Steve Collett, All of Us or None DEMAND Lower Drug Penalties

Steve Collett joins advocates across Southern California in supporting Mark Leno's SB 1506, which, if enacted, would significantly reduce prison and jail spending.  The bill revises all personal-use drug possession crimes, and recategorizes them as misdemeanors.  State and local governments would be able to dedicate precious resources to probation, drug treatment and mental health services, which have proven most effective in reducing drug-related crime.

This clip includes statements in support of SB 1506 from:

~Susan Burton, All of Us or None

~Steve Collett, Congressional Candidate, CA-33

~Michelle Alexander, author, The New Jim Crow

Why this bill is needed

• To help address the state and county budget crises;

• To help alleviate overcrowding in state prisons and county jails;

• To provide greater flexibility to county governments to invest in cost-effective

approaches to reduce recidivism, including drug treatment and mental health services;

• To free up law enforcement officials to focus on more serious offenses;

• To reduce costly burdens on the overcrowded court system;

• To prevent severe lifelong consequences of a felony conviction that hurt families and

individuals, including reduced access to jobs, student loans, housing and small

business loans

To express your support, please call your local Assemblyman, or visit their office & explain that you think it's time to call a ceasefire in the Drug War. 

Assembly Member Isadore Hall, III   Capitol Office Sacramento (916) 319-2052   District Address Rancho Dominguez  (310) 223-1201

Assembly Member Warren T. Furutani  Capitol Office Sacramento (916) 319-2055   District Office: Long Beach(562) 989-2919

Senator Roderick Wright  State Capitol  Sacramento (916) 651-4025   District Address  Inglewood  (310) 412-0393

 Assenbly Member Charles M. Calderon  Capitol Office Sacramento  (916) 319-2058   District Office City of Industry  (562) 692-5858

Senator Alan Lowenthal  Capitol Office State Capitol  (916) 651-4027  District Offices  Long Beach (562) 495-4766

Paramount  (562) 529-6659

Senator Curren D. Price, Jr. Capitol Office  Sacramento  (916) 651-4026     District Office Los Angeles (213) 745-6656

OR take action with the ACLU of Northern CA:

https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4247

Source: ElectCollett.com

California Democratic Party Launches Website Dedicated to Exposing Voting Records of Vulnerable GOP Incumbents Running for Congress in California

www.WrongForCalifornia.com features latest news stories and stat sheets on five California House Republicans

SACRAMENTO - The California Democratic Party today unveiled a new website targeting vulnerable House Republican incumbents running for re-election in California. The site www.WrongForCalifornia.com features the latest news stories and stat sheets exposing the voting records of five incumbent Republican House members seeking re-election.

All five of the House Republicans profiled on the site voted to end Medicare by siding with Paul Ryan and voting for the House Republican budget. The five House Republicans featured on the site are:

Dan Lungren (CA-07) - Lungren was first elected to Congress in 1978, and now represents the east Sacramento suburbs. A fixture in California political circles for decades, Lungren has ingratiated himself to lobbyists and developed a brazen sense of entitlement over his many years in Washington.

Jeff Denham (CA-10) - a member of the freshman Tea Party class of 2010, Denham quickly became comfortable with the trappings of power after arriving in Washington, D.C. So comfortable in fact that he threw an $80,000 lobbyist bash and fundraiser for himself a full day before he was officially sworn in as a member of the new Congress.

Mary Bono-Mack (CA-36) - Bono-Mack has been taking care of her well-connected friends  in Washington and California since she made her way to Congress in 1998. This year, she's carved out a role as Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's top female surrogatein California, defending the candidate's retrograde positions on equal pay and contraception.

Gary Miller (CA-31) - Gary Miller doesn't have many strong suits - the FBI investigated Miller for a series of land transactions he used to dodge paying capital gains taxes - and was recently caught goofing off on camera, fumbling through his campaign slogans and frequently turning to his handlers for advice on how to appear authentic. It's no surprise that Miller's new San Bernardino district will present a tough challenge for the Orange County Republican.

Brian Bilbray (CA-52) - Brian Bilbray has consistently sided with the most extreme elements of the House Republican leadership, including voting for the Paul Ryan budget to end Medicare. As a result of re-districting Bilbray finds himself in a less conservative district and will no doubt spend considerable effort masking his Tea Party credentials.

"The battle to win back the House begins and ends in California," said Tenoch Flores, communications director for the California Democratic Party. "From siding with the Tea Party, voting to end Medicare, to protecting tax cuts for billionaires and millionaires, these Republican candidates are wrong for California. House Republicans are in peril in the Golden State and we're confident 2012 will be the year voters here decide they've had enough of the extremist Republican agenda in Washington."

The site will serve as a clearinghouse for news stories and up to the minute information on the candidates with frequent updates and guest bloggers as well.

The Donnelly Dispatch: May 2012

In Memoriam
Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry

As many of you have heard, The United States Senate passed a resolution, long overdue, that would honor the heroic life and ultimate sacrifice that border patrol agent, Brian A. Terry made in 2010 when he was killed on the border, in the line of duty.

Even more tragic, was that the bullet that prematurely ended this valiant Patriot's life was fired from a gun provided to Mexican drug cartel thugs by the United States government in a process known as "gunwalking". This recognition is the least we can do in the light of such a dereliction of duty by the Department of Justice and the misguided attempt of the "Fast and Furious" program. His death is a symbol of the government's betrayal of the people as they refuse to enforce the simplest of immigration and border protection laws while they allow these incredibly powerful weapons, such as the one used to senselessly murder Agent Terry, to fall into enemy hands. Not one single elected official has been held accountable for this tragedy and although the passage of this act is a step in the right direction, Agent Brian Terry's legacy will not be properly honored until those responsible are brought to justice.

As Memorial Day draws closer, we are reminded of the supreme sacrifice that so many of our service men and women, including Agent Terry, and we must strive to be worthy of that sacrifice made in our honor.

Honoring Those Who Serve

Remembering Sgt. Brian L. Walker

On Friday, Assemblyman Donnelly adjourned in the memory of Sgt. Brian L. Walker. Sgt. Walker, from Lucerne Valley, was only 25 years old and on his 2nd deployment. He was the commander of his vehicle when it was destroyed by an IED, killing him and one other member of his  team. He is survived by his wife, Ashley Walker, who is also serving in the armed forces and immediate family. A memorial service will be held on June 2nd at Crossroads Chapel Foursquare Church in Lucerne Valley. During this Memorial Day weekend, please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. 

The Repeal of the Fire Fee

AB 1506 Dies in Committee

Today in the Appropriations committee, AB 1506, the repeal of the fire fee, was killed. Committee Democrats used a procedural maneuver and held the bill in committee on the deadline for all bills to pass that committee. They effectively killed the bill without ever having to vote on it, allowing the illegal fire fee to move forward without any discourse. The fire fee, actually an illegal tax, was passed without the 2/3's vote required by Prop. 26. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association has vowed to file a lawsuit on those and other grounds once the tax bill has been sent to homeowners.

In the District

Desert Valley Hospital Expansion

In the middle of one of the toughest economies facing our nation, it is great to be able to celebrate the expansion of one of the top rated health care facilities in our area, Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville. Assemblyman Donnelly attended the ribbon cutting along with Drs. Prem Reddy and Margaret Peterson as well as Mayor MacEacheron, Congressman Buck McKeon, and Hesperia City Councilman "Smitty" Smith. He also had the honor of presenting a Joint Resolution commemorating the occasion to Dr. Reddy during the celebration and helping to open the doors to a new level of cardiac care in the region.

Memorial Day Message from Rep. Jeff Denham

Dear Friend,

Every year, our country comes together on Memorial Day to remember the brave men and women of our armed services who lost their lives defending our country. This weekend, I ask you to join me in honoring and remembering these extraordinary individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They remind us that freedom is not free and that we owe our country’s safety and the liberties we enjoy today to their courage.

This Memorial Day we not only honor the sacrifices that have been made, but we are also reminded of the importance of our commitment to our fallen service members. Presidents Washington and Lincoln stated, “taking care of our service members who fought to defend our country should rank among the highest of national priorities.”

As your representative in Congress and a Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I’m committed to making sure we preserve the rights, protections and benefits that America's brave and heroic veterans deserve.

Our service men and women fight relentlessly to defend our country. They risk their lives every day to protect our freedoms, and we have an obligation to always honor, remember and respect the sacrifices they have made. We continue to pray for their safe return and pledge to keep our promise to them, and to all veterans, when they return.

This Memorial Day weekend, I encourage all Americans across the nation to find a way to remember our fallen service members and join me in honoring the extraordinary sacrifice they have made for our great country.

Sincerely,

Jeff Denham

Meet the Candidates TONIGHT!

Free Legislative Reception

May 25, 2012

6:00pm - 8pm

Stanley Plummer Bldg. - City Hall

245 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas

Public invited to Meet the Candidates before you vote!

The San Dimas Chamber of Commerce is honored to host this event as a means of introducing our current legislators and candidates to civic and community leaders, business owners, educators, and area residents from San Dimas and the surrounding communities.

Light refreshments will be served.

Event brought to you by the Southern California Gas Company, City of San Dimas and the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce.

Visit us at www.sandimaschamber.com or call us at 909-592-3818 for more information.

CONFIRMED CANDIDATES ATTENDING EVENT:

Congressional District 32

Bill Gonzalez

David Miller

Grace Napolitano

Senate District 25

Ameenah Fuller

Gilbert Gonzales

Carol Liu

Assembly District 41

Michael Cacciotti

Ed Colton

Chris Holden

Donna Lowe

Victoria Rusnak

Los Angeles County Supervisor - 5th District

Michael Antonovich