News and Announcements
News and Announcements
Republicans Will Take the Lead in 1998
By Steve Baldwin 2-12-98
The Legislature in 1997 had one of its most productive sessions in recent memory. Californians received a $1.7 billion tax cut, the largest in state history, the size of our public school's class-sizes were reduced and the nation's toughest sentencing law for violent gun-toting criminals was enacted. Not surprisingly, most of the Legislature's significant accomplishments reflect Republican philosophy and principles. My hopes are that we can be as equally productive for Californians again in 1998.
Election years are always very interesting at the State Capitol and 1998 promises to be no different. There is no doubt that the upcoming elections will affect the way many Assembly Members vote on proposed legislation. One unique ballot proposition sure to affect legislators is the "Unz Initiative", it is destined to reform Bilingual Education for California's students who do not speak English. The battle lines are already being drawn and legislators will be urged to choose sides by voters, other members and by powerful lobbying groups.
In 1998 it will again be the Republicans taking the lead in the legislature on issues like fighting crime, promoting individual responsibility and reforming education. All the while we will be battling it out with the tax-and-spenders as we once again propose lower taxes for California's middle class.
I know that education reform is a major priority for Californians and that is why Republicans will again be pushing for more Charter Schools, phonics reading and spelling programs, for tougher science standards and for making sure our children possess basic math skills. Happily, the vast majority of Californians were pleased with the education reform ideas we have recently initiated and many of our new 1998 educational proposals also reflect a similar common sense approach to teaching and learning.
California's economy, by every conceivable measure is gaining steam, our unemployment figures are going down and people's incomes on average are moving up. Assembly Republicans are already hard at work on placing an efficient and effective limit on how much money the state can spend. We have proposed what amounts to a pay-raise for California's middle class. While our state was in the economic doldrums the middle-class was getting socked with steep increases in taxes and fees. Now that the State's economy is doing better it is only right that California's hard working citizens be afforded a pay-raise in the form of a state income tax cut. I am also supporting legislation introduced by a colleague to lower the registration fees on our automobiles lessening the DMV's bite on our wallets and checkbooks. Once again in 1998 it is Republicans who want to let people keep more of their hard-earned dollars.
We will also be taking charge of making sure that violent criminals spend their full sentences in prison. We have made tremendous strides in improving public safety in California over the last five years. Between "Three-Strikes" and "10-20-Life," violent and career criminals across the country are getting the word that "Hotel California" for them could be a prison cell for a very long time.
One piece of legislation I am proposing is a penalty enhancement for under-aged persons who attempt to purchase alcohol. Right now most of the penalties fall on the owner of the store. This isn't right! The minors who buy and the clerks who sell to them are the ones breaking the law not the owner of the store who may not even be in the store at the time of the illegal purchase. When minors learn that their coveted driver's license will be taken away and when clerks face stiffer fines and penalties than the potential tragedies of drinking and driving accidents that rob us of our children and tomorrow's leaders will be curbed.
As you can see, we have our work cut out for us in Sacramento. And while sometimes the legislative session in an election year tends to be less productive; you will find that like-minded Republican Assembly Members in- sync with Californians will propose a very ambitious session this year. It is expected that the California Legislature do the business of the people, and I for one promise to do so.
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