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FCL NEWSLETTER
[FCL N/L 11-12/99] 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 11 bills of interest to FCL which came to floor votes in the Legislature during the 1999 legislative year. AB 88 (Helen Thomson, D., Davis) requires health care plans to cover severe mental illness. FCL SUPPORTS.Signed into law, Chapter 534. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/10/99; Senate, 9/9/99. AB 235 (Sheila Kuehl, D., Santa Monica) establishes a youth violence prevention authority in the office of the Attorney General. FCL SUPPORTS. Assembly Inactive File. Floor votes:Assembly, 6/4/99; Senate, 9/9/99. AB 537 (Sheila Kuehl, D., Santa Monica) prohibits harrassment and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in public schools. FCL SUPPORTS. Signed into law, Chapter 587. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/10/99; Senate, 9/9/99. AB 633 (Darrell Steinberg, D., Sacramento) establishes new labor standards for the garment industry. FCL SUPPORTS. Signed into law, Chapter 554. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/10/99; Senate 9/9/99. AB 1440 (Carole Migden, D., San Francisco) authorizes press contact with prisoners. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed. Floor votes: Assembly, 5/13/99; Senate 8/23/99. SB 115 (Hilda Solis, D., Los Angeles) establishes the Governor?s Office of Planning and Research as the lead agency for environmental justice programs, setting the stage for stronger controls in the years ahead.FCL SUPPORTS. Signed into law , Chapter 690. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/9/99; Senate 9/10/99. SB 323 (Tom Hayden, D., Los Angeles) establishes a task force to involve youth in making recommendations regarding gang violence prevention, both in and out of prisons. FCL SUPPORTS. Assembly Appropriations Committee. Assembly Appropriations Committee. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/7/99; Senate 6/10/99. SB 480 (Hilda Solis, D., Los Angeles)initiates a state-sponsored study of how to provide universal health care. FCL SUPPORTS. Signed into law, Chapter 990. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/7/99; Senate 9/8/99 SB 659 (Cathie Wright, R., Simi Valley) restores Food Stamps and aid to families to released drug felons who complete or agree to drug-treatment programs and pass periodic drug tests. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/1/99; Senate 9/2/99. SB 781 (Jackie Speier, D., San Mateo)establishesa rental housing subsidy program for current and former welfare recipients. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/10/99; Senate 9/10/99. SB 873 (John Vasconcellos, D., San Jose) directs the Legislative Analyst, Judicial Council, and University of California to determine the effects of the three-strikes law. FCL SUPPORTS. Vetoed. Floor votes: Assembly, 9/3/99; Senate 9/9/99. . 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.
LEGEND
[FCL N/L 11-12/99]
1999 Legislative Highlights Some highlights from the 90 bills on which FCL took action in 1999: Criminal Justice Death Penalty --- Helped stall eight bills that would have expanded the death penalty (in addition, we are working for the defeat of death-penalty expanding Propositions 19 and 21 on the upcoming March ballot). Three Strikes --- Supported an objective study of the real impact of California's three strikes law (SB 79, SB 873). Jobs for Ex-offenders --- Helped extend job placement services for ex-offenders to increase their chances of success on parole(California State Budget). Family and Friends of Prisoners --- Worked to strengthen the connections of family members and friends of prisoners (Family Council, Prisoners Rights Union). Violence Reduction --- Urged legislators to support violence reduction programs (AB 235) and published an updated edition of our "Inventory of California Violence Prevention Programs." Freedom for the Press to Interview Prisoners ---Sought to enable the press to interview prisoners of their choosing, which helps to facilitate accurate and open reporting on prison conditions (AB 1440). Restorative Justice ---Supported two bills (SB 297, SB 1117) that would reduce the number of prisoners while enhancing public safety. Environmental Justice Tighter Controls --- Environmental degradations, such as oil refinery fires and toxic waste sites, often have disproportionate impact on low-income and minority communities. We backed an effort to use the power of the governor's office to establish stronger controls in the years ahead (SB 115). Affordable Housing Facing a Crisis --- California ranks at the bottom nation-wide in housing affordability. We successfully pushed for improvements in state housing support and policies (California State Budget, AB 97, AB 1505, SB 948). But the governor vetoed rental subsidies for current and former welfare recipients (SB 781). Health Care 7 Million Without Health Insurance ---Secured state-sponsored study (SB 480) of options for universal health care but governor vetoed mandate (AB 100) to spend tobacco tax settlement revenues ($500 million/year for next 25 years!) on expanded health coverage. Welfare Reform Parolees Denied Access to Public Assistance --Joined with other advocates to secure the passage of bill (SB 659) to restore eligibility for Food Stamps and aid to families to released drug felons (including many women with children) who agree to treatment programs and pass periodic drug tests. War and Peace U.S. Military Pressing State to Boost Draft Registration and Punish Draft Resisters --- Responding to FCL-organized pressure, the legislature rejected Selective Service-sponsored provisions (SB 1266) that would have denied non-registrants their high school diplomas and required Selective Service registrars on every high school campus. Staff Steve Birdlebough is one of our two legislative advocates and brings 40 years of legal and legislative experience to FCL's criminal justice agenda. Since joining the staff in 1997, he has focused on promoting community correctional measures and stopping expansion of the death penalty. Peter Crysdale is our new part-time statewide Development and Outreach Coordinator. He was a fund raiser for the American Friends Service Committee for many years and has worked with numerous Quaker agencies and causes. Ken Larsen, our other legislative advocate, has extensive experience as a professional and advocate in social services, higher education, and the arts. Since 1997, he has been working to advance FCL's agenda for expanded health care, affordable housing, improved public services, and enhanced human rights. Sandy Soghikian is our Development and Outreach Coordinator (part-time) for Southern California. She is active in Quaker circles and works as professional criminal justice researcher. Vickie Valine, our office adminstrator since 1992, has a wealth of experience with legal issues and with envrironmental, neighborhood, and peace activism. Leadership and Direction The Friends Committee on Legislation is an organization rooted in Quaker practice. The work is committee-driven. The policy directions our lobbyists use their work are fashioned by two policy committees, one in the North and one in the South, who meet regularly and shape our vision and analysis. The staff are the arms and legs of the committees. The FCL Executive Committee is comprised of 49 representatives from Friends Meetings and Churches in California as well as non-Quakers who share our concerns. Committee members often make substantial commitments of time and energy to the work. Support The larger community that makes up the Friends Committee on Legislation of California involves nearly 1400 people ? donors, activists and subscribers to our Newsletter ? who share our concern for basic human dignity and want to work for equality, peace and justice in California's state government. Support for FCL comes from financial contributions and activism. Our community responds to action bulletins with letters and phone calls to public representatives. We sponsor events, public forums and meetings and participate in several lobby days at the State Capitol. Ninety percent of our budget income comes from individual donor contributions and subscriptions to the FCL Newsletter. The remaining 10 percent is generated from fundraising events. Our contributors are invited to contribute to our Pooled Income Fund that brings income to donors during their lifetimes. We welcome bequests. Your contributions are needed and appreciated. If you are interested in learning more about how you can participate in the Friends Committee on Legislation please write or call Peter Crysdale, Development and Outreach Coordinator, Friends Committee on Legislation Glimpses of the Blessed Community [FCL N/L 11/99] Walking up the path to the Grinstead?s front door there was the unmistakable smell of fallen walnuts. Of course, I was in Walnut Creek, but I was suddenly taken back to my morning walks at Pendle Hill, a Quaker study center and arboretum near Philadelphia where I lived for nine years. By the barn was an old black walnut covered with trumpet vine and wisteria. In the fall the pungent walnuts filled my walks. A few minutes later on the Grinstead?s sofa next to Bob?s tuba I learned that Helen, whose Quaker roots go back 300 years, grew up across the road from Pendle Hill in an cottage that I also knew well from my morning walks. Helen left the Philadelphia area in 1947 and moved to Southern California to work with the American Friends Service Committee. She met Bob (they have been married 50 years) and moved to the Bay Area. Since the mid-fifties they both have served the Friends Committee on Legislation in numerous ways. Bob has been an Executive Committee member, clerk, treasurer and long-time participant in the ongoing conversation that culminates in the policy statements that are the basis of FCL lobbying and Quaker witness in California. Helen has been a dedicated committee member and knitter. In the late fifties, Mary Jorgensen asked her to knit something to sell at the Berkeley Friends Meeting?s Fall Bazaar to benefit FCL and she has been knitting for FCL ever since. Last year the proceeds from her knitting raised more than $1600 dollars for FCL. Over the years, she has won 11 awards for her craft at the California State Fair. She laid out a beautiful dark blue cardigan next to me. Then a pale plum-colored sweater, some exquisitely stitched baby quilts, brightly colored children?s sweaters with dinosaurs, a classic knitted Christmas stocking with the name and year of birth of the child knitted into the stocking and some magnificent Icelandic sweaters. I knit them to order,? she said, ?$180 dollars. I pay for the wool (about $40 for each sweater), and each one takes five or six weeks' work. I am a perfectionist at my craft, I took that blue cardigan apart twice before I got it right. "I now attend the Unitarian Church here in Walnut Creek, but I like Quakers, they are religious group who do something about it. Suits me very nicely to spend the evening knitting, I can?t go out to meetings to save the world - so I stay home and knit.By the way, have you seen the article in the November issue of The Atlantic Monthly on capital punishment?? Bob plays tuba in a Dixieland band and has a Millenium New Year?s Eve gig at a nearby winery. Helen will knit you a Christmas stocking or a beautiful sweater to order in your size. The proceeds will assist the work of the Friends Committee on Legislation of California. Helen?s phone number is (925)934-7424. [FCL N/L 11/99] Petitions for an amendment to the California State Constitution to abolish the death penalty are being circulated by a Los Angeles group called "Full Circle of Life." The sponsors need one and one half million signatures in the next three months for the measure to qualify for the November, 2000 ballot. To obtain a petition to circulate in your community, send a stamped, self addressed envelope to: Full Circle of Life, 5232 E. Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90022. SUPPORT FCL BY SPONSORING A PRISONER NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION [FCL N/L 11/99] FCL responds to prisoners' requests by sending out over 1,000 Newsletters every month! Each year we receive hundreds of letters from prisoners requesting free subscriptions and expressing their deep appreciation for all our work. Here are just a few excerpts from some of the letters we received during this past year. "I would like to send my gratutude to FCL and to also say keep up the good work. If it wasn't for people like you this world would be very unbalanced." -Inmate from Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, Blythe "Here are a few stamps to help you out. I don't have much, but we all need to give some of what we can to move forward in this life." -Inmate from Mule Creek State Prison, Ione "I would also like to thank you for your support. It amazes me that there are people such as yourself who really care about those who are more readily identified as society's rejects." -Inmate from Pleasant Valley State Prison, Coalinga "My copy of the Newsletter circulates here. There's a lot of interest. Your work on behalf of fairness is much appreciated." -Inmate from High Desert State Prison, Susanville "Thank you from my heart for supporting criminal justice reform and working hard to abolish the death penalty. God Bless You All." -Inmate from Valley State Prison for Women, Chowchilla "The FCL Newsletter ... not only assists myself and other inmates, i'm also able to open my family's eyes to issues that pertain to them and my dear sons who are at the ripe age for the Justice system to start profiling them." -Inmate from California State Prison, Los Angeles County As you can read, the FCL Newsletter is a blessing to those who need it most. Your additional contribution in support of FCL will help in our efforts to keep prisoners informed and allow us to share cheer and good will throughout the year. Please complete and return the bottom portion of this page with your check made payable to FCL. Thank you for your continuing support and happy holidays! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - YES! I would like to support FCL's efforts to keep prisoners informed. Enclosed is my gift of $_____ to sponsor (#)___ prisoner subscriptions to the FCL Newsletter for $10 each. Sponsor's Name: Address: Friends Committee on Legislation
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