Recent News in the 14th District

Attorney General Kamala Harris did a great job negotiating for California in the historic foreclosure settlement announced February 9. The settlement brings billions of dollars in financial relief, holds banks accountable, and helps Californians stay in their homes. There is still work to be done, especially in protecting the over 60% of California homeowners with Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae loans, which aren’t affected by the settlement. More than 30 Assemblymembers have joined me in supporting the Attorney General’s demands that these programs provide principal reductions for home loans in crisis—a key step in stabilizing California’s housing market and strengthening our economy. See the letter we sent to the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency here.

SACRAMENTO--Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) today announced she is coauthoring legislation by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) to make college less expensive and more accessible.

Skinner will co-author AB 1500 and AB 1501, which together close the Single Sales Factor tax loophole benefitting out-of-state corporations and establish the California Middle Class Scholarship, which will cut college fees by two-thirds for California students whose family income is under $150,00 but who are not eligible for financial aid.

"As the Assemblymember representing UC Berkeley, I've seen first-hand the burden rising fees are putting on students on their families," Skinner said. "I believe closing the loophole for out-of-state corporations and using that money to cut college costs, is exactly the kind of investment we need to be making in our students if we want to keep our promise to families about higher education being achievable in California."

Since the 2003-2004 academic year, CSU fees have increased 191%, UC fees have increased by 145% and community college fees have also increased significantly. Under the Middle Class Scholarship, CSU students will save $4,000 per year or $16,000 over a four-year period, UC students will save about $8,200 per year or nearly $33,000 over a four-year period, and Community College students will see their costs reduced significantly as well. According to estimates, 150,000 CSU students and 42,000 UC students would be eligible. Community Colleges would receive $150 million to reduce costs for students.

Closing the Single Sales Factor loophole, the tax break that only benefits big out-of-state corporations, will bring in more than $1 billion to cover the costs for the California Middle Class Scholarship.

For more information go to www.MiddleClassScholarship.com.

"Hooray for justice. With another decision for marriage equality, my daughter and every other Californian may soon have the right to marry whomever they love, which is how it should be. I applaud the court's ruling for demonstrating that democracy cannot be used to deny fundamental rights."

Read Nancy’s interview with Bay Nature here

BERKELEY—Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) today released the following statement on the groundbreaking of Berkeley Lab’s Computational Research and Theory Facility.

“As the President noted last week fundamental research and scientific discovery are critical to America's economic future.  The CRT is another excellent contribution to our region’s leadership in research.  CRT and the Berkeley Lab Second Campus just announced for Richmond will help California reap scientific advancement and economic gain.  As I continue advocating for cleaner energy and energy storage at the state level, I am encouraged by the leadership Lawrence Berkeley Lab is continuing to show in this area.”

Skinner is the author of AB 2514, which directed the CPUC to assess setting energy storage targets for California’s Investor Owned Utilities.

Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on California's Clean Energy Economy, today released the following statement on Richmond's selection as the site of the second Lawrence Berkeley Lab campus:

"The East Bay sites Lawrence Berkeley National Lab had under consideration were excellent, any one a good choice. I congratulate the Lab for its selection of Richmond as it recognizes the City of Richmond's emergence as one of the green tech centers of the East Bay. This will be a great partnership. Richmond offers LBNL a range of green and clean tech activities, a vibrant and diverse community and access to multiple modes of transportation, and LBNL will bring prestige as well as economic and educational benefits to a community particularly hard hit by the recession.

With 4,200 employees, a more than $800 million budget, and thirteen Nobel Prize winners, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is truly a jewel of our region, one that is sure to shine through the community of Richmond.

I intend to work hand in hand with the City of Richmond, LBNL, and UC, as we undertake this expansion of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and look forward with great anticipation to the new jobs, enhanced research and scientific gains that are sure to be the result."

(Sacramento) – After the Governor’s State of the State Address, California State Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) agreed that California can build itself back to greatness, but we all need to invest in our state’s future to close California’s huge budget deficit. Assemblymember Skinner was heartened by the Governor’s bold plan and hopes to protect our state’s schools and working families, while keeping cops on the beat. She also believes the most wealthy among us should contribute a little more to California’s recovery. Learn more in this Assembly Access Video.

SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) today released the following statement after Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State address this morning:

"We Californians are proud folks--we like that we've been the leaders in education, technology, energy and environment. Today, Governor Brown reminded us that if we are willing to be bold, as we have been in the past, California can be on top once again. He challenged us to continue to think big and to reinvest: in our schools, our universities, and our transportation infrastructure. As we recover from the global economic collapse, he reminded us that California's education and infrastructure greatness came from strong public investment. We need to restore that investment as was done in the past when California's millionaires and billionaires paid a greater share. Governor Brown made a clear case for the necessity of new revenue to achieve the California we all believe in. We cannot afford the consequences of further cuts to schools, to public safety, or to what's left of the safety net that helps children, seniors, people with disabilities, and families struggling to work. While we have substantial challenges ahead, Governor Brown helped give us the confidence that we can meet those challenges. I know from talking to the people of the 14th Assembly District, our state of mind is determined, and with this determination we will restore and continue California's dream."

Click here to view the letter online.

SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), released the following statement regarding the initiative proposed by Governor Jerry Brown.

"Our schools and universities are fundamental to California's status as the seventh largest economy in the world. The Governor's proposal provides the reinvestment our education system deserves, while spreading the cost in an equitable manner. As the author of AB 1130, which would restore the income tax rate on super-rich Californians to what it was under Governor Ronald Reagan, I applaud Governor Brown's fair-share approach. After the deep and painful cuts schools, public safety and other services already experienced these past few years, I look forward to working with Governor Brown to bring balance back to California."

The California Progress Report recently ran my opinion piece highlighting AB 1130, legislation that would return California's upper income tax bracket to the level set by Governor Reagan.

In the piece, I discuss the 45th anniversary of Reagan's election as Governor, and note that AB 1130 would restore Reagan's rate on Californians who earn $500,000 or more-- just 1 percent of our residents. Given the recent deficit projections by the Legislative Analyst's Office, AB 1130 is certainly one of the areas that should be under discussion about how to responsibly raise revenues in our state.

You can read the whole piece at: http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/if-there-war-wealth-i%E2%80%99m-signing-general-reagan

> Fact Sheet: AB 1130

SACRAMENTO-- Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) today announced that Governor Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 604, her legislation that allows the California Department of Public Health to grant a two-year authorization for health and social service programs to provide syringe exchange services in locations where the conditions exist for the rapid spread of HIV, viral hepatitis or other deadly or disabling infections spread through the use of shared syringes.

“California needs a uniform approach to syringe exchange programs, which are endorsed by all major national, state, and international health and medical associations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association,” Skinner said. “By signing AB 604, Governor Brown is helping ensure we have that kind of uniform approach in California, one based on public health instead of politics.”

Existing law permits syringe exchange programs pursuant to a vote of local city or county government. However, among those cities and counties with the highest rates of HIV and viral hepatitis caused by syringe sharing are often those without any legal access to sterile syringes.

Under AB 604 local organizations – with demonstrated ties to the community, drug treatment services, and appropriate capacity – may apply to CDPH for a two-year authorization.  If the application has merit and is from an area of demonstrable high-need, CDPH must contact both the local health officer and local law enforcement leadership for consultation in advance of a 90-day public comment period.  In this way, concerns about impacts of a program and the quality of the applicant will be considered before CDPH makes its final decision regarding authorization.

The use of shared syringes and the failure to prevent infections also creates a long-term burden on the State’s General Fund-supported health insurance and drug programs. The average cost to treat someone with hepatitis C exceeds $100,000; for HIV the cost exceeds $600,000. AB 604 helps California respond to the significant public health concerns and reduce General Fund costs related to the long-term care of those who suffer the lifetime consequences of syringe scarcity: HIV and viral hepatitis.

“The Obama administration has recently approved the use of federal funds for syringe exchange programs,” Skinner said. “So AB 604 will cost nothing to California’s General Fund, yet has the potential to save our state millions in healthcare costs.”

SACRAMENTO-- Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) today announced that Governor Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 982, her legislation that will require the California State Lands Commission to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the United States Secretary of the Interior for the purpose of exchanging lands for renewable energy parks.

“AB 982 brings state and federal agencies together to maximize the opportunities for renewable energy parks in California,” Skinner said. “AB 982 is a win-win because it helps create parcels of land large enough to accommodate new energy parks, and it helps ensure that revenue from that energy comes back to California,” Skinner said.

According to the United States Department of Energy, California has some of the best locations in the world to produce renewable energy. Unfortunately, much of the best renewable energy resource land is held by a patchwork of state, federal and private land owners.

Large-scale renewable energy parks will help the state meet its expanded renewable portfolio standard, as well as AB 32 climate protection goals, and will provide badly needed jobs and revenue for California.  AB 982 ensures development in the renewable energy parks will be consistent with the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

SACRAMENTO-- Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) today announced that Governor Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Bill 402, her legislation that makes it easier for families of kids who participate in school lunch programs to access the larger state food program, CalFresh.

“At a time when one in four children live in households where food may not always be available, AB 402 will help reduce the number of children experiencing hunger in the classroom,” Skinner said.  “By promoting effective cooperation between schools and social services offices, AB 402 will also help reduce hunger for vulnerable children year-round, not just on school days.”

As families continue to feel the impacts of the recession, federal programs such as the Free or Reduced Price meal Program and CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) provide a safety net to ensure children in low-income families receive adequate nutrition.

AB 402 authorizes a school district or county office of education to incorporate CalFresh program information into the School Lunch Program Application for the purpose of streamlining and increasing participation in the CalFresh program.  This approach mirrors information sharing currently in place between schools and the Medi-Cal program.

Although 3.4 million California children are now eligible for school meal programs, a large number of these children and their families are not participating in CalFresh.  California loses nearly $5 billion in federal food benefits and $1.7 billion in generated economic activity due to low CalFresh participation rates.

“In these times of high unemployment we want to make sure families have all the support they need,” Skinner said. “I applaud Governor Brown for signing a strong package of bills to improve food security and support vulnerable Californians, and I am pleased that he included AB 402 among those bills.”