Assembly Democrats Already Preparing for Another Tough Budget Year

Speaker Bass and Assistant Speaker Pro Tem
Saldaña on Budget Compromise

Californians Want Budget to Reflect Their Values

(Sacramento)– Support for a state budget that reflects real California values is growing throughout the state. From Southern California, through the Central Valley and along the California Coast to the San Francisco Bay Area and the rest of Northern California people are calling on state lawmakers to approve a new state spending plan that funds education, health care, transportation and care for the elderly, blind and disabled. In this Assembly Access video real Californians, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and other top Democratic Assemblymembers make it clear it’s “our values and our future” that must be included in the state budget.
More budget information from the Assembly Democrats can be found here.

Saldaña part of new Assembly leadership

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) will assume her responsibilities today as an officer in the leadership of newly-elected California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles). Bass is the first African-American woman in the nation to lead a legislative body.

Saldaña, who currently serves as Assistant Majority Whip, has been appointed by Speaker Bass to serve as Assistant Speaker pro Tempore. Saldaña will assist Assemblywoman Sally Lieber in presiding over the Assembly floor. She will assume duties as Speaker pro Tempore at the beginning of the next legislative session.

Saldaña said she was looking forward to giving San Diego a voice in the deliberations of the Assembly leadership.

“I am excited to be a part of this historic leadership team,” Saldaña said. “We have a lot of important work ahead of us, and I look forward to joining Speaker Bass and facilitating the smooth functioning of business on the Assembly floor.”

Other leadership appointments include Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), who was named Chairperson-designee of the Assembly Budget Committee; and Assemblymember Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles) who was named Chairperson-designee of the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“This experienced team has the respect of colleagues from both sides of the aisle,” said Speaker Bass. “They will provide the stability, energy, and leadership to guide the Assembly.”

Cleaning Up E-Waste

(Sacramento) – One of the newest and most toxic items in the garbage stream heading into the nation’s landfills is e-waste. The hazardous materials in computer parts, cell phones and other electronic devices have the potential to become a toxic nightmare. California Assembly Democrats are taking action now to reduce the impact of e-waste. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report, Assembly Member Lori Saldaña has authored legislation to phase out the use of hazardous materials in all consumer electronics sold in California by the year 2010.

Removing Educational Barriers for Children of Military Families

(Sacramento) – Children of military families confront a number of disadvantages in school because of frequent relocation and transfers between districts and states with differing eligibility, qraduation and testing requirements. Moving up to seven times in the course of their academic career, these students can lose course credits and face postponed graduation and other academic challenges.

California State Assemblymember Lori Saldaña has written legislation to break down barriers to education for the children of military families. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report Saldaña’s AB 1809 will ratify a compact with other states that makes it easier for the students, and their student records, to move from one school to another without losing ground.

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AB 218 (Saldaña) – Electronic Waste 

Would require electronic devices sold in California to be free of hazardous materials, including lead, mercury and cadmium. These pose a serious health hazard to employees recycling businesses and to the general public as the materials aggregate in landfills and seep into ground water and soil

Status: Passed from Assembly to Senate Committee on Environmental Quality

AB 2112 (Saldaña) –Energy Self-Sufficient Residential Buildings

This bill would require the use of energy efficient construction methods and distributed energy to achieve energy self-sufficiency in new residential construction by 2020.

Status: Introduced

AB 2003 (Saldaña) – Climate Protection and Energy Efficiency Bond Act of 2008

Creates the Climate Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund to expand energy conservation and efficiency, and the development and use of solar, wind, geothermal energy and fuel cells and other energy generating technologies and will increase energy efficiency in low income communities buildings and state facilities 

Status: Introduced

AB 1832 Tidelands Statutes (Saldaña) –

Would repeal statutes that have been used to convey constitutionally protected waterfront public properties to private developers.

Status:  Asm. Natural Resources Committee

Going Green! Assembly Democrats Push "Green" Legislation Package

(Sacramento) – Assembly Democrats have introduced a package of legislation designed to improve the state’s environment while at the same time boosting the growing market for “green-collar” jobs. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report, Democrats in the California Assembly want California to again lead the nation – this time by getting out in front with a comprehensive strategy to spur green business and advance green collar jobs for Californians in everything from high tech work in the lab, to installing one of our million solar roofs to weatherizing homes and businesses. 

California’s Budget Challenge: Establish priorities and explore streamlining before making drastic cuts

By Assembly Member Lori Saldaña

Earlier this month, the Governor unveiled his solution to the state’s $14.5 billion budget crisis – a draconian 10 percent across-the-board cuts to most services provided by the state.

His proposal includes drastic cuts in public safety, the potential release of thousands of prisoners, the closure of 48 state parks and cuts to lifeguard staff at local state beaches.

The budget crisis is dire, but the pain of these heavy-handed and ill-considered cuts will definitely not be felt equitably.

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