May Revise Budget Hurts Californians

(Sacramento) – Following this week's release of the Governor's revised budget proposal for 2008-09, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) called for a more balanced, thoughtful approach to balancing the state's books. Speaker Bass, who was sworn in as the 67th Assembly Speaker the day before the Governor released his revised budget, went on to say the Governor's spending plan includes cuts that unfairly hurt struggling California families and solutions that may be no more than risky schemes. However, Speaker Bass added she does applaud the Governor for embracing her proposal for a budget commission that will study ways to bring the state's revenue collection into the 21st century. Assembly Budget Committee Chair John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) also criticized the governor's May Revise proposal, saying it's bad for our economy, lays off teachers and is based on risky assumptions. Here's more in this Assembly Web Report.

Assembly Democrats Focus on State Budget During Policy Summit

(Sacramento) – Schools will suffer. Programs for the poor and the elderly will be reduced or eliminated. Parks and beaches will be closed. Those are just a few of the results from Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed across the board 10-percent budget cuts. But, as we learn in this Assembly Web Report, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), Speaker-elect Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), Democratic Caucus Chair Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), and Budget Committee Chair John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) are leading the charge by Assembly Democrats to find a more balanced approach to solving California’s financial crisis.

The California Assembly elected Los Angeles Democrat Karen Bass its 67th Speaker

Assembly Democrats Vote for Schools, Republicans Vote for Big Oil

(Sacramento) – The same week thousands of layoff notices were delivered to teachers and school staffs throughout California Assembly Democrats voted for new legislation that would have reduced the number of layoffs by closing the “gusher giveaway” tax break for oil companies. But Assembly Bill 3x 9 failed to get the two-thirds vote needed for passage because Assembly Republicans voted against education and for Big Oil. Just last month the Assembly Republicans also killed an effort to close a tax loophole for wealthy yacht owners. Democrats insist the state’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit be eliminated with a mix of cuts and new revenues, not through the “across the board, spending cuts only” approach proposed by the Governor.

Speaker Elect Karen Bass Talks to the Press

Seniors Facing Rising Rates, Poor Services in Some Assisted Living Facilities

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Democrats, led by Speaker-elect Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), want to see some changes in the way assisted living facilities in California are operated. Current Majority Leader Bass has introduced legislation that will give residents of assisted living facilities more information about how fast rates have been rising in their facilities. And, Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis) has legislation pending that will require assisted living facilities to be better prepared for emergencies, such as power outages, as well as require the facilities to give residents 60 days notice before raising their rates. We have more on Assembly Bills 2370 and 2101 in this Assembly Web Report.

Assembly Democrats Take Action to Relieve Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis

(Sacramento) - As the sub-prime mortgage crisis continues to ravage families throughout the state and the nation Assembly Democrats are moving forward with legislation to help consumers who are in danger of losing their homes. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report, the Assembly Committee on Banking and Finance has approved legislation from Assemblymembers Ted Lieu, Karen Bass and Alberto Torrico that will require lenders to report how they’re helping consumers who face possible foreclosure, that will keep “foreclosure consultants” from using predatory methods to take advantage of homeowners and that will require lenders to provide more and better notifications to homeowners of expected mortgage payment hikes.