• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) faced criticism in mid September after reports that she had received a letter in late July regarding an alleged attempt at sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh against a then-unnamed accuser. Feinstein’s critics among Democrats and liberals chastised her for not sharing the letter initially with the Senate Judiciary Committee and for sending it to the FBI only after reports of the letters existence began to make headlines, whereas Republicans and conservatives questioned the timing of the allegation and Feinstein’s decision to forward it to the FBI. On Sept. 13, Feinstein issued a brief statement acknowledging the letter, but that “the individual strongly requested confidentiality,” and she wanted to “honor that decision.” After the accuser, California college professor Christine Blasey Ford, came forward and revealed her identity to The Washington Post, Feinstein issued another statement, saying, “It has always been Mrs. Ford’s decision whether to come forward publicly. For any woman, sharing an experience involving sexual assault–particularly when it involves a politically connected man with influence, authority, and power–is extraordinarily difficult. … I hope the attacks and shaming of her will stop and this will be treated with the seriousness it deserves.” Feinstein joined Senate Judiciary Democrats in signing a letter to White House Counsel Don McGahn requesting the FBI reopen Kavanaugh’s background investigation and a letter to Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to postpone the scheduled confirmation vote pending a Senate hearing on the matter. Grassley postponed the vote and scheduled an open hearing for Sept. 24.
• The office of Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced that he would host his second annual Citizenship Recognition Ceremonies in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria on Sept. 22. “For many immigrants, including myself, attaining U.S. citizenship is the realization of a dream held by all those who came to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their families,” Carbajal stated. “Our nation’s greatness is strengthened in this shared rite of passage.” The Santa Maria ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library’s Lavagnino Plaza, 421 S. McClelland St.
• Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law authored by 35th District Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) into law on Sept. 17 that permits schools the authority to provide optional curriculum cautioning students on the use and distribution of sexually explicit material via social media and smartphones. The bill, AB 1868, provides the additional component to California school districts’ plans for sexual health education. According to a release from Cunningham’s office, the added curriculum “will be a critical fight against human trafficking, as traffickers increasingly target minors using social media.” “The technological era has connected us in ways we couldn’t have imagined, but it also comes with dangers,” Cunningham stated. “Our kids need to be educated about the legal, social, physical, and emotional pitfalls that come with access to powerful technology.” According to the release, Cunningham authored the bill after a situation in San Luis Obispo County where “a group of students were trading nude photographs in exchange for drugs.” Gov. Brown also signed a law authored by 37th District Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) that day as well, AB 1860, which limits the out-of-pocket costs for oral anti-cancer medications to more than $250 per month for patients. “The bill ensures patients do not have to choose between the cost of treatment and their quality of life,” Limón posted to her official Twitter page.
• State Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) attended Gov. Jerry Brown‘s Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco the week of Sept. 12, participating as a panelist on the discussion: California Stories: Grounded Perspectives on Climate Policies and Action. “It’s a privilege to be among international and national delegations, scientists, and business and academic leaders at the Global Climate Action Summit to find innovative and tangible ways to move our communities forward to achieve and maintain safe waterways, cleaner air, and a healthy environment for our future,” Limón stated before the panel.
This article appears in Sep 20-27, 2018.