School has started, football season is here and I am lodged in Sacramento for the last few days of the legislative session.  It’s an intense time.  There are lots of last minute changes to important bills, and late night negotiating around some of the state’s biggest issues:  water, health care, term limits and reapportionment. 

Health care reform is one of these issues.  Everywhere I went in the district last month, people talked to me about how important it is for the Legislature to pass a reform bill that broadens and protects health coverage for more children and families.

I strongly support health care reform that would provide universal coverage, for all Californians.  I am a co-author on SB 840, which would create a “single-payer” system to provide this kind of universal coverage.  That bill appears to be unlikely to pass; the governor has said he opposes it, and Legislative leadership is backing AB 8, which would expand coverage but stop short of universal coverage. 

I voted for AB 8 in the Assembly and will continue to support it, because I believe it begins to address the health care crisis that many families are facing.  Whatever happens, I will continue to work to expand health care coverage.

While the resolution of many issues is still uncertain, one thing that is very gratifying for me is the progress I can report on getting state funds for youth violence prevention.

Gang activity is ripping through many of our cities, endangering neighborhoods and tearing families apart.  As chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention, I conducted three hearings in May and June, in Los Angeles, Salinas and Oakland, to hear from community groups about programs and approaches that are working to divert kids from gangs and make our communities safer. 

There are wonderful programs at the local level – but cities need help.  We need to work to prevent gang violence by getting to our kids before they are drawn into gangs.  Gov. Schwarzenegger recognized this last spring, when he proposed an anti-gang program.  I appreciated his initiative, and I’m pleased that the Legislature was able to work with Gov. Schwarzenegger to provide $9.5 million in state funding available to cities, counties and community-based organizations as matching grants to fund violence prevention and intervention strategies.  This approach – consistent with the recommendations arising from the work of my select committee – will bring some much-needed help to cities that are working hard to solve the scourge of gang violence.

This is why I came to the State Capitol – to work on issues that affect my constituents and all Californians.  I will continue to work on youth violence prevention in the months ahead.  I plan to hold several more hearings of my select committee, including one to invite the governor’s newly appointed anti-gang director to help us work to ensure better coordination of state resources to help communities, and increase state funding.