(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) says the Governor’s balanced plan to deal with California’s budget deficit, which he detailed in his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature, is a reasonable starting point to close the $9.1 billion gap. Assemblymember Block says Republicans should, for the good of the state, support the need for additional spending cuts and new revenues because without new revenues draconian cuts, such as three less weeks of school for our kids, will take place. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) and his fellow California Assembly Democrats are praising Governor Brown for signing the California Dream Act into law. Assemblymember Block says there’s no doubt a quality education is the key to a brighter future for anyone and the students who will benefit from the Dream Act are a worthy investment in our collective future. The Dream Act, AB 130 and AB 131, allows public universities to permit eligible undocumented students to qualify for private scholarships administered by the public universities and extends that eligibility to institutional financial aid administered by UC, CSU and the California Community Colleges, as well as to Cal Grants. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

(San Diego) -- California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez joined other lawmakers recently in San Diego at Sapphire Energy to announce the formation of the Assembly's Select Committee on Job Creation and the New Economy. Speaker Pérez says the new committee will focus on the steps needed to ensure California is a competitive place to create good paying jobs and highlight individuals and companies who are creating cutting-edge products and jobs. The Speaker says the Select Committee will also explore ways to attract private investment, including public-private partnerships, creative districts, industry clusters, and incubation strategies. Learn more in this Assembly Web Report. www.asmdc.org/speaker

(Sacramento) – In his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the State Legislature California Governor Jerry Brown presented lawmakers with details of the state’s economic troubles and what needs to be done to move California forward. Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) says the Governor’s speech offered “very concrete proposals” and agrees with his approach to let the voters have a say in the process. Assemblymember Block believes the Governor’s proposed budget plan is honest but he says it includes many difficult and painful choices. Here’s more from Assemblymember Block in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) - The persistent bipartisan approach to legislative work by Assemblymember Marty Block (D) San Diego has paid off. Several bills like AB 1844 Chelsea's Law focused on child safety and others dealing with public safety, education, employment and consumer protection have been approved in the legislature with broad bipartisan support. Here is more on this Assembly Access video.

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) delivered remarks at the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education meeting , where he updated board members on AB 184 and stressed the importance of the Governor signing the legislation immediately, to prevent schools districts from making additional cuts and layoffs at the start of the school year.

AB 184 prevents the California Department of Education from requiring school districts to repay the state for Special Disabilities Adjustment funding they received in the previous fiscal year and already used to teach the special-needs students in their classrooms.

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, Assemblymembers Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) and Tom Torlakson (D-Contra Costa) and students from California colleges are urging immediate passage of the state budget.  While the budget is on hold, students cannot receive the funds distributed through the Cal Grants program. Assemblymember Block says, “Cal Grants provide the greatest bang for the taxpayer buck because they are a proven and effective means of expanding college access and producing more graduates and retrained workers.” Here’s more from Assemblymember Block in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) Legislation from Assemblymember Marty Block (78th Assembly District, San Diego) has cleared the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation, completing the first step toward fulfilling a promise to stop California corporations from stashing millions of dollars in the Cayman Islands and other tax havens. Committee approval of AB 1178 means California is closer to recapturing more than $330 million in state revenues from tax-evading corporations. AB 1178 would put those recovered state dollars to work reducing the costs of textbooks for Californias college and university students. Heres more in this Assembly Web Report.

(Sacramento) Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) responded with cautious optimism following the Governors annual State of the State Address. Assemblymember Block said he was pleased with the Governors positive, upbeat tone but has some concerns about how to reach the goals the Governor included in his address.

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) wants the California Legislature to endorse a Congressional effort to close off shore tax havens that are being used to avoid paying federal and state taxes. Assemblymember Block says California corporations are stashing millions of dollars in overseas tax haven countries, and are avoiding paying their fair share of taxes to the state through code loopholes. President Obama and the U.S. Congress have hinted they would like to close these loopholes at the federal level, in which case California would benefit as well. I applaud their efforts and hope the California Legislature can join me by passing Assembly Joint Resolution 12, which will encourage the federal government to act to solve the tax haven abuse loopholes. Block’s AJR 12 has cleared the Assembly and is now pending in the Senate.