Ashburn Succeeds at High Speed Rail Accountability
The California Senate Thursday passed Assembly Bill 3034, by Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani, a measure to correct flaws in the November ballot’s High Speed Rail, Proposition 1. The bill contained a series of accountability provisions to address concerns raised by Senator Ashburn. In recent weeks Senator Ashburn has been seeking to have Proposition 1 corrected or removed from this year’s ballot to address serious accountability concerns with the planning and spending of the $10 billion in funds that will be raised by the bond measure.
Ashburn Nursing Shortage Bill Signed by Governor
Senator Roy Ashburn today announced that Senate Bill 1621 to provide relief to California’s nursing shortage has been signed into law. Senate Bill 1621 provides an incentive for practicing nurses to become instructors by extending student loan forgiveness through the State Nursing Assumption Program of Loans for Education (SNAPLE) program. SB 1621 will extend eligibility for loan forgiveness from current students and very recent graduates to also include experienced registered nurses who desire to teach.
Ashburn’s Mountain Communities Bus Bill Signed by Governor
Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) today announced that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed Senate Bill 1263. The measure will allow Amtrak to provide bus service to Frazier Park and the Mountain Communities by way of its Santa Clarita-to-Lebec “feeder bus” route.
Global Warming Rules Chilling Democrats
Throughout 2005 and 2006 legislative Republicans warned their Democrat counterparts about the consequences of Assembly Bill 32, a measure by former Speaker Fabian Nunez of Los Angeles, to ostensibly reduce global warming through restrictions on carbon emissions. The bill embraces left-wing global warming theory by instituting a mandatory cap on so-called “greenhouse gases” in California, aiming to limit emissions by the year 2020 to 1990 levels. The law directs the Air Resource Board to establish a mandatory reporting system to track and monitor emissions levels and imposes fees on businesses to pay for this monitoring.
Governor Applauds Ashburn for Volunteers Bill
Governor Schwarzenegger speaks out in support of Ashburn volunteer legislation at apress conference in Sacramento April 7th, 2008.
[transcript]
Senator Roy Ashburn was joined by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger along the banks of the American River in Sacramento this morning where the two held a press conference in support of Ashburn’s state volunteers measure, Senate Bill 1345. "Government has its job to do, but government cannot do it all - the real action comes from the people. From the raging Southern California wildfires to the devastating Bay Area oil spill, we have seen the positive difference Californians make through volunteering,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Without this law, public works projects - like building playgrounds or cleaning up beaches, rivers and parks - will be in jeopardy of not being completed." ... more
Ashburn Announces State Volunteer Measure
Senator Roy Ashburn was joined today by Administration officials and conservationists as he announced Senate Bill 1345, which would permanently remove the requirement that volunteers on state projects must be paid the prevailing wage. Appearing with Ashburn at the Sacramento press conference were Karen Baker, the Governor’s newly appointed Secretary of Service and Volunteering, Victoria Bradshaw, California Labor and Workforce Agency Secretary, Mike Chrisman, California Secretary for Resources and David Muraki, Director of the California Conservation Corps. “At a time when every state agency is facing budget cutbacks, it is imperative that we do everything we can to create a welcoming environment for willing volunteers,” said Senator Ashburn. “Rather than chasing them away, we need to encourage more volunteerism to protect our parks, trails, and streams. I applaud Governor Schwarzenegger and Secretary Karen Baker for their recent efforts toward that commendable goal.”... more
Ashburn Rural Doctors Bill Defeated
Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) expressed disappointment today after the Senate Business and Professions Committee rejected his rural doctors measure, Senate Bill 1640. The bill lost on a 2-5 vote. SB 1640 would allow any acute care hospital in a medically underserved area to hire up to five physicians and would prohibit hospital interference in their medical decisions. Hospitals are prevented from hiring doctors directly due to an existing law that dates back to the early part of the last century. ... more
Ashburn's Caregiver Background Checks Bill Passes Legislature Now Goes to the Governor
Senator Roy Ashburn (R- Bakersfield) announced today that Senate Bill 692 to expand caregiver background checks passed the Senate by a vote of 36-0. Under current California law, participants in the In-Home Social Services (IHSS) caregiver program for low income patients must be cleared through a Department of Justice background check. Unfortunately those caught in the middle, people who don’t qualify for IHSS, but cannot afford to use a private agency, lack the legal authorization to request a background check on a potential in-home caregiver. SB 692 grants them this authority to protect themselves or their loved ones and obtain a background check on an unlicensed in-home caregiver.... more
Ashburn Proposes Revised Political Reform
Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) and today announced his newest sweeping political reform proposal which will include abolishing term limits for future legislators. The measure also includes themes that Ashburn has been advocating in recent years, including redistricting by way of a citizen’s panel, campaign finance reform and legislative accountability reform. Ashburn was joined by the measure’s co-author, Senator Alan Lowenthal (D- Long Beach). Ashburn’s latest political reform package will abolish term limits entirely in 2016 after every present member of the legislature has left their office due to existing term limits. Just as importantly it includes a citizens’ panel for redistricting, and twenty-four-hour campaign reporting requirements during critical times in the legislative calendar.... more
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Senator Ashburn discusses term limits and political reform on Comcast Local edition with host Steve Swatt
Ashburn's Caregiver Background Checks Bill Passes Legislature Now Goes to the Governor
Senator Roy Ashburn (R- Bakersfield) announced today that Senate Bill 692 to expand caregiver background checks passed the Senate by a vote of 36-0. Under current California law, participants in the In-Home Social Services (IHSS) caregiver program for low income patients must be cleared through a Department of Justice background check. Unfortunately those caught in the middle, people who don’t qualify for IHSS, but cannot afford to use a private agency, lack the legal authorization to request a background check on a potential in-home caregiver. SB 692 grants them this authority to protect themselves or their loved ones and obtain a background check on an unlicensed in-home caregiver.... more
Ashburn Names Bakersfield Volunteer Billie Jo Medders Woman of the Year
In a ceremony on the floor of The California Senate today, Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) named Bakersfield volunteer activist Billie Jo Medders Woman of the Year for the 18th Senate District... more
Ashburn Announces 2008 Legislation
Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) today announced the bills he will be carrying in the 2008 legislative session. Included in this year’s legislative package will be four measures to help reduce health care costs in California through expanded access. Another measure will help with California’s budget woes by allowing volunteers to continue working in various state offices and services with out receiving payment from the State. Presently the law that allows for these volunteers is set to expire if no action is taken. Senator Ashburn will also continue to pursue good-government political reform by revising his Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 which passed the Senate last year, but was bogged down in political wrangling in the Assembly. An announcement on the specific reform measures will be made in the near future... more
Senator Ashburn discusses the state budget crisis on Comcast Local edition with host Steve Swatt
Ashburn Hosts Foreclosure Prevention Workshop
Senator Roy Ashburn was joined today by State and Consumer Service Agency and Housing officials for a mortgage assistance forum and community workshop, at the offices of Kern County Superintendent of Schools in Bakersfield. ... more
Ashburn Announces Senate Fellowships - Senator Ashburn today announced the availability of applications for the 2008 - 2009 California Senate Fellows program. The program provides college graduates an opportunity to become full-time Senate staff members at the state Capitol in Sacramento for 11 months beginning in October 2008. Fellows are assigned to the personal or committee staff of a Senator and are paid a stipend of $1,972 per month plus health, vision, and dental benefits. They earn 12 units of graduate credit from Sacramento State for the academic portion of the program. ... more
Taming the Budget Beast
Last week's budget news was grim – a nearly $15 billion dollar deficit and years of more debt. So, how did the budget situation get so bad? Well, not by under-spending. Rather, by years of overspending, fiscal mismanagement, and unwillingness by the Legislature to make tough decisions to rein in state expenses. Now, the state must make some tough choices, and all those involved must be accountable for their actions. California families have to make tough budget choices every day in order to make ends meet. It is only sensible that the Legislature and the Governor learn to do the same. ... more
Ashburn Health Care Bill Passes Committee - Senator Ashburn’s bill SBX1 23 to expand coverage for uninsured employees passed the Senate Health Committee today, its first major hurdle in the special session called by Governor Schwarzenegger to address healthcare. Senator Ashburn’s measure creates an economic incentive for employers who do not already provide coverage, to establish special “cafeteria” plans for their employees to purchase health insurance. Employees who presently purchase their own health insurance must do so with after-tax income, from their own pockets. SBX1 23 would take advantage of IRS provisions that allow for companies to give their employees the opportunity to pay for benefits on a pretax basis. ... more
