their own morality.

But that was the case Monday as California Gov. Jerry Brown used his signature to make California the fifth state in the nation to allow the terminally ill to work with a doctor to end their own lives.

As Chris Megerian writes, death is not an uncommon topic for this governor, who admitted this spring that when you’re 77, it is "something that’s a little more imminent."

In a statement blessing the legislation, officially dubbed the End of Life Option Act, Brown noted he turned to everyone from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to two of his own doctors for advice on dying. (Incidentally, Brown has been known to ask his physician for legislative advice.)

Brown wrote in the statement that, "In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death."

"I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain," he wrote. "I am certain, however, that it would be some comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill. And I wouldn’t deny that right to others."

With a few days left to clear the other matters on his desk, here is a guide from Megerian exploring how Brown makes difficult decisions.

And California will continue to get the news spotlight Tuesday — the state Supreme Court will hear arguments on a case that could allow Californians to vote next year on whether Citizens United should be repealed by a federal constitutional amendment.

TODAY’S ESSENTIALS

-- Here’s how the aid-in-dying law will work.

-- Paige St. John analyzed Brown’s decisions on crime legislation in the broader context of sentencing reform.

-- Christi Parsons and Michael Memoli see the Pacific trade pact as an insiders’ deal in an outsiders’ year.

-- In pitching her new gun-control proposal, Hillary Rodham Clinton asks, "How many people have to die?"

-- The rules of super PACs are being stretched further than ever before, Joseph Tanfani and Seema Mehta report.

-- With the elections for House Republican leaders scheduled for Oct. 29, Lisa Mascaro examines the race for the speakership.

-- Join us at Politicon. We’re a sponsor, and I’m moderating a panel about California’s role in the political process. Use the code LATIMES for a free ticket.

LOGISTICS

Miss yesterday’s newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our new politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.