Press Releases Displaying items by tag: photos
Boosts Bill to Help Law Enforcement Protect CA Transportation Systems
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today said public safety jobs should be viewed as a priority in crafting the state budget, reiterating his commitment to review the governor’s upcoming budget proposal in terms of its impact on jobs in our hard-hit state. Pérez made the comments at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by public safety leaders to call for passage of his legislation to protect Californians and tourists as they use public transportation systems.
“In spite of the enormous budget challenges facing our state, we need to ensure that public safety officials have adequate resources to perform their critical work,” Pérez said. “Recent budget debates have seen proposals that would reduce the number of law enforcement officers in California. I am deeply troubled by these proposals because reducing the number of police will result in communities that are less safe for people to live, work and start businesses and that will result in long term economic harm to our communities and our state.”
At the news conference Speaker Pérez pushed support for his AB 2324, noting the attempted car bombing in Times Square reminds us of the need to be vigilant and the recent Moscow bombings remind us that transit systems remain prime targets.
“AB 2324, which is sponsored by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, creates ‘weapons free zones’ at public transit stations,” Pérez said. “The people of California deserve to know that when they walk into a transit station, they are safe and secure and that law enforcement has adequate tools and resources to maintain that security.”
AB 2324 would make it a crime to bring most weapons aboard public transit vehicles and into vulnerable areas of bus depots and train stations. The bill will also make it a crime to knowingly avoid security screenings and strengthen penalties for repeat offenders engaging in certain dangerous crimes. AB 2324 is scheduled for a vote on the Assembly floor Thursday, May 13.
- Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker
CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408
Speaker Pérez: Keeping Public Safety Jobs Key in State Budget
(Sacramento) - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) says public safety jobs should be viewed as a priority in crafting the state budget, reiterating his commitment to review the governor’s upcoming budget proposal in terms of its impact on jobs in our hard-hit state. Pérez made the comments at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by public safety leaders to call for passage of his legislation to protect Californians and tourists as they use public transportation systems. “In spite of the enormous budget challenges facing our state, we need to ensure that public safety officials have adequate resources to perform their critical work,” Pérez said. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.
Below are links to audio from today’s news conference.
Speaker Pérez’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (1:56)
Speaker Pérez says the ongoing budget hearings and forums are keeping Democrats closely connected to real Californians. (:33)
Speaker Pérez says explains how he will view any proposed cuts to public safety programs. (:24)
Speaker Pérez says he does not want to make cuts in state programs that will hurt local government. (:19)
PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS
Assembly Effort to Focus on Jobs Impact of Governor’s Proposed Budget
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) reiterated today that the state budget will be developed on-time through a public process, not in closed-door meetings of the Big 5.
“We will develop the budget through a public process that includes full subcommittee and committee review,” the Speaker said. Assembly budget hearings will be webcasted live, along with other types of committee hearings, as part of the Speaker’s efforts to increase transparency and promote public participation. The Speaker said the hearings will focus closely on the impact the Governor’s budget has on jobs in California. Speaker Pérez made his remarks at a Sacramento news conference where he reported on six public budget forums recently held throughout the state.
“Nearly 2000 people attended our budget forums,” the Speaker noted, adding, “The public recognizes the difficulty that exists in getting a two thirds majority and they are very frustrated with the choices before them.” The Speaker hosted the budget forum held in Fresno. Other forums were held in Orange County, Palm Springs, Reseda, Sacramento and San Diego.
The budget forums were also webcasted live and were led by Next 10, a non-partisan organization. Click onto the link below to learn more about the budget forums.
- Webpage for Assembly Budget Forums: http://www.asmdc.org/issues/budget/
- Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: http://www.asmdc.org/speaker/
- Website of Budget Chair Bob Blumenfield: http://www.asmdc.org/blumenfield
CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408
Speaker Pérez Says Budget Will Be Developed Through Public Process
(Sacramento) – During a capitol news conference Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) reiterated that the state budget will be developed on-time through a public process, not in closed-door meetings of the Big 5. “We will develop the budget through a public process that includes full subcommittee and committee review,” the Speaker said. Assembly budget hearings will be webcast live, along with other types of committee hearings, as part of the Speaker’s efforts to increase transparency and promote public participation. The Speaker was joined at the news conference by Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley). They said the budget hearings will focus closely on the impact the Governor’s budget has on jobs in California.
Below are links to audio from today’s news conference:
Speaker Pérez’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (3:19)
Speaker Pérez says the legislature will be looking to see what the Governor’s revised budget’s impact is on the job market. (:20)
Speaker Pérez says the inclusive, open budget process that’s being used this year will allow Republicans to participate fully. (:21)
Speaker Pérez says he does not want to negotiate a budget behind closed doors in Big 5 meetings. (:38)
Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield’s opening remarks at today’s news conference. (2:22)
PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS
Sacramento - Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today provided a preview of significant legislation he is carrying that will strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce and ensure millions of Californians benefit from President Obama’s healthcare reforms. The Speaker is expected to testify on his bills in Assembly committees today.
“This legislation will help ensure that individuals and small businesses in California can benefit from federal healthcare reform, and we’re making sure California law includes the necessary changes to bring in new resources made available by the President’s reforms,” Pérez said. “I’m also pleased to be working to help provide the highly-trained healthcare workforce we will need in the coming decades by moving to get rid of the bottleneck in nursing and allied health students training and accelerating the training program for these students.”
AB 2385, to be heard before the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, would create a pilot program at five community college campuses throughout the state aimed at accelerating the training of healthcare workers from two years or more to 18 months or less. California’s community colleges train 70 percent of nurses statewide but cannot keep up with the growing demand for nurses and allied health professionals.
AB 1602, to be heard before the Assembly Committee on Health, would enact key health insurance consumer protections that take effect in six months, as provided in the recently passed federal health reform law, and establishes in 2011 the state health insurance exchange where individuals can claim their federal premium and cost sharing subsidies and small businesses gain large group purchasing power.
Specifically, the bill:
- Extends dependent coverage to age 26
- Eliminates lifetime limits in the individual and group markets
- Eliminates annual limits in the individual and group markets without the permission of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Eliminates cost sharing (co-pays, deductibles) for certain recommended preventive services, screenings and immunizations, such as breast, cervical and colorectal cancer; childhood immunizations; HIV/AIDS
- Eliminates pre-existing condition exclusions for children
- Establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange effective January 1, 2011, and provides it authority to start planning activities and accept available federal dollars
- Provides the Exchange the necessary authority to set up the new, more organized insurance marketplace where eligible individuals can claim their federal tax subsidies towards health insurance
Also to be heard before the Assembly Committee on Health is the Speaker’s AB 2352, which would save lives and taxpayer money by providing organ transplant patients with 2 years of anti-rejection medication under Medi-Cal if alternative coverage from Medicare or private insurance is not available.
A fact sheet regarding AB 1602 is attached.
Website of Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker
Contact: Speaker’s Press Office (916) 319-2408
Below are links to audio from today’s news conference.
Assembly Speaker Pérez describes the legislation in his opening remarks at today’s news conference. (1:48)
Speaker Pérez says one of the critical elements of the legislation is the creation of the health care exchange. (:48)
Speaker Pérez says GOP opposition to the federal health care reform package is short sighted. (:26)
Speaker Pérez says no matter what health care components are called by the media it is a good idea to provide a pathway to health care. (:13)
Speaker Pérez says the main purpose of the legislation is to insure California takes advantage of the federal health care reform package. (:10)
Photo Album
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today lauded the Legislature’s recent passage of ACR 133, a concurrent resolution the Speaker authored that encourages California public employees and businesses to join a growing national and global movement to recognize the importance of energy conservation by turning off non-essential lights tomorrow, Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
“Earth Hour is a unique opportunity for California to demonstrate our commitment to combating global climate change and building a more environmentally sustainable economy,” said Speaker Pérez. “One of the most promising growth industries of the 21st century is the move to a Green Economy, and Earth Hour underscores the need for California to continue our progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a green workforce.”
Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker
CONTACT: Shannon Murphy (916) 319-2408
