Caucus News

LOS ANGELES – At a press conference Wednesday, Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León and a broad coalition in support of the Dream Act called on Congressional Democrats to withhold their support of a budget deal unless protections for Dreamers are enacted.                         

With a federal budget deadline just a few days away and Republicans needing the support of Democrats to keep the federal government running, Senator de León urged Democrats on Capitol Hill to hold fast.

Sacramento – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) authored a number of bills that will go into effect on January 1, 2018.  The bills protect revenge porn victims, reduce fees on accessory dwelling units, protect free speech rights in homeowner associations, increase transit-oriented development, clarify financial disclosure requirements in family law cases and improve oversight of special districts.  

SANTA MONICA, CA – Remedial education reform can be a critical component to improving four-year college graduation rates, if steps are taken to ensure students get the proper support, according to CSU officials, education experts, faculty and students who testified Monday at a hearing of the Select Committee on Student Success.

The hearing, chaired by Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, was held at Santa Monica Community College. Other members to attend the hearing were Sens. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, and Scott Wilk, R-Lancaster.

WHO:            Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) & Hundreds of Local Volunteers

WHAT:           Isaiah’s Rock Toy Giveaway Preparation Event

WHEN:          Wednesday, December 20 from 6pm – 8pm

WHERE:        Fairplex
                      Expo Hall 9
                      1101 W. McKinley Avenue
                      Pomona, CA  91768

                      Media parking at Gate 1, Administration Lot (news vans can pull through Gate 1 to Expo Hall)

SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) announced Thursday he is taking unprecedented steps to end a culture of pervasive sexual harassment in the Capitol by hiring two law firms with deep experience in investigating work-place misconduct and partnering with a respected non-profit that provides intervention services to abused women.

San Francisco – Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced plans to introduce legislation to establish net neutrality protections in California after the Federal Communications Commission repealed national Net Neutrality regulations.  Senator Wiener will introduce the legislation in January, when the State Legislature returns for session in Sacramento.

Sacramento, CA – Dr. Richard Pan, who broke a long-standing barrier himself when he was elected as the first Asian American State Senator to represent the Sacramento region, made the following statement on the passing of Ed Lee, a pioneer in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community:

SACRAMENTO – The California Public Interest Group, or CALPIRG, a statewide public interest group, today announced it has given Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, a perfect 100-percent score for her votes on a dozen consumer-interest bills.

San Francisco –  Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released the following statement about the death of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee:

“I’m just floored that Mayor Lee is gone. I was sworn in as a member of the Board of Supervisors just days before Ed became Mayor of San Francisco, and I had the honor of working closely with him for the past 7 years. Just yesterday I held a press conference with him about a new recycling program. He was his normal jovial and friendly self.

BERKELEY – The financial future looks brighter for millions of low-to-middle income workers in California in danger of slipping into poverty upon retirement thanks to legislation championed by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), according to research released today by the University of California Berkeley’s Center for Labor Research and Employment.