Data Reveals Disproportionate Impact of Budget Cuts on Communities of Color (SACRAMENTO) – Today on the south steps of the State Capitol, Assemblymembers and Senators who represent the five legislative caucuses of the State Legislature held a press conference spotlighting the disproportionate impact of budget cuts on communities of color. The “Quint Caucus” – comprising the Black, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander (API), Women’s, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LBGT) Caucuses – spoke as one…

By Erica Felci, The Desert Sun A locally-authored plan to allow undocumented agricultural and service sector workers to legally stay in California cleared its first legislative hurdle today. The Assembly’s Committee on Labor and Employment endorsed the Agricultural Jobs and Industry Stabilization Act with a 4-1 vote. The committee’s vote fell along party lines, with Republican Assemblyman Mike Morrell opposing it. Two lawmakers abstained. Wednesday’s hearing was the first in a lengthy process to get…

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, Assemblymembers V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) and Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert) honored Holocaust Survivor Michael Resmo at a special legislative session for California Holocaust Memorial Week. The Palm Desert man, together with his wife Barbara, traveled to the Capitol for the day’s ceremonies. Michael Resmo was born in 1928 in Kolozsvar, Translyvania. At age 14, Mr. Resmo and his family were imprisoned by the Hungarian Iron Guard in June 1943. Resmo became a…

By Erica Felci, The Desert Sun Democratic Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez is gaining some momentum in his ambitious effort to tackle immigration issues. The Coachella Democrat last week announced Republican Assemblywoman Linda Halderman would help champion the Agricultural Jobs & Industry Stabilization Act. The legislation, formally known as Assembly Bill 1544, would let undocumented farm and service-sector workers in California lawfully stay if they pass criminal background checks, prove they've been working here for extended…

El Centro judge recognized for educational and civic contributions (SACRAMENTO) – This morning at the State Capitol, Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro of El Centro was honored as the 80th Assembly District’s 2012 Woman of the Year.  Selected for the honor by Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez, Judge Montenegro joined women from all over the state to be recognized for their contributions during a special Assembly Floor Session. “Ruth has distinguished herself not only through her legal…

Focus is public-private efforts to increase small business access to credit (OAKLAND) – Today, Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) joined White House officials, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, and local small businesses and lenders for a round table on the topic of small business access to credit.  Held at the organic food processing plant Premier Organics in Oakland, the discussion spotlighted the impact of the federal Small Business Credit Initiative that has helped California leverage private…

(SACRAMENTO) – Responding to news that the U.S. Congress has finally passed the payroll tax cut and the unemployment insurance extension, Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) issued the following statement: “I applaud our President Barack Obama for his willingness to work across the aisle to find common ground on this very important issue for working families in the Coachella and Imperial Valleys.  The fact is that $40 dollars a week means a lot to people…

By ELIZABETH VARIN Staff Writer IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS Guest workers, sponsored immigrants and more border economic development are in the works with three bills introduced by a local legislator. Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, D-Coachella, announced last week that he had introduced a three-bill package that he said would assist sectors that strongly rely on the immigrant work force to sustain their economic strengths. "Unauthorized workers in California are contributing to the state's economic vitality in…