by Lucas O'Connor [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In this week’s Democratic weekly radio address, Assemblymembers Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) present the Assembly Democratic plan to solve California’s budget crisis.

You may listen in English or Spanish or read the transcript below.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

It's going to be a long summer—and fall, for that matter— asthe rubber hits the road on this year's budget. The Sacramento Beereports that Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill of Modesto (left)has reiterated that tax hikes are off the table for his caucus,although he gives some token acknowledgment to closing loopholes.

The San Francisco Chronicle seems to think there is a debate over Proposition 98, but it seems to us that when Pete Wilson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dianne Feinstein and the Sierra Club agree a proposition is bad news, it's probably bad news. It is interesting to note that even inBerkeley, the property owners association supports 98, which would gutrent control and most affordable housing projects.

The city of Vallejo became the first municipality in history to file for bankruptcy, despite last minute pleas from Solano County legislators Pat Wigginsand Noreen Evans, the Oakland Tribune reports. Things had gotten sobad, and the options so limited, that there was hardly a choice.

There's more... 

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

A healthy budget, a healthy environment, a healthy California’

Noreen Evans, Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, was wished a happy birthday after speaking at the rally

Sarah Joye
Research Associate
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

More than 600 Planned Parenthood volunteers and staff converged upon the State Capitol Tuesday to lobby against the 10 percent budget cut to the Medi-Cal program. As a safety net provider, Planned Parenthood relies primarily on Medi-Cal reimbursements to fund services to low-income patients.

California prides itself as a national leader in the area of prevention. Whether it’s family planning, comprehensive sexual education, or STD and cancer screenings, Planned Parenthood is one of the largest safety-net providers of preventive health care programs in the state. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of Planned Parenthood services are dedicated to family planning and other preventive health care services like breast and cervical cancer screenings.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In this week’s Democratic weekly radio address, Assemblymembers Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) emphasize Assembly Democrats’ core values and Republicans refusal to be fiscally responsible in the debate over balancing California’s state budget.

You may listen in English or Spanish. The transcript is below.

Hello, this is Assemblymember Noreen Evans, Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus.

The art of budgeting is all about setting priorities and making sure the budget funds those priorities. This week Assembly Democrats met for our annual policy summit to set our legislative priorities and to address California’s $14 billion budget deficit.

In order to evaluate possible solutions to the budget deficit, it’s important to first understand how we got here. Only a few short years ago, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was first elected, he promised to cut up California’s credit card and slash the vehicle license fee.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Here is the entire transcript of what Fabian Nunez, Speaker of the California State Assembly, had to say and his answers to questions in a press conference on the Assembly floor flanked by members of the Democratic caucus. Nunez took personal responsibility for the passage of Proposition 93. He announced that although he had offered to resign this summer as Speaker he will remain in the position and that there would be a vote on March 11 for a new Speaker to assume the position at the end of the session.

Nunez also revealed some personal details: That he will take some time off after he leaves office and will not run for the State Senate or Mayor of Los Angeles in 2010. He spoke emotionally about what the honor of being Speaker has meant to him.

“We have a very important announcement to make here today. As all of you know, the results of Tuesday’s election brought about a wave of change to California, and in particular, Sacramento. While there has been a lot of rumor and speculation about what may become of the Assembly Democratic leadership, I first want to say that today, for me, is one of my proudest days as a member of the California State Assembly and certainly as a member of the Democratic Caucus.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Noreen Evans
Member
California State Assembly

Hundreds of thousands of seniors and working families who rent spaces in mobile home parks across California live in fear they will lose their homes. Fortunately the Governor has the chance to put their fears to rest by signing legislation that I authored, Assembly Bill 1542.

Mobile home parks provide valuable affordable housing. An alternative to conventional home ownership, they are an anomaly because most residents own their mobile home, but rent the space upon which the home is situated. And, although these homes are called “mobile,” in reality they are difficult and costly to move. This helps explain why over 100 communities across the state have adopted rent control ordinances to keep rents affordable.

Recently, however, mobile home park owners have discovered a loophole in state law that allows them to convert one or more of their spaces to condominium ownership and avoid the application of local rent control on the remaining rental spaces. This is a particularly severe problem in communities where land values are high. Conversions maximize profits for park owners, while forcing seniors and working families out of their homes with no other local place to go.