Posts Tagged ‘Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’
Mike Reynolds and 3 Strikes Coalition Endorse Harman for Attorney General
“Three Strikes” Co-author says “Tom Harman is the only candidate for Attorney General we can count on to protect Three Strikes”
Fresno, CA – Three Strikes and You’re Out coauthor and crime victim’s advocate Mike Reynolds and his Three Strikes coalition endorsed Tom Harman for California’s next Attorney General. Reynold’s daughter Kimber was tragically murdered in 1992 and when one of the two men responsible for her murder was killed during his arrest, Mr. Reynolds looked toward just punishment for the other. When that second man was sentenced to only nine years in prison (and ultimately paroled in half that time), he took action. This became the catalyst California’s “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” law passed by voters in 1994.
“The Three Strikes law is one of the most important and effective protections law-abiding citizens have,” said Reynolds. “Tom Harman is the only candidate for Attorney General we can count on to protect Three Strikes.”
“In the past few years, we have had to fight against critics on the left that have sought to weaken the Three Strikes law. Electing Tom Harman as Attorney General is the best insurance we have to make sure the extreme criminal rights crowd doesn’t succeed.”
In the State Senate and Assembly, Tom Harman has been an advocate for tough-on-crime measures and legislation. He is a strong proponent of California’s death penalty law and in 2008 introduced SB 315 that if enacted would have sped up the long and tedious process needed to ultimately carry out justice against criminals on death row.
As California’s next Attorney General, Tom will continue to strengthen California’s death penalty law, defend Three Strikes and vigorously prosecute public fraud and corruption.
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Republican Leadership Update
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Senate Republicans Support Comprehensive Plan to Capture Race to the Top Funds
| SB 4-5X Would Bring California $700 Million in Education Funding
SACRAMENTO, CA – Once more, Senate Republicans have reached across party lines to approved Senate Bill 4 (5X) to put forth a comprehensive plan to position California to qualify for eligible federal Race to the Top grant. SB 4 (5X) provides for turning around historically low-achieving schools, using data to improve instruction and student performance, authorizes open enrollment for students in low-performing schools, and requires the state to develop a plan to implement reforms that will qualify California for a Race to the Top grant.
For more detailed information see the Department of Education’s RTTT website at: |
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NESTANDE ISSUES STATEMENT ON RACE TO THE TOP LEGISLATION ABX5 8
Assembly Passes Inadequate Race to the Top Measure
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Education Committee Vice Chair Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, today issued the following statement on the passage of Assembly Bill 8 5x (Brownley) – a Race to the Top measure.
“The election of Obama was heralded as a chance for change,” said Nestande. “Now that he has directed a change be made in our failing education system, the Assembly Democrats refuse to step up to the plate and meet Obama’s challenge. It is incredibly disappointing that Assembly Democrats would stand in the way of their own president to protect the status quo that is failing students and promote the demands of opponents who are intent at blocking real reform at every turn.”
California should be passing a bipartisan reform bill supported by Governor Schwarzenegger that already passed by the State Senate. That measure, Senate Bill 1 5x (Romero) was supported by a wide array of groups and included real reforms to empower parents to demand improvements in low-performing schools. The Legislature needed to pass this important bipartisan reform soon to meet a looming federal deadline to apply for Race to the Top funds and make California the most competitive to receive up to $700 million in federal dollars.
“Parents should have the right to demand reform if their child’s school is failing,” said Nestande. “The so-called “parental empowerment” reform in the Democrat plan is simply the status quo and is an insult to the parents who testified before the Committee on Education demanding involvement in their local school that is more important than selling baked goods.”
State applications for Race to the Top are due to the Obama Administration on January 19, 2010. Since Race to the Top funds are to be given only to states that meet specific criteria and are judged to have a strong commitment to reform, the types of reforms that are passed are crucial to California’s chances. AB 8 5x fails to meet these requirements.
“I am urging my Assembly Democrat colleagues to return to the Capitol to pass the bipartisan Senate plan before the January deadline,” said Nestande. “Time is running out.”
Assemblyman Nestande proudly serves the communities of Canyon Lake, Indian Wells, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Riverside, Temecula, Perris, Wildomar, Winchester, Menifee, Hemet, Anza, Idyllwild, Bermuda Dunes, Mountain Center and Woodcrest.
NESTANDE DISAPPOINTED OVER PASSAGE OF ASSEMBLY DEMOCRAT’S APPROACH TO EDUCATION REFORM
Assembly Democrat Bill is Passed While Bipartisan Senate Bill Held
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Education Committee Vice Chair Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, today expressed concern about the passage of Assembly Bill 5x 8 (Brownley) from the Fifth Extraordinary Assembly Education Committee while the bipartisan Senate Bill 5x 1 (Romero) was held. Both measures propose to make California more competitive in capturing a share of federal dollars for education reform.
“The Assembly had a rare opportunity today to pass SB 5x 1 and be part of a national movement to promote excellence in our schools,” said Nestande. “Unfortunately, Assembly Democrats are out of line with reforms being implemented in other states and encouraged by the Obama Administration. Their no vote on this measure was a no vote for innovation and accountability.”
Senate Democrats and Republicans joined together last month to pass SB 5x 1 (Romero), a reform plan that empowers parents, improves low-performing schools and gives every child a first rate education. This plan is supported by charter schools, school reform advocates and Governor Schwarzenegger. However, Assembly Democrats rejected the Senate plan and are instead pushing AB 5x 8 (Brownley), a plan favored by union bosses and other special interests that puts California’s Race to the Top competitiveness at risk.
“While I appreciate the efforts of my Assembly Democrat colleagues to improve our public schools, it seems special interest politics got in the way of doing what’s best for our kids,” said Nestande. “AB 5x 8 fails to make true reforms and leaves our schools with the status quo – which is failing our students.”
SB 5x 1 and AB 5x 8 attempt to make California competitive for “Race to the Top,” a $4.35 billion federal program announced by President Obama earlier this year. The program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to encourage reform and innovation in our public schools. Since Race to the Top funds are to be given only to states that meet specific criteria and are judged to have a strong commitment to reform, the types of reforms that are passed are crucial to California’s chances.
Assemblyman Nestande proudly serves the communities of Canyon Lake, Indian Wells, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Riverside, Temecula, Perris, Wildomar, Winchester, Menifee, Hemet, Anza, Idyllwild, Bermuda Dunes, Mountain Center and Woodcrest.
California Co-Chair of National Crime Victims’ Organization Endorses Tom Harman for Attorney General
Sacramento, CA- Force 100 California Co-Chair Ryan Hawks today announced his support for Senator Harman (R-Huntington Beach) as California’s next Attorney General. Force 100 is a national crime victims’ organization composed of crime victims from every state who help to balance the justice system by affording U.S. Constitutional rights to victims of violent crime. Senator Harman has already received the endorsement of National Force 100 Chairwoman Collene (Thompson) Campbell.
Ryan’s father and stepmother were brutally murdered in Newport Beach in 2004 by a couple claiming they were interested in purchasing their yacht. During the test cruise, the couple and three other accomplices bound the couple, tied them to an anchor and tossed them overboard. The group had planned to steal the yacht and raid the Hawkses’ bank account. In April 2009, Skylar Deleon was convicted of murdering Tom and Jackie Hawks and was sentenced to die by lethal injection.
In the State Senate and Assembly, Tom Harman has been an advocate for tough-on-crime measures and legislation. He is a strong proponent of California’s death penalty law and in 2008 introduced SB 315 that if enacted would have sped up the long and tedious process needed to ultimately carry out justice against criminals on death row. Recently, Tom has stood with law enforcement leaders and organizations against the release of “non-violent” drug offenders and was a key vote in law enforcement’s effort to limit the availability of pseudoephedrine (which is directly linked to California’s explosive methamphetamine problem).
As California’s next Attorney General, Tom will continue to defend California’s death penalty law and vigorously prosecute those who commit fraud with public funds.
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California Republican Party Releases New Web Video: “Brown’s Tapegate”
SACRAMENTO, CA - In light of the numerous media reports and the call for an independent invesitagtion into AG Jerry Brown’s “tapegate” by members of the media, advocacy and lawyer associations, elected officials and gubernatorial candidates, the California Republican Party today released a new video titled, “Brown’s Tapegate.”
“Any logical line of questioning, especially from an office full of state attorneys, would seem to lead to two possible conclusions: either procedures in one of the highest profile law offices in the nation are woefully inadequate and ineffective, or other members of staff knew what was going on and are now concealing their earlier knowledge,” said CRP Chairman Ron Nehring. “Either conclusion is a disaster for a man who frequently brags of the benefits of four decades of political experience.”
“Californians want their Attorney General not only to enforce the laws of the state, but set the highest legal standards in his own state office. The situation requires an independent investigation to ensure Californians can fully trust their top law enforcement official.”
The CRP releases this video with a question for California Attorney General Jerry Brown: If you have nothing to hide, why can’t you just allow a proper and unbiased independent investigation?
The video can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CRPTV#p/u/0/Kt-JubRvtt0
Benoit Special Alert: Why The Sacramento Delta Matters To Us
| Throughout this week, while the Legislature is still currently in recess, I have been in the State Capitol participating in hearings and special sessions dedicated to addressing California’s water issues.
I wanted to share my commentary, printed in today’s Desert Sun, on why this debate is important to our community. While this particular commentary applies to the Coachella Valley portion of the 37th Senate District, rest assured, this issue is of vital importance to Riverside County as a whole. Watch for future commentaries discussing the impact in other parts of the District. Please don’t hesitate to reply with questions or comments about water or any other legislative issue. I value your feedback and thank you for personally taking the time to read and respond. It is an honor to be your representative in the State Senate. JOHN J. BENOIT
Why the Sacramento Delta matters to the future of the Coachella Valley What does the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, more than 450 miles away, have to do with the Coachella Valley? Why is a system of pumps and streams, carrying water that doesn’t directly reach farms and taps out here so desperately needed in the desert? In Southern California, about 30 percent of our water supply is channeled through the State Water Project, a 700-mile system of canals that convey water from the delta levee network. Although the Coachella Valley is not physically connected to the State Water Project, our region is its third largest contractor, behind only the massive Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and agriculture-rich Kern County.  At a joint hearing of the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee and Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee Much of California’s water comes from the rainfall and snowmelt in the northern part of the State while two-thirds of the water demand is for Southern California. In 2007, a federal judge issued a ruling that reduced pumped water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a major source of Southern California’s water by up to a third to protect the tiny Delta smelt fish. California is entering a potential fourth year of drought and solving the water supply problem is crucial to our communities. Since delta water cannot literally be delivered here, the Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency have adopted a “bucket to bucket” exchange agreement, trading our State Water Project entitlements to Metropolitan for additional Colorado River water. This exchange has largely sustained the Coachella Valley aquifer, the provider of most of our drinking water since the 1960s. Were it not for our aquifer, it would be physically impossible to inhabit our desert communities, much less supply the businesses that feed our economy. Because of California’s reliance on imported water, and because our draw of Colorado River water will be capped by 2017, a resolution to the state’s water crisis is imperative. There are many issues that have contributed to the state’s water problems. Some have arisen in the last few years, adding to a newfound sense of urgency. For instance, California is potentially entering into a fourth year of drought. Much of California’s water comes from the rainfall and snowmelt in the northern part of the state. Dwindling snowpacks have also reduced our supply of naturally stored water. In 2007, a federal judge issued a ruling that strictly limited how much water can be pumped from the delta in order to protect the tiny delta smelt fish. This action, and the federal government’s corresponding intransigence, has crippled State Water Project conveyance, cutting delta pumping by a third. These conditions have combined to create a very real water crisis that has cost jobs, threatened the state’s standing as the breadbasket of America, and has increased water costs and rationing for Californians. Long-term concerns, including aging levee infrastructure and seismic vulnerability, currently subject the delta to catastrophic collapse from a large-magnitude earthquake or flood. A water system designed when Eisenhower was president is certainly inadequate to meet the demands of today’s population of 38 million Californians. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called a special session of the Legislature to consider responsible solutions to our water problems. Throughout the year, as a member of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, I have participated in hearings that have analyzed various plans to restore the delta ecosystem and revamp our antiquated infrastructure. It is my hope and belief that, while the Senate and Assembly continue to negotiate water policy, we will produce a comprehensive plan that modernizes our water system to provide for our current demands and future growth. The well-being of families, businesses and farms in our region depends on a complete solution to this complex problem. |
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Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Three More Jeffries Bills
New Laws Will Assist Police and Fire Agencies, Members of the Military, and Protect Against Identity Theft
Sacramento- In a year marked by partisan warfare, gridlock, and the continued failure by the legislature to help California’s business climate and taxpaying families, Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) still managed to have quite a bit of success with his legislative package.
Late Sunday night, just before the deadline to take action on this year’s legislation, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed three more of Jeffries’ bills into law, bringing the total number of his bills signed for the 2009 legislative year to six. “All three of these bills faced tough hurdles and roadblocks during the legislative process,” Jeffries said, “but by working across the partisan divide and seeking input from concerned parties, each passed with overwhelming bipartisan majorities in the end.”
The three Jeffries’ bills signed Sunday are:
-AB 59, which will allow our active duty military men and women to legally use military issued identification cards to purchase alcohol in California
-AB 130, which will protect Californians from identity theft by conforming the laws regarding the release of marriage certificates to the already stringent laws enjoyed by birth and death certificates
-AB 254, which will exempt police and firefighters from having to fees or fines when using California toll lanes and facilities when they respond to emergencies
“I am very pleased that the Governor signed these three bills into law that will clarify the law to benefit our service men and women, protect Californians from identity theft and decrease bureaucratic burdens on our emergency responders”, Jeffries said. “I am also heartened that six of my bills are now law, and several others were incorporated into the state budget or helped influence administrative decisions.”
In addition to the three bills signed last night, Assemblyman Jeffries had another three bills signed earlier in the year. These bills, AB 27, AB 58 and AB 143, kept intact punishments for convicted arsonists, made the punishment for operating low level sports betting pools more appropriately fit the crime and protected personal property rights. ACR 33 was also passed, which named a portion of Interstate 15 after Deputy Kent Hintergardt, who was the first officer killed in the line of duty in the City of Temecula.
Over the past three years, Assemblyman Jeffries has had 19 measures pass both houses of the legislature. 15 bills were signed into law; one was vetoed due to the 2008 Budget delay; and three were Assembly Concurrent Resolutions which do not require the Governor’s signature.
“I like to carry legislation that benefits our region, and many of my bills come to me directly out of meetings my staff and I attend in the district. Focusing on issues such as water, transportation, emergency response, and other issues brought to me by my constituents, avoids many of the partisan pitfalls that so many Republican bills fall victim to, and I am pleased that I have had 15 bills become law in just three short years as a member of the minority party,” Assemblyman Jeffries said.
Unfortunately, pro-business, pro-jobs legislation introduced by Assemblyman Jeffries to help those in the tourism industry avoid double taxation, reduce costs for water, and provide incentives for business developments that comply with strict new environmental regulations did not pass this year. He was also frustrated that his efforts to save taxpayer dollars and reform the political process by requiring public notice and posting of legislation before it can be voted upon, eliminate the office of Lieutenant Governor, take away state cars from non-emergency personnel, and move towards a part-time legislature were not even granted a hearing this year.
“While I am happy for the modest successes I have achieved, I am still very disappointed that we have failed again to improve our state’s economy by helping small businesses expand and put more people to work. I hope in this next year both parties can come together to find ways to put Californians back to work and help keep them in their homes. We also need to finish our work towards a long-term solution to our state’s water supply, which I hope we will do in the forthcoming Special Session called by the Governor. I will also continue to push ACA 8, to prevent the legislature from conducting its work in secrecy and allow public input into the legislative process.”
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Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries represents Western Riverside County and Northern San Diego County, including the communities of Jurupa, Riverside, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta, Temecula, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Valley Center, and Julian.
New CRP Video “Hypocrisy”
