• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) delivered remarks on the Senate floor honoring the life and legacy of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, according to a Sept. 29 statement from Padilla’s office. In his remarks, Padilla paid tribute to “her leadership, her grace, and her unparalleled dedication and contributions” to California and the United States. Feinstein passed away on Sept. 29 at 90 years old. Padilla also remembered the special memories he had of her, including the moments after she escorted him into the Senate chamber to be sworn into office for the first time in 2021. “As we’ve been hearing today, she was a towering figure. But to be clear, she was a towering figure, not just in modern California history, but in the history of our state and our nation. Yes, she broke barriers throughout her career,” Padilla said in his remarks. “Her leadership as the city of San Francisco’s first female mayor, in the aftermath of the tragic assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, showcase her unique ability to lead with grace and strength in the face of adversity. And it wouldn’t be her last time.”
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined 97 fellow representatives urging House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to advance bipartisan government funding bills similar to those advanced by the Senate and consistent with the bipartisan debt ceiling agreement that Congress and the Biden administration negotiated this May, according to a Sept. 21 statement from Carbajal’s office. “I’m doing everything in my power to keep the government running and working without interruption for Central Coast residents. That’s why I’m committed to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to avert a costly and harmful government shutdown,” Carbajal said in the statement. “The speaker made a promise to the American people in May to pass bipartisan legislation that keeps the government open. It’s time he kept his word and joined New Dems in our continued efforts to pass essential bipartisan legislation that strengthens our nation.” In the letter, the representatives urged the speaker to take swift action to avert a government shutdown by passing legislation that includes the president’s supplemental request to fund natural disaster relief, secure the southern border, stem the flow of illicit fentanyl into our communities, and continue to support Ukraine.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation increasing the minimum wage for fast-food employees to $20 per hour, beginning April 1, 2024, according to a Sept. 28 statement from the governor’s office. The legislation, AB 1228 by Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena), authorizes the Fast Food Council to set fast food restaurant standards for minimum wage, and develop proposals for other working conditions, including health and safety standards and training. “California is home to more than 500,000 fast food workers who—for decades—have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions,” Newsom said in the statement. “Today, we take one step closer to fairer wages, safer and healthier working conditions, and better training by giving hardworking fast food workers a stronger voice and seat at the table.” Specifically, AB 1228 repeals and replaces provisions of the statute creating the Fast Food Council within the Department of Industrial Relations, creating a process to develop minimum fast food restaurant employment standards related to wages, working conditions, and training upon withdrawal of the AB 257 referendum.
This article appears in Oct 5-15, 2023.