February 2007

… to the first issue of my monthly e-mail update to the residents and businesses of the 6th Assembly District. These updates will serve as a window into the events, legislation and actions in both Sacramento and the district. I hope you find them helpful and informative.

I have now reached my two month anniversary as a freshman legislator, and what a two months it has been. I want to thank everyone that was involved with my election and the set-up of my offices in both the District and the Capitol. I could have never done it without you. I want my offices to reflect my district and what it represents, and I feel my new staff will carry out these responsibilities. My offices will always be open to my constituents, and my staff and I will do our best to fight for the priorities and values of the 6th Assembly District.


Jared

State Budget

On January 10, 2007, the Governor released his initial budget proposal for the 2007-08 budget year. In total, his proposed budget includes $104.5 billion in available General Fund revenues (including $3.2 billion carry over from 2006-07), $103.1 billion in expenditures, and a reserve of $590 million. In addition, the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) is proposed to receive about $1 billion on top of the $472 million starting balance. Therefore the proposed final reserve is $2.1 billion.

While an important first step in the legislative budget process, the Governor's proposed budget is only that, a proposed budget. The final budget will be the result of months on legislative hearings, deliberations, updates, and negotiations.

The good news for public education is that the Governor has kept his promise to fully fund Prop 98.

The bad news is that he is seeking to repeal – not just suspend -- the Teacher Tax credit, as well as reducing long-term funding for school transportation and eliminating funds for the Higher Education Outreach program which helps students from California’s diverse communities enroll in our colleges and universities.

The good news in the area of social services is that the Governor learned from the budget battle last year not to deal body blows to the aged, blind, and disabled on public assistance by denying their cost-of-living increase. The bad news is that Governor is proposing major cuts to Calworks which is unacceptable, especially at a time when our state is enjoying unprecedented prosperity.

On transportation, the good news is that there will be lots of new projects under Prop 1B. But, the bad news is that the Governor proposes to rob $1.1 billion from public transit. At a time when gasoline prices are high, our highways are jammed, and we’re trying to reduce global warming and protect the environment, this simply makes no sense.

Speaking of the environment, the good news is that the Governor has prioritized $36 million to implement AB 32, California’s landmark global warming law. But the bad news is that he proposes to strip $80 million in maintenance funding out of our State Parks system.

All things considered, I view the Governor’s proposed budget as a constructive opening move in the budget process, and I thank him for trying to budget fairly in the face of a significant potential deficit. I look forward to working with the Governor and my legislative colleagues towards a fair and on-time budget.

News

Huffman Takes the Oath

Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) was sworn in on December 4, 2006, with a group of newly elected members to the California State Assembly.

“I’m thankful to have such a unique opportunity to serve the people of the district and I’m looking forward to getting started,” said Huffman.

Assemblymember Wastes No Time

Huffman was quick to act on his first day in office by introducing Assembly Bill 28 that would continue the successful California Breast Cancer Research Fund tax check-off program which is set to expire next year (extending the sunset from 2008 to 2013). He also co-authored Assemblymember Mark Leno’s (D-San Francisco) Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Act. This civil rights measure seeks to end discrimination against same-sex couples by the State of California in the issuance of marriage licenses.

Please see article in the Marin Independent Journal (great picture of Jared and his daughter) - Assemblyman Huffman introduces tax bill, will lead environment panel

“There Oughta be a Law… or Not” Contest

Breaking new ground for the 6th Assembly District, in December Assemblymember Huffman launched the first annual “There Oughta Be A Law…Or Not” contest. The contest was offered to everyone in the district and we had an overwhelming response. In under a month’s time, we received over 40 submissions and they keep coming in (the contest ended January 15th). Each submission is currently being reviewed by Assemblymember Huffman and his staff. At least one of the winning proposals will be introduced and assigned a bill number. It will then journey through the Legislature and hopefully be signed into law by the Governor. The winner will be invited up to Sacramento for lunch with Assemblymember Huffman and a tour of the State Capitol. Good luck to all of you who participated. For those who missed out…..please consider participating next year!

Committee Assignments Made

Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) assigned the Assemblymember to four standing committees for the 2007-2008 legislative session. The biggest honor was receiving a Chairmanship for the Assembly’s committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. He will also serve on the powerful Appropriations Committee which must approve all legislation having significant fiscal impacts, as well as the Utilities and Commerce Committee and Water Parks and Wildlife Committee.

“I’m honored and excited to be serving on such substantive and important committees,” said Huffman. “The wide range of topics these committees embody will give me a strong voice in representing the people of the North Bay.”

Legislation Deadline Passed

The last day to submit bill requests to Legislative Counsel passed last Friday. Assemblymember Huffman and his staff have been working intensively on finalizing his bill package for the upcoming year. In the weeks ahead, as bill language is finalized with Legislative Counsel, new bills will start to be introduced. Here are a few examples of bills that Assemblymember Huffman is authoring and has already introduced:

• AB 28 – Extends the sunset date for the successful California Breast Cancer Research Fund tax check-off program which is set to expire next year
• AB 90- Prohibits the use of artificial trans fats in all food made available to pupils in K-12 schools during school hours

Stopping the Smell at Bahia

A constituent recently contacted Assemblymember Huffman regarding a powerful “rotten egg” odor extending for several miles in the area of northeastern Novato and originating from a diked wetland area owned by the California Department of Fish and Game. The Assemblymember met at the Bahia ponds in Novato with the Regional Director of Fish and Game, members of the Bahia Homeowner’s Association, and representatives from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to discuss the odor problems and to push for immediate action to remedy the pungent odor. The Department of Fish and Game followed through on the remedial actions discussed at the meeting, and within a few days treated the area with a microbial agent that helped increase the dissolved oxygen content in the water and eradicated the smell. In addition, Fish and Game plans to take additional measures to hydrologically connect the area to the adjacent waters so that the problem of stagnant water and depleted dissolved oxygen does not reoccur.

Celebrating MLK’s Birthday

Huffman celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with civil rights leaders, educators, and social justice activists in the Marin City community on January 15th at an event sponsored by the Marin Grassroots Leadership Network. The Assemblymember participated in a panel that discussed equality in education and eliminating the roadblocks to educational opportunity facing Marin City’s mostly African-American population.

Meeting with Education Leaders from Sonoma and Marin

The Assemblymember has been busy meeting with education leaders in both counties. He met with Dr. Carl Wong, the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools this month. He also met with the Marin County Joint Legislative Advisory Committee on Education (JLAC), the California Library Association and attended the Sonoma School Superintendents annual dinner. Assemblymember Huffman is committed to personally visiting each school district (and as many as possible within each district) in his first 100 days.

Programs/Projects

California Cultural and Historical Endowment

The California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) funds projects through a competitive grant process to tell the stories of California as a unified society and of the many groups of people that together comprise historic and modern California. CCHE is currently working with a funding source of voter-approved bonds from the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002, more commonly known as Proposition 40. Approximately $43 million will be available to government entities and non-profit organizations through a competitive grant application process.

Local Municipalities and non-profits are encouraged to apply!!! Deadline for grants are March 1, 2007.

For more information:
California State Library: (916) 651-8223
http://www.library.ca.gov/cche/docs/Round3ProjectGrantApp.pdf

Do you have a college-bound child?

Last year California expanded its Cal Grant Financial Aid Program. This program guarantees financial assistance to every qualified student who applies. For high school students with a 3.0 grade point average who demonstrate financial need, the state will pay the cost of fees at a Cal State or University of California school (or an ample share of the tuition at a private school). Students with a 2.0 GPA also qualify for financial assistance. Depending on the type of financial aid for which you qualify, books and room and board may also be subsidized.

To request an informative brochure on how to apply for a Cal Grant, call my District Office at either (415) 479-4920 or (707) 576-2631. Application deadline is March 2.

Capital Fellows Applications Available

The Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) administers the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship, Executive Fellowship, Judicial Administration Fellowship, and California Senate Fellows programs. These programs, known collectively as the Capital Fellows Programs, are nationally recognized. Fellows receive an outstanding opportunity to engage in public service and prepare for future careers, while actively contributing to the development and implementation of public policy in California. The ranks of former fellows include a Justice of the California Supreme Court, members of the United States Congress and the State Legislature, a deputy director of the Peace Corps, corporate executives, and local government and community leaders.

In addition to serving as full-time staff of a legislative, executive, or judicial branch office, Fellows participate in a graduate seminar through the CSUS Government Department. This academic component of the program allows the Fellows to ground their experience in the broader context of California politics, and to earn 12 units of graduate credit in the process. Fellows also receive a monthly stipend of $1972 plus full health, dental and vision benefits.

The application deadline for all fellowship programs is February 28, 2007.

For more information and an application, visit http://www.csus.edu/calst/programs.

How to reach me:

Please feel free to visit my website at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a06.

Assemblymember Huffman’s Committees:

Chair, Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
Member, Assembly Appropriations Committee
Member, Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee
Member, Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee

If you know of anyone who you think would like to receive these newsletters, please e-mail their name, mailing address and e-mail address, and I’ll be happy to add them to my list.

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