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.

Speaker Bass Working For More Federal Funds for California

(Sacramento) – State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) has concluded three days of talks in Washington DC with federal lawmakers in an effort to secure more federal funds for California. California currently receives only 79 cents for every dollar we pay in federal taxes. Speaker Bass met with Senator Dianne Feinstein, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other members of the California Congressional delegation. The Speaker says her meetings focused on an extension of federal unemployment benefits, assistance for public safety programs, education funding and long-term solutions to California water issues. Bass said she was encouraged by her meetings. Here’s more in this Assembly Web Report.

Speaker Bass Unveils Assembly Democrat’s Budget Plan

(Sacramento) –A capacity crowd filled the Sterling Hotel in downtown Sacramento as Speaker of the California State Assembly Karen Bass made her first appearance before the influential Sacramento Press Club. Speaker Bass chose the occasion to unveil the broad outlines of the Assembly Democratic budget plan. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report Speaker Bass made it clear the next state budget must include cuts AND new revenues. 

La Presidenta Bass Presenta el Plan para Enfrentar la Crisis Presupuestaria.

(Sacramento) –La Presidenta de la Asamblea presentó el Plan Demócrata d la Asamblea para resolver la crisis presupuestaria del estado.  En su primera presentación ante miembros del Club de Periodístas de Sacramento, la Presidenta Bass hizo públicos una serie de detalles del plan que busca reflejar las prioridades de todos los californianos.  El plan incluye recortes y la generación de nuevos ingresos para las arcas públicas.

May Revise Budget Hurts Californians

(Sacramento) – Following this week's release of the Governor's revised budget proposal for 2008-09, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) called for a more balanced, thoughtful approach to balancing the state's books. Speaker Bass, who was sworn in as the 67th Assembly Speaker the day before the Governor released his revised budget, went on to say the Governor's spending plan includes cuts that unfairly hurt struggling California families and solutions that may be no more than risky schemes. However, Speaker Bass added she does applaud the Governor for embracing her proposal for a budget commission that will study ways to bring the state's revenue collection into the 21st century. Assembly Budget Committee Chair John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) also criticized the governor's May Revise proposal, saying it's bad for our economy, lays off teachers and is based on risky assumptions. Here's more in this Assembly Web Report.

Dental Health Key to Student Achievement

(Sacramento) – Good dental health not only results in good smiles, it produces better students. With that in mind Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) met with dental health providers at a low income health clinic in the Bay Area. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report programs to provide dental health care to low income children are facing potential budget cuts.

Assembly Democrats Focus on State Budget During Policy Summit

(Sacramento) – Schools will suffer. Programs for the poor and the elderly will be reduced or eliminated. Parks and beaches will be closed. Those are just a few of the results from Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed across the board 10-percent budget cuts. But, as we learn in this Assembly Web Report, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), Speaker-elect Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), Democratic Caucus Chair Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), and Budget Committee Chair John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) are leading the charge by Assembly Democrats to find a more balanced approach to solving California’s financial crisis.

The California Assembly elected Los Angeles Democrat Karen Bass its 67th Speaker

Assembly Democrats Vote for Schools, Republicans Vote for Big Oil

(Sacramento) – The same week thousands of layoff notices were delivered to teachers and school staffs throughout California Assembly Democrats voted for new legislation that would have reduced the number of layoffs by closing the “gusher giveaway” tax break for oil companies. But Assembly Bill 3x 9 failed to get the two-thirds vote needed for passage because Assembly Republicans voted against education and for Big Oil. Just last month the Assembly Republicans also killed an effort to close a tax loophole for wealthy yacht owners. Democrats insist the state’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit be eliminated with a mix of cuts and new revenues, not through the “across the board, spending cuts only” approach proposed by the Governor.

Speaker Elect Karen Bass Talks to the Press

Seniors Facing Rising Rates, Poor Services in Some Assisted Living Facilities

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Democrats, led by Speaker-elect Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), want to see some changes in the way assisted living facilities in California are operated. Current Majority Leader Bass has introduced legislation that will give residents of assisted living facilities more information about how fast rates have been rising in their facilities. And, Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis) has legislation pending that will require assisted living facilities to be better prepared for emergencies, such as power outages, as well as require the facilities to give residents 60 days notice before raising their rates. We have more on Assembly Bills 2370 and 2101 in this Assembly Web Report.

Assembly Democrats Take Action to Relieve Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis

(Sacramento) - As the sub-prime mortgage crisis continues to ravage families throughout the state and the nation Assembly Democrats are moving forward with legislation to help consumers who are in danger of losing their homes. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report, the Assembly Committee on Banking and Finance has approved legislation from Assemblymembers Ted Lieu, Karen Bass and Alberto Torrico that will require lenders to report how they’re helping consumers who face possible foreclosure, that will keep “foreclosure consultants” from using predatory methods to take advantage of homeowners and that will require lenders to provide more and better notifications to homeowners of expected mortgage payment hikes.