August 2007

Senate Minority Causes Budget Boondoggle!
"When I wrote to you last month, the Assembly had just passed a $145 million budget which, though far from perfect, reflected a bipartisan compromise negotiated by leaders from both houses. What I didn't know was this: no sooner had the Assembly passed the compromise measure than 13 Senate Republicans reneged on the deal. For more than a month, they used California's unique 2/3 vote requirement to hold the state hostage, making all sorts of demands that had nothing to do with the budget - including a demand that environmental laws be weakened in order to benefit developers.

During this period schools, social service providers, health clinics, and small businesses suffered greatly, as the state was unable to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in bills. Transportation projects were postponed, causing local construction firms to lose millions of dollars in contracts.

This week, one of the 13 Senate holdouts finally switched his vote, providing the 2/3 necessary to pass the budget and ending the impasse. What did the hardliners achieve for all of this hardship and turmoil? Nothing. The final budget they approved is virtually identical to what was approved by the Assembly more than a month ago, and the so-called CEQA "exemption" they claim to have extracted from Democrats actually strengthens our environmental laws by clarifying that CEQA now requires mitigation for greenhouse gas impacts.

With the Assembly adjourned, I spent much of the past month focusing on pressing district issues. This included responding to reports that the Schwarzenegger administration was negotiating a gaming compact with an Indian tribe that wants to build a controversial mega-casino on Highway 101 in Rohnert Park, and working to address the growing exploitation of the law promoting small, residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities. More and more, profit-minded interests are attempting to "cluster" buildings in residential neighborhoods into large rehab campuses for the rich, like the $42,000-a-month rehab facility recently proposed for the historic Alta Mira hotel in Sausalito.

By technically qualifying under a law intended to support small treatment facilities that blended into residential neighborhoods, these large enterprises are able to skirt local permitting and approval processes. Even if it takes new legislation, I'm determined to end this practice, which hurts communities and erodes the credibility of our drug and alcohol treatment policies.

Although it was a wild month politically, on a personal level I enjoyed some time off with my family and returned to the Capitol last week renewed and recharged.

If you're wondering what happened in last Tuesday's big "Legislative All-Star" softball game at Sacramento's Raley Field, the Democrats lost to the Republicans 8-7 in the final inning. With two outs, Republican George Plecia hit a solo home run. What a game! I played shortstop and was 2 for 3 at the plate. I also managed a couple of long balls in the pre-game "Home Run Derby." Most important, the event raised $37,000 for charity and a good time was had by all.

The next three weeks will be the crescendo of the legislative year - the final push where I attempt to get my bills approved by the full Senate, and where the remaining Senate bills move to the Assembly floor for final votes. I'm looking forward to it."

Jared

Statewide Radio Address

Saving Money and the Environment

Assembly Member Huffman was asked by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez to be a guest speaker and provide the August 4th Democratic Radio Address. He talked about two bills he is authoring that will reduce energy use, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and save consumers and businesses money. Assembly Bill 1109, which will result in much more energy efficient lighting, could save consumers and businesses $3-billion annually. Assembly Bill 1470, which will jump start the solar hot water heating industry, could reduce natural gas demand by 5%. A full transcript of the Democratic weekly radio address follows.

Transcript:

Hello, I'm Assembly Member Jared Huffman. I chair the Assembly's Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials.

You've probably heard in the press that some states and countries have considered bans on incandescent light bulbs.

With climate change and energy crises looming, and with 22% of our electrical use going to lighting, it’s certainly understandable.

The Assembly, however, recently passed legislation that I authored, AB 1109, that I believe reflects a smarter approach - one that will achieve huge energy savings and huge savings for consumers by setting technology-neutral performance standards, and then letting the different lighting technologies battle it out in the market.

AB 1109 calls on the California Energy Commission to set performance standards designed to improve the efficiency of indoor general purpose lighting by 50% over the next 10 years, with significant improvement goals for commercial and outdoor lighting, as well.

This will save consumers and businesses more than $3 billion each year on their electric bills, and it will offset the need for five 1,000 MW power plants.

The Assembly has also passed legislation that addresses a different aspect of our energy and global warming challenge: California's rising demand for natural gas. AB 1470, which I'm proud to have authored, will promote the installation of 200,000 solar hot water heaters over the next decade, displacing the need to burn natural gas to heat water and saving California homes and businesses money. By jump starting a fully developed market for solar water heating systems, we can reduce statewide natural gas demand by about 5%.

Taken together these two bills, AB 1109 and AB 1470, have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12 million metric tons per year. That makes these some of the most potent "early actions" California can take to meet the ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals we set last year when the Legislature and the Governor passed the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32.

In fact, these two bills alone nearly equal the greenhouse gas reduction values of the administration's proposed "early action" items for implementing AB 32. The Assembly believes we can and must do more than what the administration has put on the table to meet our AB 32 targets.

In addition to AB 1109 and AB 1470, the Assembly recently passed other laws to promote the development and deployment of cleaner burning fuels and more renewable energy, and we're working with our Senate colleagues on several other major greenhouse gas reduction bills.

Just as important, we are increasing our focus on overseeing the implementation of AB 32 by the California Air Resources Board to make sure that the goals of this historic legislation are realized and that the scientists and decision makers at CARB are not pressured to water down our global warming protections.
This is Assembly Member Jared Huffman. Thanks for listening.

Here is a link to the audio:

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20070803RadioAddressEnglishEnergyUseHuffman.mp3

More Press

Appeared in the Novato Advance
Published: Aug 15, 2007

Guest Viewpoint: The Good, the Bad and the Bearded

By Jared Huffman

Why is your normally clean-cut state assemblyman sporting a scraggly beard reminiscent of Clint Eastwood in "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?"

Because I'm trying to make a point, in a lighthearted way, about a very serious problem. California's budget impasse - now in its fourth week - is already hurting people in Marin and throughout the state. Critical funds for special education, health-care providers, and social services have been withheld. Small businesses who work with the state have received IOU's instead of payments. As one of many local examples, Marin's largest water consumer, San Quentin prison, is not paying its water bill to Marin Municipal Water District.

See the entire column below:
http://www.novatoadvance.com/articles/2007/08/15/opinion/guest_editorial/news02.txt

Appeared in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Published: Saturday, Aug 25, 2007

Shhhhhhh

Governor won't say if there's a casino in your future

Assemblyman Jared Huffman suspects that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a SonomaCounty Indian tribe are cutting a deal that would lead to a Las Vegas-style casino and resort along the 101 freeway in Rohnert Park.

But not even Huffman, a San Rafael Democrat, knows for sure.

He told Staff Writer Paul Payne that he spent an hour with two of the governor's aides and came away without getting an answer. But "My gut tells me they have been in discussions."

"It was a little bit of speaking in code," he added.

See the entire column below:
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070825/NEWS/708250308

News

Huffman Calls for Legislative Change
Assembly Member Huffman will be seeking legislative solutions to the rehabilitation facility licensing issues that have affected a number of communities within his district. As it stands now, two separate drug and alcohol recovery facilities have been, or will be, opened in residential communities. One facility is currently operating in San Rafael and the other is planning on opening in Sausalito. Complaints have been streaming in from residents, as well as local officials because of a lack of notification during the licensing process, and "clustering" or operating multiple facilities on residential properties that are in close proximity under common management and ownership. Huffman will look to implement some reforms in this area, including the following during next year's legislative session:

• Requiring the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs to adequately notify and seek input from local governments and residents when they are considering a drug rehabilitation facility application; and
• Alternatives to "clustering" drug rehabilitation facilities in residential communities while maintaining the original intent of the Health and Safety Code that requires local governments to treat rehab-facilities as single-family residences as long as they serve six or fewer people. (Some of these facilities service up to 48 patients and require large staffs yet they are situated in residential areas.)

Right to Vote: Civic Participation
This month, we celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. It played a leading role in curtailing the discriminatory practices that for years prevented millions and millions of Americans from exercising their right to vote solely because of their ethnicity, the color of their skin, their income or their beliefs. It is important to remember how many have fought and died for a right that many take for granted today. Our country is a reflection of the participation of our citizens.

America Goes Back School - National Back to School Month
Students are getting ready to head back to school and during this time we all need to think about what we can do to help them obtain the best education possible. The students of today will soon be working in our community and helping to lead our country into the future. We all have an interest in making sure they are as well-educated and well-prepared as possible. The back-to-school period, starting with The National Back to School Month of August, is an excellent time for people to get involved in education. Everyone -- parents, families, grandparents and other older Californians, members of the community, cultural organizations, employers and employees - has something he or she can contribute. I encourage everyone with a sincere interest in making the future better in California to contact a local school administrator and ask what you can do to help. Find an organization or a project that is working with students and get involved. Do something now, because better education is everybody's business.

Around the District

Global Warming Forum - Assembly Member Jared Huffman participated in a roundtable discussion on "Global Warming: What Should Government be Doing?" with Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Marin Supervisor Charles McGlashan this month. The event took place at the Marin Board of Supervisors chambers in the Marin Civic Center. The discussion included what effects global warming is having on the state of California; how the state contributes to global warming; and what steps are being taken at each level of government to combat it. Approximately 100 people attended this informative event.

Sonoma Valley Hospital/Sonoma Valley Health Care District - Tour/Meeting - Assembly Member Huffman met with CEO Carl Gerlach, Hospital Board President Dick Kirk, Trustee Mike Smith, and numerous other hospital staff members and managers in order to gain a clear and in-depth understanding of Sonoma Valley Hospital and its recent struggles with seismic retrofit mandates and other state policy matters. Huffman hopes to help the community hospital and be of service to the entire Sonoma Valley by maintaining an awareness and relationship with SVH.

National Night Out - On August 7th, Assembly Member Huffman joined Rohnert Park in its 24th Annual "National Night Out." "National Night Out" is a joint community/police program that provides information, educational materials and technical assistance to community groups to help develop an effective year-long partnership between the community and local law enforcement. The goal is to reduce crime, violence and substance abuse at the community level.

League of CA Cities - Mayors & Councilmembers' Legislative Meeting - Assembly Member Huffman visited with several Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers at their regular legislative committee meeting earlier this month. He briefly reviewed some of his legislative bill package and talked extensively about the difficulties of the current state budget process.

Campaign for College Opportunity - Assembly Member Huffman met with the Campaign for College Opportunity staff, County Superintendent Dr. Carl Wong, and staff from Santa Rosa Junior College to discuss SB 890 (Scott, D-Pasadena): The Early Commitment to College Program. Huffman shared his support for Senator Scott's proposed legislation, and offered to sign on as a co-author.

Use the District Office as Your Resource

Remember if you are having any state issues that we can be helpful with please contact our office. The District Office is here for you and wants to be used as a resource. Please call the District Office numbers below to request assistance.

How to reach me:

Please feel free to visit my website at www.assembly.ca.gov/Huffman.

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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