California is an amazing place with some of the most phenomenal resources in the world. The California Assembly will be an amazing place, too – if its members work together to improve the quality of life in our state. When there is a natural disaster like an earthquake, fire or flood, leaders will put their ideologies aside and step up and say "people are suffering -- what can we do to alleviate the pain?" In the same way, we need to come together to respond to the state’s current economic crisis by tossing aside the boxes we put ourselves in and the labels we place on others to work in unison to get the job done. As we strive together to ease the suffering caused by this immediate budget situation, we must also re-examine the big picture of the California budget so we can prevent similar problems in the future.

     In the end, we as a society will be judged on how we treat our people—be they young children in the foster care system, students trying to get an education without excessive debt, or the elderly who just need a little help to stay independent in their own homes.

     As the Speaker of your California State Assembly, I hope to lead this group of legislators with diverse experiences and perspectives toward the common goal of building California into the just, responsible and prosperous state that its people deserve.

With hope for the future,


Karen Bass

GOP Lawmakers Playing Political Games, Holding Budget Hostage

(Sacramento) – California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) said following Thursday's Assembly floor session, she's disappointed with the political gamesmanship from Republican lawmakers who demanded a vote on the state budget. Speaker Bass said GOP lawmakers should not be complaining about the lack of a vote on a budget when they will not produce their own version of a budget, are refusing to support the budget produced by the two-house legislative conference committee or the budget proposal from the Governor. The Speaker says Assembly Democrats are working hard to produce a balanced budget for Californians that protects their values, including education, health care, public safety and infrastructure needs. Here's more from Speaker Bass in this Assembly Access Video.

Speaker Bass: Another Distraction from the Governor

(Sacramento) -- Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) said today after the Governor announced he would veto all bills until he signs a budget, "Like the Governor, we want to reach agreement on a budget that's responsible and balanced, and 110 percent of our focus is on that. The Governor's action today is yet another distraction that won't have much impact other than the possible veto of public policy that moves our state forward." There are currently no Assembly bills on the Governor's desk. Here's more in this Assembly Access Video.

Foreclosure Relief Bill Headed to Governor's Desk

(Sacramento) - Legislation by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) providing immediate relief to homeowners caught in the mortgage crisis is on its way to the Governor’s desk. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report, SB 1137 would require lenders to contact property owners to attempt to avoid foreclosure, provide tenants additional time to move from a foreclosed property and mandate maintenance of foreclosed properties to diminish the impact on the value of neighboring homes. The legislation is an urgency measure, meaning it will become law once the Governor signs it.

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.

Assembly Democrats Protect Education and Health Care

(Sacramento) – Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) surrounded by Assembly Democrats and joined by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata announced the passing of the budget by the Budget Conference Committee . The plan rejects the Governor’s deep cuts in education and health care and includes $9.7 billion in new revenue, which is $2.7 billion more in new revenue than what the Governor proposed.

The Conference Committee budget is a balanced approach. It closes tax loopholes and rolls back tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy and cracks down on tax cheats.  The details on this web report.

More budget information from the Assembly Democrats can be found here.

Foreclosure Relief Bill Headed to Governor’s Desk

(Sacramento) - Legislation by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) providing immediate relief to homeowners caught in the mortgage crisis is on its way to the Governor’s desk. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report, SB 1137 would require lenders to contact property owners to attempt to avoid foreclosure, provide tenants additional time to move from a foreclosed property and mandate maintenance of foreclosed properties to diminish the impact on the value of neighboring homes. The legislation is an urgency measure, meaning it will become law once the Governor signs it.

Democrats Condemn Republicans' Budget Tactics 

(Sacramento) - Republican legislators have made it clear they intend to exploit California’s budget crisis to push through policy goals that are unrelated to the budget situation. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass replied to their proposals with a simple, “Not on my watch.” The Speaker was joined by members of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and advocates for the environment, workers rights and the disabled at a capitol news conference to condemn the GOP efforts to roll back protections. Speaker Bass says what the Republicans are really asking for is dirtier air; less access for the disabled, unprotected workers and damaged crops and tourism. Here’s more in an Assembly Web Report. 

Fixing the Foreclosure Crisis

(Sacramento) – As the mortgage meltdown in America continues to cause stress and strain for thousands of families, Assembly Democrats in the California State Legislature are working to reform the mortgage industry, hoping the proposed regulations will mitigate the financial pain. Led by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), Assembly Democrats have crafted a package of legislation designed to change the way home loans are prepared and implemented. Here’s more on the Assembly Democrat’s mortgage crisis relief and reform package in this Assembly Web Report.

Speaker Bass' Los Angeles Inaugural Ceremony

(Sacramento) -- A packed theater in Los Angeles served as the venue for a glorious celebration of Speaker Karen Bass' election to the top post in the California State Assembly, a job considered second only to the Governor in California's political pecking order. Speaker Bass is the first African-American woman in the nation's history to lead a state legislative house. The inaugural celebration in Los Angeles included uplifting songs, soulful prayer, inspiring poetry and passionate speeches praising Speaker Bass. Here's more on the event in this Assembly Web Report. (Speaker Bass was formally sworn in during a ceremony in the state capitol on May 13th, 2008.)

A Celebration of Historic Success

(Sacramento) – This abbreviated version of the story of Assembly Speaker Karen Bass’ rise from community activist in South Los Angeles to the second most powerful job in California politics only begins to explain the dedication and hard work that led to her historic election as the 67th Speaker of the California State Assembly. Speaker Bass is the first African-American woman in the nation’s history to lead a state legislative house. This video was shown to the 1,700 people that attended the Los Angeles Community Inaugural Ceremony on Friday, June 6,2008. (Speaker Bass was formally sworn in during a ceremony in the state capitol on May 13th, 2008.) 

California's 67th Speaker Karen Bass is Sworn into office

(Sacramento) – History was made  on Tuesday May 13, 2008 under the dome of the California State Capitol when Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) was sworn in as the first African-American female Speaker of the California Assembly.  She is the first African-American female to hold such a high legislative post anywhere in the United States. In her speech after the swearing in ceremony Speaker Bass said she’s ready to begin tackling the many challenges facing the state.

California's 67th Speaker Karen Bass Inaugural Speech