Caucus News

Sacramento, CA – At the request of State Senator Anthony J. Portantino, the California State Senate Rules Committee approved a historic Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange. The aim of the Committee is to expand business opportunities through trade, economic development, cultural awareness and education between California, Armenia and Artsakh.  Portantino will Chair the committee.

San Diego, CA… Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) will be honoring outstanding women in celebration of the 2017 Women of the Year Awards, an annual tribute to exceptional women from his district, on Friday, March 3, 2017.    

The honorees are as follows: (1) Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy; (2) Kathleen Harmon, Community Organizer, Southeast San Diego; (3) Louise Torio, Historical Preservationist for the Villa Montezuma; and (4) Yulil Alonso-Garza, founder of Mothers and Men Against Gangs Coalition in Imperial County.

SACRAMENTO- California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D- Los Angeles), Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, has announced the following Rules Committee Appointment:

SACRAMENTO - State Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) announced he and Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) jointly introduced Senate Bill 807, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act of 2017, which helps new teachers afford required training and exempts teaching income from California income tax for those who teach in public school classrooms beyond five years.  California would become the first state in the nation that excludes teaching income from state income taxes.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) and Secretary of State Alex Padilla today announced the introduction of Senate Bill 597, which would make victims of human trafficking eligible for the state’s Safe at Home confidential address program. Safe at Home services are currently offered to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) released the following statement in response to 31 bomb threats received by Jewish community centers (JCC) and schools on Monday, including at the Westside JCC in his district:

State Senator Jerry Hill is calling on the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and the California Public Utilities Commission to fix the utility company’s rate structure, which heightens the increase that many customers see in their bills during the coldest winter months. Hill also is recommending that PG&E and the CPUC review the effectiveness of efforts to help customers understand when their usage climbs, so they can adapt before their billing cycle ends.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                            

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Contact:
Ray Sotero at 916 651-4030 office;
(916) 717-0513 cell; or Ray.sotero@sen.ca.gov

Reaction follows POTUS speech to Congress

SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) has been appointed by the Senate Rules Committee to the Governing Board of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.  Senator Allen will be assuming the seat previously held by former State Senator Fran Pavley.

SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) issued the following statement in reaction to today’s quarterly cap and trade auction results:

“Today’s anemic auction results demonstrate that the state’s landmark cap and trade program is in need of reform and the kind of market certainty that only the Legislature and Governor can provide via statute. We need a program that both reduces pollution and provides stable funding to clean up climate emissions.