FCL NEWSLETTER
November-December, 1998

• 1998 Voting Record
• FCL Annual Report
• Teresa Takes Leave
• What Ever Happened To?
• Articles in Prior Newsletters

1998 Voting Record

[FCL N/L 11/98]

Below we present our annual voting record for members of the California Legislature, focusing on selected legislation of particular concern to the Friends Committee on Legislation. FCL offers this record as an aid to Newsletter readers who may wish to discuss issues with their legislators.

A voting record should be interpreted with caution. It does not tell us that a legislator is a good person or a bad person. This record cannot explain why members voted as they did, and it reveals nothing of what they did before the floor vote, in committee, or behind closed doors. The votes selected here are not necessarily the most important of this legislative session, but they do represent responses to some key FCL concerns.

Here, then, are summaries and the votes cast on ten bills of interest to FCL which came to floor votes in the Legislature during the 1998 legislative year.

AB 562 (Debra Bowen, D., Los Angeles) encourages addicted felons to participate in the CDC civil commitment program. FCL SUPPORTS. Dead; Assembly refused to concur in Senate amendments.

AB 1100 (Helen Thomson, D., Davis) requires health insurers to provide coverage for treatment of mental illness. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed.

AB 1632 (Deborah Ortiz, D., Sacramento) funds joint neighborhood service centers to prevent child abuse and neglect. FCL SUPPORTS. Died in Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 1697 (Tom Torlakson, D., Antioch) transfers $35 million to the California Housing Trust Fund for the California Self-Help Housing Program and requires the Legislative Analyst to prepare a report on permanent funding sources for the Fund. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed.

AB 2737 (Dion Aroner, D., Berkeley) provides matching funds to local governments for supportive housing for homeless and extremely low income persons. FCL SUPPORTS. Chapter 808.

SB 1485 (Herschel Rosenthal, D., Los Angeles) establishes pilot programs under supervision of the Board of Corrections, to divert the mentally ill from jails. Funding in the amount of $27 million is included in SB 2108 for programs extending over the next four years. FCL SUPPORTS. Chapter 501.

SB 1878 (Quentin Kopp, I., San Francisco) extends application of the death penalty through modification of arson, lying-in-wait, and kidnap-murder provisions. FCL OPPOSES. Chapter 629; subject to approval by the voters at the March, 2000 election.

SB 1933 (Patrick Johnston, D., Stockton) allows all workers, regardless of immigration status, to receive disability payments and workers compensation. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed.

SB 2048 (John Vasconcellos, D., Santa Clara) directs the Legislative analyst to report on the costs and benefits of the "3-strikes law." FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed.

SB 2138 (John Vasconcellos, D., San Jose) requires parenting education for all students in grades 9 to 12 and a statewide parenting education master plan for non-school settings. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed.

FCL supported nine of the ten measures studied. Two of them died along the way, five were vetoed, and two were chaptered; the one measure we opposed also was chaptered. We take this slim sampling to mean we are still on the cutting edge of reform and the Governor's list.

ASSEMBLY VOTES
AB AB AB AB AB SB SB SB SB
562 1100 1632 1697 2737 1485 1933 2048 2138
Ackerman, Dick (R) n n n n n n n n n
Aguiar, Fred (R) n Y Y n Y Y n n n
Alby, Barbara (R) n - Y n n n n n n
Alquist, Elaine (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Aroner, Dion (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Ashburn, Roy (R) n n - n Y n n n n
Baca, Joe (D) n Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Baldwin, Steve (R - n n n n Y n n n
Battin, Jim (R) n - n n Y Y n n n
Baugh, Scott (R) n - n Y n n n Y n
Bordonaro, Jr.,Tom (R) n Y n Y Y Y n n n
Bowen, Debra (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Bowler, Larry (R) n - Y n Y Y n n n
Brewer, Marilyn (R) - Y - n n Y n Y n
Brown, Valerie (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y - Y
Bustamante, Cruz M. (D) n Y Y Y Y Y Y - Y
Campbell, Bill (R) n n n Y n n n n n
Cardenas, Tony (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cardoza, Dennis (D) n Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cedillo, Gil (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cunneen, Jim (R) n Y Y Y Y Y n Y n
Davis, Susan (D) - Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Ducheny,Denise Moreno(D)Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Escutia, Martha (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Figueroa, Liz (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Firestone, Brooks(R) n - - - Y Y n Y n
Floyd, Dick (D) Y Y - Y Y - Y - Y
Frusetta, Peter (R) n Y Y Y Y Y n n Y
Gallegos, Martin (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Goldsmith, Jan (R) n - Y n Y Y n n n
Granlund, Brett (R) n Y Y Y n - n n -
Havice, Sally (D) n Y Y Y Y Y - n Y
Hertzberg, Robert(D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Honda, Mike (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
House, George (R) - Y n n n Y n n n
Kaloogian, Howard(R) n n n Y n n n n n
Keeley, Fred (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Knox, Wally (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Kuehl,Sheila James(D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Kuykendall, Steven(R) n - - Y Y Y n n n
Leach, Lynne (R) n Y Y Y Y Y n n n
Lempert, Ted (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Leonard, Bill (R) n n Y n Y n n n n
Machado, Mike (D) - Y Y Y - Y Y - -
Margett, Bob (R) n n n Y Y Y n n n
Martinez, Diane (D) Y Y Y Y - Y Y Y Y
Mazzoni, Kerry (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
McClintock, Tom (R) n n n n n n n n n
Migden, Carol (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Miller, Gary (R) n n Y n Y Y n n n
Morrissey, Jim (R) n Y Y Y Y Y - n Y
Morrow, Bill (R) n n n - n n n n n
Murray, Kevin (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Napolitano, Grace (D) Y Y - Y Y Y Y Y Y
Olberg, Keith (R) n n Y n n n n n n
Oller, Rico (R) n n n n - - n n n
Ortiz, Deborah (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y - Y
Pacheco, Rod (R) n - n Y n Y n n n
Papan, Louis (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y -
Perata, Don (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Poochigian, Charles (R) n - n n n n n n n
Prenter, Robert (R) n Y Y Y Y Y n - n
Pringle, Curt (R) n n n n - n n n n
Richter, Bernie (R) n n - Y - - - Y -
Runner, George (R) n n n n n n n n n
Scott, Jack (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y - Y
Shelley, Kevin (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Strom-Martin,Virginia(D)Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Sweeney, Michael (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Takasugi, Nao (R) - - n - - - - - -
Thompson, Bruce (R) n n n n Y n n n n
Thomson, Helen (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Torlakson, Tom (R) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Villaraigosa,Antonio(D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Vincent, Edward (D) - Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Washington, Carl (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Wayne, Howard (D) n Y - Y Y Y Y n Y
Wildman, Scott (D) - Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Woods, Tom (R) n Y Y Y Y Y n Y n
Wright, Roderick (D) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

SENATE VOTES

AB AB AB AB SB SB SB SB SB
562 1100 1697 2737 1485 1878 1933 2048 2138

Alpert, Dede (D) Y Y - Y Y N Y Y Y
Ayala, Ruben (D) Y Y Y - Y y Y Y Y
Brulte, James (R) n Y Y n - y n n n
Burton, John (D) Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y
Calderon, Charles (D) Y Y - Y - - Y Y Y
Costa, Jim (D) n Y Y Y Y y n Y Y
Craven, William (R) - - - - - - - - -
Dills, Ralph (D) Y Y Y Y Y - Y Y Y
Greene, Leroy (D) Y - Y - Y y Y Y -
Hayden, Tom (D) Y Y Y Y Y - Y Y Y
Haynes, Ray (R) n n Y n n y n n n
Hughes, Teresa (D) Y Y Y Y Y - Y Y Y
Hurtt, Rob (R) n n n n n - n n -
Johannessen,Maurice(R) Y Y n n Y y n n n
Johnson, Ross (R) - n - n - y n n n
Johnston, Patrick (D) Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y
Karnette, Betty (D) Y Y Y Y - y Y Y Y
Kelley, David (R) n n n n Y y n n n
Knight, Wm. "Pete" (R) n n Y n n y n n n
Kopp, Quentin (I) Y n Y Y Y y Y Y n
Leslie, Tim (R) Y - n n - y n - n
Lewis, John (R) Y n n n n - - - -
Lockyer, Bill (D) - Y Y Y Y y Y Y Y
Maddy, Ken (R) n - Y n Y y n Y n
McPherson, Bruce (R) Y Y Y n Y y n n Y
Monteith, Dick (R) n n Y - Y y - n n
Mountjoy, Richard (R) n n n n n y n n n
O'Connell, Jack (D) Y Y Y Y Y y Y Y Y
Peace, Steve (D) Y Y Y Y - y Y Y -
Polanco, Richard (D) - Y Y Y - y Y - Y
Rainey, Richard (R) n Y Y Y Y y n n -
Rosenthal,Herschel(D) Y Y Y Y Y - Y Y Y
Schiff, Adam (D) Y Y Y Y Y - - Y Y
Sher, Byron (D) Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y
Solis, Hilda (D) Y Y Y Y Y y Y Y Y
Thompson, Mike (D) Y Y Y Y Y y Y Y Y
Vasconcellos,John(D) Y Y Y Y Y - Y Y Y
Watson, Diane (D) Y Y Y Y Y - Y Y Y
Wright, Cathie (R) Y Y n n Y y n n n

FCL Annual Report

FCL LEGISLATIVE and PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: 1998

This past year has been busy. We have published 10 issues of the newsletter with exclusive stories on prison conditions, gambling, mental health, low-income housing, welfare reform, and the initiative process.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE:

FCL supported

- development of programs to keep mentally ill offenders out of jail

- expansion of programs to employ parolees and give them adequate drug and alcohol treatment

- more effective discipline of prison staff, through creation of an independent inspector general

- legislation to establish a youth violence prevention authority

- legislation to study the 3-strikes law

DEATH PENALTY:

Worked to establish a solid coalition of religious groups opposed to the expansion of the death penalty in California.

Opposed bills expanding the number of offenses that could lead to a death sentence.

HUMAN SERVICES:

FCL supported

- grant increase and cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for CalWORKS recipients

- cost-of-living adjustment and one percent grant increase for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients

- SSI benefits and food stamps to legal immigrants who lost eligibility under federal welfare reform

- creation of 100,000 new public sector jobs in high unemployment areas

HEALTH CARE:

FCL supported

- pre-natal care for undocumented women

- single payer health care for all Californians

- coverage of medication for mental illness by health insurers

- expansion of state-funded medical care to children in need

- implementation of the medical marijuana initiative passed by voters in 1996

- parenting education in prisons and other non-school settings

HOUSING:

FCL supported

- emergency shelter and supportive housing

- low-income housing tax credits

- permanent state funding for affordable housing

- reporting on community reinvestment by insurance companies

- protections for tenants regarding rent increases, security deposits, and landlord harassment

HUMAN RIGHTS:

FCL supported

- extension of time for workers to file job discrimination complaints

- removal of political affiliation as a criterion for state employment

- workers' compensation and disability insurance for immigrant workers

- legislation to protect the free exercise of religion

THE STAFF OF FCL:

This year was another year of change for the staff of FCL. Namely, Edith Haynes is retiring after many years as FCL's field representative in Southern California where she has shared Quaker values and promoted FCL to the general public and to Quaker groups. Teresa Huffman, FCL's Development Coordinator, has also moved on and we are looking for a suitable replacement. Legislative activities such as those noted herein form the core of FCL's work. Behind this work are the people of FCL...

Ken Larsen brought 20 years of experience as a nonprofit advocate to FCL's health, housing, homelessness and human rights and services agenda starting in the beginning of 1997.

Steve Birdlebough brought his extensive legal and legislative experience to FCL. He has focused on establishing the superiority of community correctional measures as safer alternatives to imprisonment, and on preventing the expansion of the death penalty.

Vickie Valine joined the staff in 1992 as FCL's administrative assistant. Vickie has a wealth of experience with legal issues and environmental causes along with many years volunteer service in the Sacramento peace community.

Ed Klingelhofer edits the Newsletter.

Volunteers and interns regularly work in the office helping the staff in furtherance of FCL's work. If you would like to join us, please contact our office.

Teresa Takes Leave

[FCL N/L 11/98]

TERESA TAKES LEAVE

Teresa Huffman, FCL's Development Coordinator, elected to move on to other challenges as of mid-October. She left the accompanying message to be relayed to our readers. We, the FCL staff, send her on her way with our warmest best wishes, our heartfelt thanks for her dedicated efforts on behalf of the organization, and fond memories of her skill at reminding us of what we and the FCL are all about.

Dear Friends:

I write to you with mixed feelings of anticipation and regret. It is time for me to say farewell to FCL. My two and one- half years here have been an exciting, growing, and challenging experience. I want especially to thank you so much for all of your support. You have always made me feel very welcome in your homes and in your hearts. It has been wonderful to get to know so many of you, and I hope to maintain the friendships we have created. I will miss visiting you, and asking for your support. FCL is very close to my heart and I will miss working here, too, but I have many adventures and challenges to look forward to as well. Please take care and thank you again for making my experience with FCL so meaningful. When you are in Monterey be sure to look me up.

With all good wishes to each of you,

Teresa