Caucus News

Sacramento, CA – The California Transportation Commission voted today to approve $5 million for initial environmental work related to the permanent solution for Last Chance Grade. Senator McGuire, Assemblymember Wood and Congressman Huffman have been fighting for these funds for the past many months.

Sacramento, CA — Senator Anthony Portantino’s proposal, SCR 8, to name the segment of the CA-134 freeway between the Glendale CA-2 and the Interstate 210 Freeway the “President Barack H. Obama Freeway,” passed the State Senate with overwhelming bi-partisan support with a 34 to 1 vote.  The resolution now heads to the State Assembly.

President Obama began his college education in California, attending Occidental College in

I am extremely disheartened by the passing of the ACHA through the House of Representatives.  The passing of the American Health Care Act will have an immeasurable and long-term negative impact on the health and quality of life of more than 14 million Californians who rely on Medi-Cal.

Sacramento –  Today the Senate Public Safety Committee approved a bill by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) to protect immigrants from irrelevant disclosures of their immigration status in open court. SB 785 requires that any discussion or questioning about the immigration status of any witness, victim, or defendant first be deemed by a judge to be relevant to the subject of the litigation.

Watch and listen to Sen. Holly J. Mitchell explain to fellow senators why children under 12 should be helped not prosecuted under Senate Bill 439. After her remarks, fellow senators approved her reform measure, along with a companion measure, SB 180. Both are part of the #EquityAndJustice package she's jointly authoring with Sen. Ricardo Lara.  Read press release HERE:

Watch and listen to Sen. Holly J. Mitchell explain to fellow senators why more reasonable prison sentences are necessary for safety and to save money under Senate Bill 180. Immediately afterward, the Senate approved her reform measure, along with a companion measure, SB 439, both part of the #EquityAndJustice package she's jointly authoring with Sen. Ricardo Lara.  Read press release HERE:

SACRAMENTO – Legislation by Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, to encourage transit agencies to set up their own administrative processes for citing and fining juveniles who ride without paying fare was passed today by the Senate.

SB 614 was approved by the Senate on a 38-0 vote and goes next to the Assembly for consideration.

Reform measures part of Equity and Justice package

SACRAMENTO – State senators today approved setting age 12 as the minimum age for prosecution, part of a package of sweeping reforms of how California’s criminal justice system treats youths and young adults.

In addition, senators approved a companion measure that seeks a modest step toward enacting the bipartisan movement to end wasteful incarceration spending in favor of community reinvestments.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Rules Committee today announced the following changes to Senate standing committees and their membership.                                                                                                          Governmental Organization:
Appointed Senator Bill Dodd (D – Napa), Chair
Senator Steven Glazer (D – Orinda) remains a member of the committee.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Chairmen of the Senate and Assembly Elections Committees, State Senator Henry Stern and Assemblymember Marc Berman issued a joint statement condemning President Trump’s latest Executive Order announcing a commission to investigate voter fraud. Meanwhile Trump’s own Administration is under active FBI investigation.