CALIFORNIA ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2005 |
CONTACT Pam Chueh (916) 319-3686 |
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Governor Schwarzenegger Withdraws Proposal To Eliminate Commission On Apia Affairs |
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| Sacramento - In an abrupt turnaround, Governor Schwarzenegger has withdrawn his plan to eliminate 88 boards and commissions, including the elimination of the Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs. The Little Hoover Commission had been reviewing the Governor's reform plan since January and was expected to release a highly critical report next week. In a one paragraph letter submitted to the Little Hoover Commission on February 17, the Governor concedes that his reform plan benefits from further review.
Assemblymember Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus, welcomed the news. "I am very pleased the Governor has decided to withdraw his plan. Since the California Performance Review was released last August, we have struggled to understand the rational behind his proposal to eliminate the Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs." "The creation of this citizens' commission was such a milestone for our community. It is privately funded and is not a fiscal burden to the State and taxpayers," said Chu. "There was simply no value gained for the State to eliminate it." The API community has rallied around the preservation of the Commission since the Governor's California Performance Review was released in August 2004. Members of the community have engaged in letter writing campaigns to the Governor and legislative leaders to express the importance of the Commission to the community. "What this experience has done is to bring our community together and show them that when they speak loudly, their voices will be heard by policymakers in Sacramento," added Chu. The Commission on APIA Affairs is charged with advising the Governor, the Legislature, state agencies, departments, and commissions on issues relating to the social and economic development, rights and interests of API communities. In its first year of operation, the Commission met four times, held an informational hearing on the resettlement of Hmong refugees from Thailand to California, and issued its first annual report to the Governor and Legislature this past December. APIs are the fastest growing major ethnic group in California, representing 4.2 million residents and over 13% of California's population. The Commission on APIA Affairs was established by legislation (Assembly Bill 116) authored by Assemblymember George Nakano and co-authored by members of the API Legislative Caucus. The Commission on APIA Affairs consists of 13 members appointed by the Governor and the Legislature. |
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| Capitol: State Capitol -- P.O. Box 942849 -- Sacramento, CA 94249-0049 | |