This Week Inside the Capitol

ALERT: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will file its opinion tomorrow (Tuesday, February 7) by 10:00 a.m. in Perry v. Brown, case numbers 10-16696 and 11-16577, regarding the constitutionality of Proposition 8 and motion to vacate the lower court judgement in the case.

February 6, 2012

Tomorrow morning: Happy Birthday, Ronald Reagan!

by Rebecca Burgoyne,
CFC Research Analyst

Born February 6, 1911, today would have been the 101st birthday of former President Ronald W. Reagan, the 33rd governor of California and the 40th president of the United States. Reagan was the only person in California’s history to have been elected to both offices. Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR 93) honors Reagan as a “man of humble background, [who] worked throughout his life serving freedom and advancing the public good.” Having passed the Assembly Rules Committee 9-0, ACR 93 is now on the Assembly floor. As a concurrent resolution, should it pass the Assembly, it will continue on to the Senate. 

Resolutions do not have the force of law, but serve as – often highly politicized – ways in which the Legislature expresses its collective opinion on many issues. Of the 400 legislative measures introduced – either as new bills or amendments – since January 1, 2012, twenty-seven of them have been resolutions. These resolutions vary from urging all Californians to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (ACR 88) and designating November as Sikh American Awareness Month (ACR 97) to honoring men like Reagan and Martin Luther King, Jr. (SR 23). Often resolutions express opinions on federal policy issues like urging Congress to pass certain legislation or the President to take a certain action.

On the Legislative Calendar
Last week, any carry-over bills (one introduced in 2011) that hadn’t passed out of its house of origin officially died and can no longer be considered – unless legislators choose to amend the bill language into a new bill with a new bill number. Legislators will continue to introduce what has so far been a trickle of new bills through the end of February. The slow pace will pick up as the February 24 deadline approaches, with the majority coming in the last few days. Committee hearings will then pick up during the spring months. Stay tuned to California Family Council for the latest bill introductions and news on what is happening with your elected representatives in Sacramento. 

SB 810 Single-Payer Health Care (Leno, D-San Francisco)
Passed Senate Health Committee 5-3
Passed Senate Appropriations Committee 6-2
Failed Senate Passage 19-15 (needed 21 votes for passage)
Died on Senate floor