SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Nicole M. Parra (D-Hanford) issued the following statement regarding allegations in Vic Pollard’s article, “Governor reaches a bit too far across the aisle (7/6/06),” in today’s edition of the Bakersfield Californian:

“I was honored to have been invited by Governor Schwarzenegger to attend last week’s event, where he endorsed my “Victims’ Bill of Rights;” however, my committee obligations kept me from doing so. As a member of the Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee, I needed to be in attendance to voice my support for Senator Jeff Denham’s SB 902, a bill that calls for the issuance of a $1,225,000,000 bond for water storage projects in the San Joaquin Valley. It is unfortunate, though, that the Bakersfield Californian has simply thrown all caution to the wind, deciding to take the word of any number of people at face value, without any background or fact-checking work.”

“The undertone of the article, “Governor reaches a bit too far across the aisle,” is that I was uninvited to last week’s press conference for political reasons, when, in fact, the Governor’s Office has vehemently denied this claim, but the Californian continues with its fishing expedition. Richard Costigan, the Governor’s Legislative Secretary, called me himself last week and affirmed I had not been uninvited, yet the Californian still feels the need to create a story when there is no story.”

“Furthermore, Vic Pollard goes on to write, ‘After the Oakland event was over, it appeared all sides tried to downplay the political implications. The press release put out by the governor’s office did not mention the name of the author carrying the legislation.’ Fact: the attached press release, sent out by the Governor’s Office, clearly displays my name and refers to me as the author of the ‘Victims’ Bill of Rights.’ Mr. Pollard explained to me that he was in a hurry and did not realize his oversight, but is that a justifiable excuse for such shoddy and unprofessional reporting techniques? Absolutely not.”

**Attachments to this press release include the Governor’s press release regarding the “Victims’ Bill of Rights” and Vic Pollard’s article in today’s Californian.