By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2013 (Sacramento) – For the first time in recent years, the California Legislature approved a budget that is not only on time, but a week ahead of deadline.  The budget, pushed through by the new Democratic supermajority of two-thirds in both houses, includes substantial increases in funding for education, healthcare, students, and the courts. The budget awaits the Governor's signature.

The budget projects $97.1 billion in general fund revenues. It includes $96.3 billion in spending for the 2013-14 fiscal year starting July 1 and maintains a $1.1 billion resere, also paying down debt accumulated during the recession.

By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – In a surprise action today, the farm bill was voted down by a 195 to 234 margin in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Currently a 2008 farm bill is in effect, but it expires September 30. Without action to pass a farm bill this year, the 1949 version of the farm bill will be back in place—a move that is expected lead to steep price increases on milk and other agricultural products.

House Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the Farm Bill due to $20 billion in cuts to the food stamp program, which was denounced as cruel at a time when more Americans than ever before are facing food security issues.  Only 24 Democrats in the House voted for the measure.  They were joined by 62 Republicans who also voted against it though for different reasons; Republicans contended the $940 billion bill was too costly.

San Diego’s Congressional delegation split down party lines, with Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa voting for the bill, while Democrats Susan Davis, Juan Vargas, and Scott Peters voted no.

June 17, 2013 (Campo)--Applications are currently being accepted to fill three vacant seats on the Campo Lake Morena Community Planning Group.  Two are for four-year terms that started in January 2013. The third is for a seat that has 18 months left to run.

Applicants must reside and be registered to vote in the Campo Planning Group area. Please respond promptly, as candidates will be voted on at the group's June 24 meeting.

June 18, 2013 (San Diego)--Mayor Bob Filner appointed Theresa Quiroz and Anthony Wagner, two long-time neighborhood champions, to the City’s Planning Commission last week.

“I want to thank Theresa and Anthony for their commitment to our community and believe they will provide a strong voice for our neighborhoods in this new role” Mayor Filner said. “Their experience in community groups, knowledge of land use issues, and belief in healthy and vibrant neighborhoods will make them great additions to the Planning Commission.”

The appointments were approved unanimously by the San Diego City Council.

June 8, 2013 (San Diego) –Each year, legislators are tasked with the difficult job of balancing our state budget. This includes determining how much money will be available for public services, such as education, public safety, health care, and how much we pay in taxes.

Assemblywoman Shirley Weber will host an interactive town hall to discuss your priorities for California's budget, as well as the impact of the state budget on San Diego county residents. The town hall will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 12-2 p.m.

“SB 33 is being used by wealthy absentee landowners, foreign corporations, and investor-owned San Diego Gas & Electric to industrialize over 10,000 acres of our predominantly low-income and highly fire-prone rural community of Boulevard.” -- Donna Tisdale, chair of the Boulevard Planning Group

By Miriam Raftery

June 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – SB 33, a bill that could force voters to pay for big energy projects through bond measures even if the majority of voters don't approve such projects,  is moving forward in the state legislature. The bill has passed the State Senate and is set for hearing June 12 in the Assembly Local Government Committee. It could have a big impact in East County communities such as  Boulevard, where big energy companies have engaged in a stealth campaign to stick voters with the bill for projects they don't want.

Senator Boxer seeks “citizen cosponsors” for landmark legislation to protect sexual assault victims

June 1, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – The House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday is expected to hear the Military Justice Improvement Act, a bill sponsored by 17 members of Congress including Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California), who is asking the public to support  the measure by becoming citizen cosponsors here.

The number of sexual assaults in the U.S. military rose by 35% from 2010 to 2012, according to a Defense Department report which found 26,000 members of the military had been victims of sexual assault – 70 assaults a day. Yet only 10% were even reported, and far fewer were prosecuted. 

Demands for reform have been fueled by two assaults in May in which military sex prevention officers were themselves charged with sexual abuse and other cases in which general overturned guilty verdicts in sexual assault cases.

May 30, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) announced $1.8 million for San Diego to help homeless veterans as part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH).

“This increase in housing vouchers will help veterans get off the streets and into a place of their own,” said Davis.  “We know that San Diego has a high concentration of homeless veterans.  It’s very difficult, knowing the sacrifices these men and women have made on our behalf, to see them living on the street.  Hopefully, through programs such as HUD-VASH we can help turn these lives around.”

By Janis Mork

May 16, 2013 (La Mesa) – Graywater harvesting, a possible new dog park, and a community dialogue to discuss fiscal issues were among the agenda items weighed by La Mesa City Council at its May 14 meeting. 

Mayor Art Madrid wanted to develop a Graywater and rainwater harvesting ordinance for residential use in La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

May 4, 2013 (Sacramento) – The State Senate Public Safety on Thursday voted 5-2  to defeat SB 779, a measure authored by Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) and sponsored by the California District Attorneys Association.  The bill sought to speed up executions in California through several means, including bringing back the gas chamber. The bill sparked strong outcry from human rights activists who denounced the method as inhumane.

California voters narrowly defeated a bill in November that would have outlawed the death penalty.  The punishment remains on the books, but due to two judicial rulings finding prior methods inhumane, the state has been left unable to carry out executions  since 2006, despite death penalty verdicts.

By Nadin Abbott

April 26, 2013 (Alpine)—A meeting of the Alpine Planning Group this week grew heated as Lou Russo, a long time member of the group, raised conflict of interest complaints stemming from the San Diego Powerlink against fellow members. Russo also sought to have two subcommittee members removed over failing a fire inspection at their propertly.

Mike Milligan stated that he would “tender my resignation” if the attacks continue over Powerlink, adding, “It’s stupidity beyond belief.” 

He added, “It is totally unprofessional and Mr Russo should tender his resignation.”

April 27, 2013 (Sacramento) – Legislation by Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) to require photo identification prior to casting a ballot was killed by Assembly Democrats today in the Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting.

“I am passionate about this issue because the integrity of the ballot must be safeguarded so that the voices of lawful voters are not diluted or disenfranchised due to fraud and illegal conduct; this is equally as important to the credibility of elections,” said Jones.  “The right to vote is a fundamental responsibility given to us by the founders of this country.”

But a Voting Rights Institute report titled “The Real Cost of Photo ID" concludes that “the problem of voter impersonation, which is the only type of fraud photo ID could conceivably address, is less likely to occur than a person being struck by lightning.” Moreover, the report found that in states that have enacted Voter ID requirements, the costs have been high.  In California, the report estimates the cost of implementing Voter ID requirements during the first year would range from $37.86 million to $113.58 million.

April 24, 2013 (Washington D.C.)--Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) cosponsored legislation to block the doubling of interest rates on Stafford student loans set to kick in July of this year.  The Student Loan Relief Act (H.R. 1595) would continue the current 3.4% rate through 2015.

“We need to ensure that access to higher education stays within the reach of middle class and lower-income families,” said Davis, a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “If we want our children - and America, for that matter - to be competitive in the global economy, access to an affordable college education will be key.”

April 18, 2013 (San Diego) --  Mayor Bob Filner received a big thank you on Friday from a wounded Army veteran in desperate need of mobility. The Mayor secured a handcycle for Todd Fahn, who suffered severe injuries to his back from an explosion while serving in Iraq.

Fahn brought his son, Bentley, to meet the Mayor.  Fahn says his new handcycle will allow him the mobility he needs to get around quickly, especially as the father of a toddler.

“I had come to a place of extreme frustration and the system was not working.  I reached out to Mayor Bob Filner because of his many years of commitment to helping veterans in need and he delivered,” said Fahn.  “Because of him, I have a device that helps me get around quickly and efficiently.”

April 17, 2013 (San Diego) – Residents of the 79^th Assembly District are invited to a community coffee with Assembly  member Shirley Weber on Saturday, April 20 from 10-11:30 a.m. This event will be held at the Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway (off Friars Road) in San Diego. 

Residents will have the opportunity to learn about current legislation that she is authoring in Sacramento, ask questions and share concerns they may haveYou are welcome to bring your family, friends and neighbors. This is a free and public event.