Fire parcel fee, redevelopment cuts, tuition hikes, freeze on teacher lay-offs, and "crippling" cuts in border crimes enforcement among the budget impacts on our region

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 30, 2011 (Sacramento) –Governor Jerry Brown and Democrats in the state Legislature have approved a majority-vote budget without a single Republican vote. The move ends a months-long impasse in which Republicans held out for an all-cuts budget, while Democrats sought revenue increases to prevent slashing programs ranging from healthcare to law enforcement. The budget includes $7.9 billion in cuts which aim to reduce the state’s $26 billion deficit to $5 billion.

June 19, 2011 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district may soon extend to include La Mesa, part of El Cajon and other areas in East County with reapportionment, has joined several other legislators in sending a letter asking Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct an investigation into oil speculation.  The legislators seek to “determine whether illegal practices may be artificially inflating oil and gas prices” and also ask for “common sense limits" on the  trading of oil futures.

 “It's infuriating that major oil companies continue to profit from tax exemptions while American families struggle with rising gas prices," Davis said in a letter to constituents. "I joined in sending a letter to Vice President Biden asking him to make sure that cutting unnecessary tax subsidies for major oil companies is part of a deal to reduce the deficit.”

Garrick reportedly was set to run for redrawn Senate district in East County

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2011 (San Diego) – Assemblyman Martin Garrick (R-74th district), who currently represents North County, was arrested yesterday in Sacramento for driving under the influence of alcohol, after speeding, running a stop sign and fleeing from two California Highway Patrol officers.

Garrick, a former vice chair of the local Republican Party and past GOP Assembly leader, has been put forward by the Republican Party as a potential candidate to run for State Senate in a redrawn 38th State Senate district that would include areas in East County north of Interstate 8 if proposed redistricting plans are approved as drafted.

 Supervisors to consider proposed plans June 28
 

June 15, 2011 (San Diego County) -- After a series of public meetings that began in February, the County’s Redistricting Advisory Committee voted Monday to forward three proposed redistricting plans to the Board of Supervisors. The citizen’s committee was tasked with gathering public input and forwarding no more than three plans for the Board’s consideration. The Redistricting Advisory Committee finished that work and held its final meeting Monday. 

The Board of Supervisors is expected to hear the committee’s proposed plans at its regular Board meeting at 9 a.m. on June 28.The Redistricting Advisory Committee’s three proposals can be viewed at the County’s redistricting website at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/redistricting. Once at the site, please choose “view/submit plan” from the left menu; then choose “view the latest proposed plans.” This will take you to the online viewer, where you can “Choose (a) Plan.” 

June 15, 2011 (Santee) -- Assemblyman Brian Jones, Republican representing the 77th district, announces opening of a new district office location at 10152 Mission Gorge Road in Santee.

June 15, 2011 (San Diego) – A workshop on proposed redistricting will be this Thursday, June 16 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the City Heights Wellness Center, 4440 Wightman Street, #200 in City Heights. 

Redistricting will determine California’s political boundaries for the next 10 years. California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission will draw district lines for the first time in California history for state Congressional, Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization Districts. Latinos comprise nearly 40% of California’s population—and representatives from the Latino community want to make sure that redistricting will assure representation that reflects those numbers.

Measure drew bipartisan support in Congress, though local representatives split votes down party lines

June 7, 2011 (Washington D.C.)—By a 268-145 vote, the House of Representatives rebuked President Barack Obama for not seeking Congressional authorization for military conflict in Libya. House Resolution 292, authored by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) asked the President to provide Congress with justification for U.S. involvement in NATO-led military strikes. 

June 5, 2011 (La Mesa) --Volunteers to conduct walk audits and evaluations of City of La Mesa parks are needed during the months of June and July as part of a citywide Park Master Plan project. Volunteers will walk neighborhood areas surrounding the City’s 14 parks to identify access barriers to the parks as well as potential opportunities for adding open space or green space in areas of the community that are underserved by parks and recreational facilities.

June 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) has issued a press release sharply criticizing Governor Jerry Brown for signing a contract for Will Lightbourne to head up the state’s Department of Social Services. The contract totals $1.25 million, spread over the next three and a half years.

By Jeremy Los

“This bill is an unprecedented assault on women’s health care. For the first time, restrictions would be placed on how women with private insurance can spend their own dollars in purchasing health insurance.” – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego)

May 31, 2011- Women’s rights are under siege as Republicans in control of the House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 3. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would sharply restrict access to abortion.

Championed by Rep. Christopher Smith (R- NJ), the bill passed  the House with 251 "aye" votes, of which 235 were Republicans--including San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa. (Brian Bilbray (R-San Diego) abstained from voting, while local Democratic representatives Susan Davis and Bob Filner voted "no.")

May 27, 2911 (San Diego's East County) -- San Diego Taxpayers Association has presented its not-so-coveted Grand Golden Fleece award this year to Sweetwater Union High School District for its declaration of "Let the Taxpayers Eat Wedding Cake!”

The "award" spotlighted taxpayer funded mailings and suggested improprieties involving contractors invited to the Superintendent's daughter's wedding. 

May 25, 2011 (Washington D.C) —With the U.S. government expected to hit the $14.294 trillion debt ceiling this week, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, called for action on H.R. 1551, the Guarantee Paychecks for America’s Military Families Act. 

The legislation guarantees that, in the event the debt limit is reached or a lapse in federal funding occurs, all military families, in addition to civilians working in combat zones, continue to receive paychecks.  Cosponsors include San Diego representatives Bob Filner, a Democrat, and Republican Brian Bilbray. 

May 18, 2011 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) invites constituents to a town-hall style public meeting on Wednesday, May 18 from 6-7 p.m. in the Normal Heights Community Center at 4649 Hawley Blvd., San Diego 92116.

“Please come share your ideas, ask a question, and get an update about what’s happening in Congress at my Mid-City/Uptown Neighborhood Day this Wednesday evening,” the Congresswoman said.

May 17, 2011 (Sacramento) – Assembly Higher Education Chair Marty Block (AD-78) issued the following statement in response to Governor Brown’s May Revise budget proposal: 

“Governor Brown’s May Revise is a responsible roadmap with a long-term vision that preserves education funding and provides hiring incentives to get people back to the workplace – two critical components to maintaining our economic recovery. Given the remaining deficit and difficult choices before us, I am encouraged to see this plan provides funding for K-12 education and community colleges. An otherwise all-cuts budget proposal would have caused unprecedented damage to our public colleges and universities, already grappling with deep cuts that will undoubtedly impact access and affordability."