Caucus News

Since my appointment as chair of the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments in January, I have been exploring legislative solutions to California’s unacceptably low rate of voter participation. 

Toward that end my committee has held three lengthy oversight hearings where we heard from voting rights advocates, voter outreach groups, state and local elections officials, academia, political researchers, and political reformers. 

Since my appointment as chair of the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments in January, I have been exploring legislative solutions to California’s unacceptably low rate of voter participation. 

Toward that end my committee has held three lengthy oversight hearings where we heard from voting rights advocates, voter outreach groups, state and local elections officials, academia, political researchers, and political reformers. 

Sacramento - With the impact of California’s historic drought reaching record proportions, Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) has introduced a bill to allow local water authorities to levy an excise tax on excessive water users to fund critical water conservation measures. The bill, SB 789, would allow local water agencies to impose the tax at a rate not to exceed 300% of the purchase price of the water. Wieckowski chairs the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Mike McGuire’s bill to protect the tallest trees on the planet – old growth redwoods – from burl poachers received a unanimous vote of support from the Senate last week.
Burls are the dormant, knobby materials that grow at the base of the tree’s trunk allowing the old growth redwood to grow new saplings, which is vital to the health of California’s forests. Poachers have been targeting these burls at increasing rates in California’s State and National Parks.

SACRAMENTO, CA – After emotional testimony about a child who is currently in hospice care due to complications of the measles, Senate Bill 277, authored by Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and Senator representing Sacramento and Senator Ben Allen, the former Board President of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District was passed by the Assembly Health Committee on a vote of 12 to 6.  

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) has selected Patti’s Perfect Pantry in Gilroy, California, as his 2015 Small Business of the Year.  Patti Tartaglia, owner of Patti’s Perfect Pantry, will be honored at the California Small Business Day Luncheon on June 10, 2015, at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Union City – Senator Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) 5th – Annual Asian-Pacific Islander American Leadership Awards Ceremony will focus on local leaders and an organization making a positive impact in the district.  This year’s ceremony will take place at 12 p.m., Friday, June 12 at the Union City Hall Council Chambers located at 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road in Union City.

UPDATE: Evenwel v. Abbott Supreme Court Case

Sacramento, CA- Dr. Richard Pan today thanked State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson and the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) for working to protect every student’s right to be safe at school by closing California vaccine loophole.

Sacramento – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) will offer brief remarks at a special ceremony this Saturday, June 6, at 1:30p.m., at Hayward Veterans Memorial Building – 22737 Main Street in Hayward. 
“We salute the brave men and women who have shown their ultimate commitment to their country by enlisting in the United States Armed Forces. As a Senator, I have the privilege to serve the public.  It is critical that we recognize the dedication of our troops and veterans and collectively thank them for standing up and serving our nation,” Wieckowski said.