California Democrats in the Legislature were caught in a public dispute this week. That's because a committee removed a measure to increase penalties for soliciting and buying sex from 16- and 17-year-olds.

California Democratic legislators gutted a bill that would have made it a felony to solicit any children for sex, despite support for the measure from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis.

California Republicans are increasingly pushing Democrats on child sex crimes bills. The supermajority is growing more divided about it.