Garamendi Pushes Support of the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program

San Pedro – Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi has joined a growing list of environmental, healthcare and labor leaders asking for support of the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program to protect workers and cut down on pollution at the ports. "At this critical point in California, when we see the devastating effects of climate change highlighted by droughts, extended and devastating wildfire seasons and air quality degradation, we need immediate and responsible solutions to clean up our ports," Lieutenant John Garamendi said during a keynote speech at the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. "We also need to take action to protect our workers in these tough economic times." The longtime Democratic environmentalist told the San Pedro Cha... more

California Bill to Honor Harvey Milk Day Vetoed

Human Rights Campaign Shares Equality California´s Extreme Disappointment with Gov. Schwarzenegger´s Veto. WASHINGTON — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation Tuesday that would have officially designated May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in the state of California, honoring the first openly gay man to be elected to office in a major city in the United States. "The Human Rights Campaign shares the disappointment of Equality California, as well as thousands of HRC members in California and other Californians," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Harvey Milk is a hero who stood for simple equality and justice, and ultimately gave his life for these principles. It would have been fitting t... more

Dennis Baxter to speak at Grand Opening of the "Yes We Can California '08" Campaign Headquarters

SAN BERNARDINO – City Councilman and KCAA-AM radio talk show host Dennis Baxter will be the guest speaker at the San Bernardino County Democratic Party's kick off the "Yes We Can California '08" political campaign on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in its headquarters at 136 Carousel Mall. Baxter serves on the Legislative Review Committee, Personnel Committee, Grants Ad Hoc Committee, and the CDBG Funding Review Ad Hoc Committee of the San Bernardino City Council. Prior to being elected to the City Council he served on the City's Board of Building Commissioners and was President of the Perris Hill Neighborhood Association and Chair of the City's Fourth of July Parade Committee. Baxter is also the Station Manager a... more

Alberto Torrico added to all-star cast for San "BLUE-nardino" County celebration

RIALTO – Assembly Majority Leader Congressman Alberto Torrico has confirmed he will join the all-star cast set to celebrate turning the county "blue" when the San Bernardino County Democratic Party hosts a San "BLUE-nardino" County Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 4 to 11 p.m., at Bob Molina Memorial Park, Brotherhood of Teamsters local #63, 379 West Valley Boulevard, Rialto. Assemblymember is the Assembly Majority Leader, the second highest post in California's State Assembly. He represents the 20th Assembly District and lives with wife, son and daughter in Newark. Torrico is responsible for major Democratic legislative initiatives and for developing the Democratic Caucus. He has authored 38 bills which passed the Le... more

BONO MACK: NUCLEAR POWER TO INCREASE CLEAN AMERICAN ENERGY SUPPLY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) today applauded the Department of Energy (DOE)´s loan guarantee program that will help expand clean, emissions-free nuclear power in the U.S. Bono Mack noted DOE´s announcement this afternoon that over nineteen new applications from electric power companies across the nation have been submitted to DOE to pursue nuclear facility projects and increase production of clean, alternative energy for Americans. "Nuclear power is a key component of the ´all-of-the-above´ approach to addressing our nation´s energy needs by diversifying our energy mix, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and increasing our energy efficiency," said Bono Mack. "Already, coun... more

Governor signs landmark olive oil bill

Sacramento – On the last day that he had to approve or reject bills, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 634, legislation by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D – Santa Rosa) to update California´s definitions of olive oil grades to conform to international standards. SB 634 also defines "flavored olive oil" to reflect market practices and would require that olive oil be labeled consistent with the updated food grade definitions. According to Wiggins, "olive oil is a rapidly growing industry in California, with volume projected to increase by 1000 percent in the next five years. California also produces 99.9% of the olive oil grown in the U.S. "But state law does not define olive oil grades, and a... more

Govenor Signs Two Laws That Improve Neighborhood Quality Of Life

SACRAMENTO, CA – Late Tuesday Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two important bills authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) to improve neighborhood quality of life. AB 1778 cracks down on recycling raiders who steal newspapers from news stands and CRV containers from curbside recycling bins. AB 2592 tightens regulations on locksmiths, many of whom are unlicensed and operating illegally. "The Governor demonstrated his commitment to improving quality of life in our neighborhoods by signing these bills," said Assemblywoman Ma. "Together with his signature earlier this year to crack down on graffiti vandalism, Governor Schwarzenegger is helping San Francisco, San Mateo and communities around our state address the real concer... more

Governor signs landmark legislation to restore SF Bay

OAKLAND – Governor Schwarzenegger has signed into law Assembly Bill 2954, establishing the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority to secure crucial funding to restore San Francisco Bay wetlands. Creating the Bay Restoration Authority is the primary recommendation in Save The Bay´s ground-breaking August 2007 report, "Greening the Bay: Financing Wetland Restoration in San Francisco Bay." "The creation of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority can dramatically improve the Bay Area´s quality of life and economy through the restoration of Bay wetlands – which is dramatically under-funded," said Save The Bay Executive Director David Lewis, whose organization sponsored AB 2954. "We know there is widespread public support... more

Governor Signs Initiatives to Fight Polluters & Protect Environment

Santa Barbara–State Assemblymember Pedro Nava, the California Department of Conservation´s Division of Oil & Gas, the California Department of Fish & Game and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a press conference in Santa Barbara yesterday to announce that Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assemblymember Nava´s legislative initiatives to protect the environment and go after the most egregious polluters in our state. "I want to thank all the people who made today possible. We can now better protect Californians and the environment from pollution," said Nava. "Governor Schwarzenegger signing my legislation into law gives state law enforcement officials and state agencies the necessary tools to pursue serial spillers in ... more

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Assemblymember Nava´s Emergency Service Legislation

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee announced that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed Assembly Bill 38 and Assembly Bill 2796. California Emergency Services Act (CALEMA) AB 38-Creates a new cabinet level California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA) by combining the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Homeland Security. The bill will give CALEMA the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and homeland security activities in the state. "Emergency personnel, firefighters and law enforcement all over the state have been asking for t... more

MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM HIGHLIGHTS EARLY SUCCESSES OF SAN FRANCISCO´S SOLAR REBATE PROGRAM

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that applications for new solar installations have quadrupled since GoSolarSF, San Francisco´s groundbreaking solar rebate program, was launched in July. "Today, we have proof that if you give people the incentives to install solar panels on their home or business, they will do it," said Mayor Newsom. "And not only does this mean we´re sending energy back into the grid, it means we´re also creating the green-collar jobs that this country desperately needs to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil." San Francisco averaged 16 applications for the California Solar Incentive (CSI) each month over the past 18 months, but in the first three months after GoSolarSF was... more

Governor's action on legislation by Assemblymember Feuer

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed a number of important measures authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles). In addition to AB 2321 (authorizing Los Angeles´s Metropolitan Transportation Agency to place a .5% sales tax increase on the November 4 ballot to fund $40 billion in transportation improvements) and AB 1879 (establishing first-ever comprehensive state authority to regulate consumer products containing dangerous chemicals), the Governor signed: AB 2286 – Hazardous chemicals: electronic reporting: surcharge. This bill requires the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to establish a statewide information management system for reporting data on the use of hazardous chemicals to t... more

Governor Signs Timely Law to Bring Sunshine On Healthcare Insurance Commissions Paid to Brokers

SACRAMENTO - On Saturday, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill that will bring sunshine on commissions paid to brokers by healthcare insurance plans and providers. Assemblyman Solorio (D-Anaheim), author of the measure, applauded the Governor's action. "Public agencies need to know what commissions are being collected so that taxpayers aren´t ripped off," Solorio said. "With this new law, the era of the hidden costs of commissions paid to healthcare insurance brokers and agents is over. Enacting AB 2589 is good for consumers and good for business." Solorio authored the new law after recent lawsuits involving public entities revealed that in some cases, unscrupulous healthcare insurance brokers contracted with certain p... more

Governor rejects improvements to Safe Surrender Baby law

"The Governor´s decision to veto AB 2262 guarantees that the program will continue to languish on the vine and that newborns´ lives will be at risk. Instead of improving the program, the governor has only guaranteed that its current flaws will remain in place. How many stories of babies left on sidewalks or found in dumpsters have to appear before the Governor will take some initiative and work to improve this program? This legislation is overwhelmingly supported by Republicans and Democrats, public safety officials and health care experts, because it is a reasonable response to the state auditor´s report (www.bsa.ca.gov). Yet the Governor and his administration have shown no leadership on this issue whatsoever. Tha... more

BONO MACK´S COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING MEASURE HITS THE SHELVES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack´s (CA-45) pro-consumer, pro-grower country of origin labeling (COOL) measure goes into effect today. This will require supermarkets and other food retailers to label and display the country of origin for fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and nuts. "Consumers deserve to know where their food comes from," said Bono Mack. "With these new labeling standards, people can make informed decisions about the fresh fruits and vegetables they buy and put on their family´s dinner tables. Some countries have stricter inspection guidelines than others, and recent outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli underscore the importance of country of origin labeling. "I am proud to have helped m... more

California Bans Surprise Medical Bills For Healthy Families, AIM Enrollees

SACRAMENTO – Over the past two years, 1.76 million Californians who already had healthcare benefits received surprise medical bills following hospital visits, according to a recent APCO Insight Survey. The practice known as balance billing results in individual medical bills ranging from $100 and under to upwards of $20,000 or more, and come even though a hospital contracts with a patient's health insurance plan. Even worse, many of those who fall victim to this practice are enrolled in the state´s Healthy Families program, which provides healthcare coverage for uninsured children of low-income families, or are enrolled in the Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) program designed for pregnant women. Governor Arnold Schwarze... more

Governor signs Legislation which Closes a Loophole Allowing Sex Offenders To Continue Teaching

SACRAMENTO–Senate Bill 1105 by Senator Bob Margett (R-Glendora) was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger at the State Capitol today. SB 1105 closes the loophole which allows teachers who plead no contest to specified sex and drug offenses to continue teaching in the classroom. Under the current teacher credentialing law, if a person is found guilty of a misdemeanor sex offense, they immediately lose their teaching credential, effectively barring them from teaching. However, if there is a plea of no contest, then all credentials held by the person are suspended until a final decision by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing is made. "You should not be able to plead no contest to a sex offense just so you can continue teaching," said S... more

INTERNET STALKING BILL SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR

(Sacramento) – Assemblyman Guy Houston´s (R-San Ramon) legislation aimed at preventing online harassment was signed by the Governor on Monday. Assembly Bill 919, the Internet Stalking Bill, is designed to protect citizens from stalking, harassment and other abuse over the internet. "The most important duty of government is to protect its citizens. We must write laws with one eye on the present, and one for the future," stated Houston. "California is always at the cutting edge of technological advancement. We need laws to keep up with the technology." The measure came about after a 17-year-old Danville girl was harassed when her picture and cell phone number was taken from her MySpace page, and posted on Craigslist with a le... more

New Law Expected to Reduce Juvenile Recidivism and Homelessness

SACRAMENTO – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) has signed into law a bill that is expected to cut down on recidivism and homelessness of formerly incarcerated youth. Senate Bill 1147, authored by Senators Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) and Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), will ensure that incarcerated juveniles are not terminated from Medi-Cal – the state and federal program that provides comprehensive health benefits to individuals, including children from low-income families. Rather that being forced to reapply for Medi-Cal after release, the Department of Health Services (DHS) will be required to reinstate such benefits within 72 hours of a minor´s release from a youth correctional facility. "It is imper... more

Governor Signs Aanestad Patient Safety Bill

SACRAMENTO: SB 1178, authored by Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley), is now law in California after receiving the signature of Governor Schwarzenegger over the weekend. The measure is designed to protect the safety of dental consumers, and is closely related to SB 252, which the Governor signed into law last year. SB 252, also authored by Senator Aanestad, required that registered sex offenders be prohibited from licensure by the Dental Board of California and also required the Dental Board to revoke existing licenses for any individual who was required to register as a sex offender. However, SB 252 applied only to those individuals who had been convicted of sex offenses under California state law. The new measure, SB 1178, will ... more