April 2008

Budget politics continue to be vexing...

My introductory message for this newsletter is longer than usual because I need to devote some extra space to the state's severe budget crisis which, unless we find solutions very soon in Sacramento, could negatively impact all of our lives.

Despite $7.5 billion in emergency mid-year cuts and other budget-balancing solutions enacted in February, the projected deficit for the 2008-09 fiscal year has grown once again. Why does the hole keep getting deeper? Because tax revenues continue to decline, mainly due to the various effects of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. No one knows how low the economy will sink, but we do know it is hitting state revenues hard and as much as $11-14 billion in budget "solutions" - i.e., revenues, cuts, or a combination of both - will be needed to meet our constitutional mandate of a balanced budget this summer.

We will soon receive the Governor's "May revise" proposal for next year's budget. If the Governor continues to insist on a "cuts only" approach to the problem, we can expect more of the draconian proposals he made in January: deep cuts to K-12 and higher education; slashing funds for MediCal, Cal Works, and other essential social services; closures of state parks and beaches; and early release of prisoners.

The threat of these budget cuts is already taking its toll on our public schools. Last month, in anticipation of budget cuts and to comply with the state education code, school districts throughout Marin and Sonoma issued preliminary layoff notices (pink slips) to hundreds of teachers, and in the coming months, similar notices will be issued to classified staff - our school secretaries, custodians, and instructional assistants.

The fear, anxiety, and turmoil this is causing in our schools is very real to me, because in addition to being your Assemblymember, I the parent of two young children in schools that are being affected by the budget crisis. I've seen what this is already doing to teachers, administrators, and parents, and I know what it will mean for our kids if we can't find a better way to balance the budget.

The situation is equally dire for our public health clinics, early childhood educators, developmental services providers, in-home support service providers, and for our precious state parks and beaches.

If you are among the more than 1,000 people who have written to my office to protest the Governor's proposed cuts, or one of the dozens of service providers or recipients I've met with, thank you for speaking out! I'll carry your voices with me as the legislature works to negotiate an acceptable budget compromise in the weeks ahead.

There is cause for alarm. But I am hopeful that by speaking out together and urging an honest discussion about what we expect of our government and how we're going to pay for it, we can persuade the Governor and Republican legislators that a "cuts only" approach to this crisis simply won't work, and that the solution must include new revenues to support essential state services. Toward this end, I welcome your help. For information on what you can do to help send the message that "cuts only" doesn't work, please visit http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/issues/budget/.

While the budget crisis is the most consuming issue for me right now, I'm also very busy advancing many important bills, most of which have now passed out of policy committees and are awaiting votes in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. You'll agree that my 2008 legislative package is broad, substantive, and ambitious. It includes, among other things, major new incentives for renewable energy, improved oil spill response capabilities, strong new consumer protections and consumer privacy measures, improved academic performance measures for our schools, more accountability for HMOs, and important new public health and environmental safeguards regarding the state's proposed eradication program for the Light Brown Apple Moth.

- Jared

Status Report on Huffman Legislation:

Below is an update on Assemblymember Huffman's legislation package for 2008 organized by issue area.

Protecting Public Health & the Environment:

AB 2765 (Huffman): Public Process And Disclosure Requirements For Pest Eradication Procedures, Including For The Light Brown Apple Moth
Sets new limits on the California Department of Food and Agriculture's emergency powers. Requires a public hearing to receive testimony and examine alternatives to aerial spraying prior to any decision to spray. Bars emergency spraying in an urban area unless there is disclosure of all elements in any pesticide product, and an assessment of human and environmental health risks by state health officials.
Status: Passed the Assembly Agriculture Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 1860 (Huffman): Recalled Products
Addresses gaps in current voluntary recall system by requiring immediate removal of recalled toys and other products from the market; prohibits the sale of recalled toys and other recalled consumer products, and imposes stiff fines against those who sell recalled products to prevent the items from surfacing on the Internet or at second-hand stores; requires recalled products to be properly disposed of and for manufacturers to certify their disposal; requires manufacturers to establish a notification system when recalling products; mandates that retailers post recall notices in a conspicuous fashion.
Status: Passed the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. Will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 1879 (Feuer/Huffman): Consumer Safety Of Hazardous Products
Grants broader authority to the Department of Toxic Substances Control to regulate the list of chemicals in consumer products that are already recognized by the Legislature as hazardous, and provides enforcement tools to the Department for regulating contaminated consumer products.
Status: Passed the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee and the Assembly Health Committee. Will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 2935 (Huffman): Environmental and Public Health Protection from Oil Spills
AB 2935 will ensure that California's ecologically sensitive coastal areas are protected from oil spills in the ocean. The bill also protects public health after an oil spill by closing fisheries until potentially affected fish are tested and determined safe to eat and by alerting the public to potential risks of eating contaminated fish. Finally, AB 2935 enhances clean-up and protection efforts after a spill by including private watercraft and mariners, including fishermen, in clean-up strategies.
Status: Passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. Will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 2999 (Huffman): Caltrans - Animal Carcasses: Removal from Highways
Requires Caltrans to develop procedures for the removal & disposal of animal carcasses, notify owners of domestic animals when appropriate, maintain a record of animal carcass disposal sites, and prohibits Caltrans from disposing of animal carcasses within 150 feet of waterways or drainage ways;.
Status: Passed the Assembly Transportation Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in April.

AB 541 (Huffman): Protection for Farmers against Cross-Contamination from Genetically Engineered Material
Enacts safeguards against the risk of cross-contamination from genetically engineered materials in agriculture. Specifically, protects farmers whose crops are contaminated by the drift of genetically engineered material against litigation by a party holding a patent on the genetically engineered material; establishes sampling, analysis, and notification protocols.
Status: Will be heard by the Senate Agriculture Committee in June.

AB 1338 (Huffman): Pollution Prevention
Requires that all new and updated local coastal programs include a non-point source (NPS) pollution prevention element. Specifically, this bill would require any local government, when preparing a local coastal plan for certification, to develop a NPS pollution prevention element in the plan that is consistent with the "Plan for California's Non-point Source Pollution Control Program."
Status: Will be heard by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee in June.

AB 1654 (Huffman): Resource Bond Funds: Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act
Updates the existing Integrated Regional Water Management statutes, provides implementation framework for more than $1 billion in Prop. 84 water bond funding, and includes important environmental justice and disadvantaged community participation provisions absent from current bond funding guidelines.
Status: Will be heard by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee in June.

Promoting Green Power:
AB 1920 (Huffman): Renewable Energy Incentives - Net Metering
Enables residents who produce renewable energy for their homes, small businesses or farms to get paid a fair wholesale price by their utility company for any excess electricity they produce that goes back on the grid. Provides utilities with Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) credits for purchasing the surplus power from their customers. Removes the "size to load" restriction in state law that limits energy customers' ability to "supersize" their solar electricity systems.
Status: Passed the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee and the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. Will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 2744 (Huffman): Bay Area Transportation Fund For Climate Protection
Revises the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's (MTC) existing authorization for a Bay Area regional gas tax and authorizes MTC to create a Transportation Fund for Climate Protection. With that fund, MTC will be authorized to develop and present to Bay Area voters a proposal, and with majority support, start funding transportation projects to address climate change and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Status: Held for reconsideration in Assembly Transportation Committee.

AB 2800 (Huffman): Voluntary Mileage-Based Auto Insurance Discount For Reduction In Mileage
Allows insurance providers to offer voluntary mileage-based insurance to drivers in California, and provides these insurance providers with the authority to offer discounts based on the reporting of miles traveled, and the reduction of vehicle miles traveled. This will provide an additional incentive for people to drive less, which will reduce GHG emissions.
Status: Will be heard in the Assembly Insurance Committee on April 30th.

AB 2820 (Huffman): Renewable Energy Distribution
Allows local public agencies that generate renewable energy to transfer and distribute the energy to any of their facilities to offset the agency's total energy needs. Currently, local agencies that produce renewable energy can power the on-site facility, but the 'leftover' energy cannot be used to power buildings in other geographic locations. Agencies that wish to transfer the renewable energy will be required to pay specified charges, determined by the Public Utilities Commission, for use of utility infrastructure.
Status: Language was merged into AB 2466 (Laird/Huffman), which will be heard in Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

Making a Difference in Healthcare:

AB 371 (Huffman): Workplace Injury Prevention For Nurses
Requires hospitals that apply for bond financing from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority to provide a copy of the hospital's injury and prevention program which must include a plan for utilizing equipment and lift teams to reduce lift-related injuries by nurses.
Status: Passed Assembly and Senate in 2007, awaiting final concurrence vote in Assembly in the coming months.

AB 1155 (Huffman): Increased Penalties For HMO's Unlawful Nonpayment Or Underpayment Of Doctors' Bills
Ensures that when an HMO is found to have engaged in a pattern and practice of unlawful nonpayment or underpayment of physicians' bills, the Department of Managed Health Care will assess penalties sufficient to make physicians whole and to deter the HMO from further violations of the law.
Status: Passed Assembly and Senate in 2007, awaiting final concurrence vote in Assembly in the coming months.

AB 1390 (Huffman): Internet Postings of Complaints Against Health Plans
Requires the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) that licenses and regulates health care service plans, to provide on the DMHC website, and update quarterly, the number and disposition of complaints received through the online provider complaint system.
Status: Will be heard by the Senate Health Committee in June.

AB 2229 (Huffman): Dental Screenings For Residents Of Long-Term Care
Reinstates an annual dental exam as a benefit in the Denti-Cal program for residents of long-term care facilities.
Status: Passed the Assembly Health Committee. Heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and placed on the Suspense File, which will be brought up in May.

AB 2697 (Huffman): Boutique Hospitals
Requires "boutique hospitals" to contract with an independent consultant to study the economic impact they have on other hospitals in their service area.
Status: Passed the Assembly Health Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 2839 (Huffman): Ban on HMO Confidentiality Agreements
Prohibits health insurers and HMOs from using confidentiality agreements to coerce providers into unfair contracts and limit access to medical care.
Status: Passed the Assembly Health Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in April.

AB 2903 (Huffman): Drug Rehab Facility "Clustering" Reform
Distinguishes "integrated facilities" - i.e., large treatment facilities comprised by clustering together multiple individual treatment permits, with integrated operations and common ownership -- from bona fide 6-person or fewer residential treatment facilities. Allows local governments to become more involved at the front end for "integrated facilities," without altering state preemption of local authority or otherwise changing the law with respect to 6-person or fewer residential treatment facilities.
Status: Passed the Assembly Health Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 2910 (Huffman): Increased Public Scrutiny when exemptions are given to HMO's
Requires the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) to establish a more open and public process when the DMHC issues orders exempting health plans from specific provisions of the Knox-Keene Act which regulates HMOs in California.

Status: Passed the Assembly Health Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in April.

Better Services for Youth:
AB 2322 (Portantino/Huffman): Family Based Homes For Foster Youth
Allows cities to participate in placing foster youth in family-based households.
Status: Passed the Assembly Local Government Committee and the Assembly Housing Committee. Will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

Improving Education:
AB 2478 (Huffman): Public School Accountability
Revises the Academic Performance Index (API) to measure progress in schools based on student-level longitudinal data so the state can assess, with better detail and clarity, individual student and school growth over time.
Status: Passed the Assembly Education Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 2496 (Huffman): College Tuition Exemption For Survivors Of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers And Firefighters
Extends the exemption from the payment of higher education tuition and fees to the surviving spouse or child of a deceased law enforcement officer or firefighter whose death was the result of an injury or disease sustained in the line of duty. The bill would also apply to the surviving spouse or child of a fallen firefighter who was employed by the federal government who was a resident of this state and whose regular duty assignment was to perform firefighting services in California.
Status: Passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee and Assembly Appropriations Committee. Will be heard by the full Assembly in April.


Protecting Consumers and Privacy:

AB 2950 (Huffman): False and Deceptive E-Mail Spam Prohibition
This bill would expand consumer protections and remedies against false and deceptive e-mail spam.
Status: Passed the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.

AB 3011 (Huffman): Cell Phone Records Protection
Requires telephone corporations to obtain a cell-phone subscriber's consent before releasing their information (calling patterns, telephone numbers, financial info, etc), consistent with the customer consent requirement currently applicable to non-cellular phone customers.
Status: Will be heard in the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee on April 28th.

Cutting Red Tape for Taxpayers' Charitable Deductions:

AB 3035 (Huffman): Non-Profit Property Tax Extension
Extends the period of time for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits to qualify for a property tax exemption from 90 to 180 days to give the state adequate time to turnaround exemption applications.
Status: Will be heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee on April 28th.

Resolutions:

ACR 111 (Huffman): Senior Volunteer Month
Commemorates May 2008 as Senior Volunteer Month to honor the contributions of California's senior volunteers.
Status: Will be heard by the full Assembly in May.

AJR 39 (Huffman): Winnemem Wintu Resolution
Memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States, and the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior to reaffirm that the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, which the federal government inexplicably and unjustly stopped acknowledging in the 1980's, possesses federal recognition such that tribe members may resume receiving federal benefits to which they are entitled.
Status: Passed the full Assembly; will be heard in the Senate in June.

AJR 53 (Huffman):
Encourages the US Congress and the President to support the Reducing Global Warming Pollution from Vehicles Act of 2008 in the 110th Congress, which would permit California and other states to implement their standards to reduce greenhouse has emissions from motor vehicles.
Status: Will be heard by the Assembly Transportation Committee in May

Governor Bows to Pressure, Postpones Aerial Spraying;
Huffman's Light Brown Apple Moth bill passes first committee

After more than two months of intense pressure from concerned residents, advocacy groups, the media, and Bay Area legislators (including Assemblymember Huffman), Governor Schwarzenegger seems to finally be getting the message. After meeting with a delegation of local officials from Marin County this week, he ordered a postponement of aerial spraying intended to eradicate the light brown apple moth (LBAM) in 12 California counties. The spraying will not go forward until acute testing of eye, inhalation, respiratory and other potential irritants, known as the "six-pack" toxicology test, is completed.

Assemblyman Huffman, who held multiple meetings, wrote letters, convened a legislative oversight hearing, authored a bill and co-authored several other bills and resolutions, was "very pleased" with the Governor's action, in part because it gives the legislature time to weigh-in on the subject. Huffman has authored AB 2765, which limits the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)'s emergency powers for pest eradication procedures. AB 2765 was heard in the Assembly Agriculture Committee where hundreds of concerned citizens voiced their opposition to aerial spraying and their support for the bill. Of the seven bills and resolutions relating to the LBAM introduced in February, Huffman's is one of only three that survived the Assembly Agriculture Committee. AB 2765 is now making its way through the Appropriations Committee and should reach the full Assembly for a vote in late May. It then must follow a similar course through the Senate and gain the Governor's signature.

The LBAM is an invasive pest that feeds on more than 2,000 plant species, including ornamental plants, food crops and California native plants. The LBAM, which is originally from Australia and New Zealand, was detected in the Bay Area last year prompting the United States Department of Food and Agriculture (USDA) and CDFA to declare that emergency actions are needed to stop its spread.

When CDFA announced that its eradication program for the LBAM includes immediate action in Marin and other Bay Area counties with a pheromone twist tie program designed to interfere with the LBAM mating, and plans for aerial spraying over Tiburon and Belvedere for early summer, Assemblyman Huffman immediately requested the program be postponed and convened an informational hearing of the Assembly Environmental, Safety and Toxic Materials Committee on February 14, 2008.

On March 13, Assemblymember Huffman again asked CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura-in person and in a letter-to cease summer plans for aerial spraying in Marin.

To find out more about the LBAM eradication program, or to view Huffman's letters and legislation regarding LBAM, go to the home webpage and click on the picture of the moth.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues orders on Marin County sewage collection systems

In response to chronic sewage spills in our Bay, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued enforcement actions on nine sewage collection systems in the Sausalito and Mill Valley areas of Southern Marin. The orders, issued to the Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin (SASM), Almonte Sanitary District, Alto Sanitary District, City of Mill Valley, Homestead Valley Sanitary District, Richardson Bay Sanitary District, Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District, the City of Sausalito, and Tamalpais Community Services District, require short-term and long-term actions to address reduce sewer spills which came to the public's attention when heavy rains overwhelmed the systems causing over five million gallons of sewage to flow into Richardson Bay and San Francisco Bay earlier this year.

Huffman is on record with his concerns about the patchwork system of tiny, autonomous sewer districts that collect and treatwastewater in parts of Marin. To address this issue, he is convening a series of meetings to highlight the need for greater accountability and collaboration among wastewater agencies, including agency consolidation and long-overdue investments in the repair and replacement of wastewater collection infrastructure so that future spills can be prevented.

The EPA orders require the sewer systems to employ a number of strategies to reduce sewage spills. In the short-term, the systems are required to implement aggressive sewer cleaning programs aimed at the most problematic pipes. The systems are also required to inspect their sewer pipes and measure wet weather flows that are passed on to the sewage treatment plants. Finally, the systems must develop plans to manage excess flows and implement long-term programs to repair and replace deteriorated sewer pipes.

Deteriorating pipes, combined with extreme peak flows from rain, overwhelmed the SASM wastewater treatment plant causing January 25 flows to exceed capacity at the emergency holding basins at the plant, where 2.45 million gallons overflowed to Richardson Bay. Another spill occurred on January 31 when operators at the SASM treatment plant failed to operate all of its discharge pumps leading to a 2.7 million gallon spill to Richardson Bay. In Sausalito, the January 25 storm led to a 63,000 gallon spill from a sewer manhole.

Huffman hosts First North Bay Environmental Breakfast with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company

On April 18, 2008, Assemblymember Huffman hosted the first of what is expected to be an annual North Bay Environmental Breakfast to help kick off Earth Day 2008 and to celebrate the strong, vibrant environmental communities in Marin and Sonoma counties.

Bringing together over 70 environmental leaders from throughout Marin and Sonoma, the event recognized the many accomplishments of North Bay environmentalists, and included an update from Huffman on his environmental priorities in the legislature. Co-host and recently certified "green business" Fireman's Fund Insurance Company also gave a presentation on its green initiatives that have significantly reduced the company's energy and water use, and which are expected to substantially reduce its greenhouse gas emissions nationwide in the years ahead.

Based on the success of this first gathering, Assemblymember Huffman plans to make the North Bay Environmental Breakfast an annual event.

Huffman's Persistence Helps Save Salmon Smolts

In a year when California's salmon fishery was completely closed for the first time in history due to alarmingly low numbers of fish, anglers will take any good news they can get. Last summer, instead of carefully releasing thousands of hatchery raised salmon smolts into the Bay to help bolster our state's declining salmon population, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) botched the release, resulting in the death of most of the smolts as they were released directly into a frenzy of voracious striped bass.

After reading an article by Nels Johnson in the Marin Independent Journal that highlighted the problem, Assemblymember Huffman got engaged and started calling DFG officials to demand changes in the smolt release program. For several months, he worked with DFG officials on reforms that would improve salmon smolt survival rates including towing salmon smolts into deeper water using pens when releasing them into the bay and releasing them at a variety of sites on a rotating basis. DFG made the changes and this year, the smolt release program is going smoothly, which hopefully will mean more salmon for the environment and for anglers in the years ahead. Assemblymember Huffman is extremely pleased with DFG's actions and applauds them for doing the right thing.

Huffman Honors Save-the-Redwoods League with resolution on State Assembly Floor

On April 7, Assemblymember Huffman honored Save-the Redwoods League for 90 years of service to California presenting them with a resolution on the state assembly floor. Since 1918, Save-the-Redwoods Leagues has been dedicated to establishing and protecting state parks to preserve ancient redwoods forests for the enjoyment of future generations. Vice President of the Board of Directors Peter Dangermond accepted the resolution on behalf of the organization.

Since its founding in 1918, the League has protected over 175,000 acres of forestland in 57 parks and reserves and six of ten acres of redwoods in California state parks. The League also grants money to enable schools, interpretive associations, and non-profit organizations to provide high-quality redwood experiences and foster a stewardship effort.

2-1-1, the new toll-free phone number for community services and resources, comes to Marin and Bay Area

2-1-1 is a 24-hour toll-free phone number that connects Bay Area residents with community services including shelter services, childcare, employment assistance, and disaster preparedness by offering assistance in more than 150 languages. The non-emergency number will lessen calls to 9-1-1, allowing better emergency assistance to those in need.

The service will be an important part of the Bay Area disaster response infrastructure providing a database of 34,967 health and human services. 2-1-1 saves on higher cost 9-1-1 calls and reduces the costs of creating and maintaining new statewide 800 numbers to promote services, and connects existing local services more efficiently. For more information, visit www.211BayArea.org.

Plans are in place to bring the service to Sonoma soon.

Huffman names Gayle Wish 2008 Woman of the Year for 6th Assembly District

On Monday, March 10, Assemblymember Huffman honored Special Education Teacher Gayle Wish for 39 years of service and presented her with a framed certificate on the Assembly floor.

Wish served her teaching tenure at the Marin County Office of Education and is credited with making vital improvement to services for children with special needs. She and her husband reside in Petaluma where they raised their two sons.

Huffman praised Gayle for her dedication, passion and selflessness, and called her an inspiration. Wish began the day at a breakfast reception hosted by the Lieutenant Governor, and then went to the Assembly floor to receive recognition of her outstanding work. She and her family then went to lunch with Assemblymember Huffman. The day closed at the "Woman of the Year" reception in the Eureka Room in the State Capitol.

Marin County Superintendent Mary Jane Burke was pleased to attend the award presentation. "Gayle is loved and respected by students, parents and staff-the consummate professional," reported Burke.

Every year, the California Legislative Women's Caucus sponsors its Woman of the Year celebration. Each Assemblymember selects a woman from his or her district who has contributed significantly to her community.

Sinaloa 8th Grade Videoconference with Assemblymember Huffman - On April 2 students from Novato Unified School District took a virtual field trip to the State Capitol without leaving their classroom. Using a program administered by California State Parks and California's K-12 high-speed network, students in Mr. Matern's 8th Grade Sinaloa Middle School class interviewed Assemblymember Huffman and presented him with their "Oughta to be a Law" submissions.

Free Mortgage Crisis Workshop - Assemblymember Huffman provided a free workshop for those needing mortgage assistance or credit counseling related to foreclosures or mortgage difficulties on April 12 at Cotate Rohnert Park High School. For information on the workshop, visit Huffman's webpage and click on the mortgage assistance button or contact district staff at 415-479-4920 or 707-773-0606.

Huffman gives keynote speeches - During March and April, Huffman's speaking engagements on environmental and energy challenges included presentations to North Bay Leadership Breakfast, and University of Berkeley Law School. He also shared his extensive knowledge on water resources as guest speaker for North Bay Watershed Association. Additionally, Huffman spoke to the Bay Area Jewish Family and Children Services about community and public issues.

Huffman meets with North Bay Labor Council - On April 11, Assemblymember Huffman enjoyed a brunch meeting with 15 local labor leaders from North Bay Labor Council and listened to their issues and concerns. Huffman shared news on the state budget and described his legislative work on labor issues.

Sonoma County Service Providers Group - On April 4, Huffman met with 30 Developmental Service Providers in Santa Rosa to listen to the group's legislative and budget concerns.

Legislative Committee of Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers - On April 4, Assemblymember Huffman presented his bill package to representatives from the nine Sonoma County cities and the League of California Cities and provided them with a budget update.

Marin Medical Society Recognition for Huffman - On March 6, the Marin Medical Society honored Assemblyman Huffman for his extensive work on healthcare issues at Hilltop Café in Novato.

Larkspur Celebrates its Centennial Birthday - On March 1, Assemblymember Huffman enjoyed the festivities honoring Larkspur's first 100 years and presented Mayor Hatztell with a resolution for the City to commemorate the momentous occasion.

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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