In Memoriam
Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry
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.