Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – A broad, bipartisan coalition of legislators, students and faculty are calling for full funding and a tuition freeze for students at the California State University and the University of California at a Capitol news conference today (Monday, March 12).

Both CSU and UC are considering tuition increases to compensate for a shortfall in the Governor’s budget. To avoid tuition hikes and improve access, CSU is seeking $171 million more in state funding; UC is seeking $105 million more.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D. (D-West Covina) is recognizing Norma Edith García, Chief Deputy Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, as the Woman of the Year for the 22nd Senate District.

Ms. García was appointed to this position in 2016, making her the first woman to serve in that capacity in the Department’s history.

Sacramento, CA – Today a group of California State Senators and Assemblymembers sent a letter to FedEx Chief Executive Officer David Bronczek urging the company to end its discount program for National Rifle Association Members.  A copy of the letter is below.

Sacramento, CA – Today a group of California State Senators and Assemblymembers sent a letter to FedEx Chief Executive Officer David Bronczek urging the company to end its discount program for National Rifle Association Members.  A copy of the letter is below.

San Francisco –  Today Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released the following statement after the developers of a large housing project in Berkeley that had been stalled for years announced they are invoking SB 35 streamlining. Senator Wiener authored SB 35 last year to expedite housing approvals. The Berkeley project includes 50% onsite affordable housing, which means 130 new units of affordable housing, and 260 units overall, will be built in Berkeley.

SACRAMENTO – A Senate Office of Research (SOR) report requested by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) highlights nine key principles state-funded research programs should use to optimize benefits to the public. The report was released this morning by SOR.

In honor of International Women’s Day, Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) has introduced legislation that would require that women make up at least one half of the membership of all state appointed boards and commissions.

Sacramento, CA – March 7, 2018 – Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, today issued the following statement in response to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement that he has filed a federal lawsuit against the State of California over three of its “sanctuary state” laws:

“As Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, I continue to support policies and programs that protect the interests of all Californians, including the civil rights of our immigrant community.  

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and state senator representing the Sacramento region, has introduced Senate Bill 1148, allowing dentists who provide care in the Medi-Cal dental program to use silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as a treatment option for dental decay. SDF is an FDA-approved liquid that can be applied to teeth to control dental decay and prevent further progression of the disease.

Sacramento –  Today Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released the following statement about Jeff Sessions coming to Sacramento to announce his intention to sue California: