Patty Berg

As November comes to a close, we are just weeks away from the formation of a new state Legislature, and the beginning of another two-year session. I look forward to this with a renewed determination and optimism.

Hopefully, we will continue with the bipartisan cooperation that marked the last session. Californians are counting on us to make progress, not only on roads and waterways, but on healthcare and education.

I fully expect healthcare will top the list of concerns this year. Making any kind of headway is going to take cooperation and compromise between the two parties and between lawmakers and the governor.

Unfortunately, we once again face a budget deficit. The most recent prediction from the Legislature’s nonpartisan analyst is that we’re going to have a shortfall of about $5 billion. While that’s certainly nowhere near as bad as the $38 billion deficit that awaited us when I first came to Sacramento in 2002, it is a real problem and I’m concerned that it will serve as a stumbling block to the progress we need to make, especially on healthcare.

The governor has made clear that he will not seek new revenue to meet those demands, so we will have to find the middle ground that comes closest to our ideals. In any event, I will, as always, reject any proposal that seeks to balance the budget by neglecting the basic needs of our most vulnerable neighbors.

Respectfully,

Patty Berg
Assemblywoman, 1st District

New Bill Ideas

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send me ideas and suggestions for new bills. My staff has compiled them in a “New Bills Ideas” folder that we will examine as we develop my bill package for the coming year.

Obviously, not every idea will become a bill. And not every bill will become law. But I congratulate all of you on your continued interest in the way your state is run.

In the coming months, I will give you details about the measures that I will introduce.

My new Committees

In addition to my position as Chair of Aging and Long-Term Care, I am honored to be the new Chair of the Women’s Caucus.  The Women’s Caucus actively advocates on behalf of legislation relating to families, children, and women.  I am excited to be leading legislative efforts to meet the needs of California’s working moms and families.

I will also be Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services which works out a spending plan for Medi-Cal, aging, mental health and other state-provided health services.  I believe healthcare is the most important issue facing California and I am very pleased that the Speaker has given me this challenge.

Un-Dam the Klamath

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held a public forum in Eureka on November 16th to hear community concerns regarding the 50-year re-licensing of the Klamath Hydroelectric dams. I strongly urged FERC to include the option of immediate removal of all four lower Klamath Dams in its final environmental impact statement.

It is now abundantly clear that the negative impacts of the dams far outweigh their benefits.  These dams create an ideal habitat for toxic blue-green algae, placing Californians’ health at risk as well as creating water temperatures dangerously high for anadromous fish.  I believe that driving fish around the dams, as proposed by the dam owners PacifiCorp, is simply an inadequate option.

The North Coast’s Tribal, commercial, and sport fishing industry are not only key parts of our local economy, but also a foundation of community identity.  Protecting and restoring native fisheries and enhancing water quality is crucial to the North Coast’s economic future. 

If you would like to add your voice to FERC’s final environmental impact statement, FERC will be receiving comments until December 1, 2006.  Comments should be clearly marked “For Docket No. P-2082-027 (Klamath)” and mailed to: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. NE, Washington DC 20426.  For more information, contact my Eureka District Office or your local environmental center.