FlashReport » Congressman Doug LaMalfa

Joining The 113th Congress

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 13:30:41 +0000

As you all have been following, this week was the minting of the new Congress of which I have the incredible-to-me honor and experience of joining from up here in the 1st District of NorCal. Eight years in our California legislature have and will be a tremendous baseline to work and learn from and indeed have helped me so far not to be TOO wide eyed and staring like a tourist at the tall buildings. That said, the deep feeling I get walking these halls and having a voice and vote in shaping our nation’s, and even world, policyand doing so as one takes in the names, the statues, the memorials to those great names that so honorablyput our system of governing in place is very heady stuff for this country boy. No doubt I take it very seriously to do all I can to upholdthe course the Founders have set and I see has been deviated from somuch in the way government has grown and overreached.

We have a huge task. Taking the oath of office on the House Floor, with my family nearbyor in the gallery and so many friends watching at our Cannon office and at home is an irreplaceable moment and memory. I have my member pin, #400 in seniority and my Floor voting… Read More

New Study, New Survey Are More Bad News for High Speed Rail

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 07:32:20 +0000

New study shows finances likely to be worse than planned and poll shows voters not happy with high speed rail spending

As more bad news mounts for California’s high speed rail plan, Senator Doug LaMalfa (R- Richvale) continues to push for a re-vote on the project. A new report from California Common Sense found that with expected cost overruns, the revised and smaller project would likely cost over $99 billion. The report also found that California would need to make annual payments of $6.5 billion for the project if the state shoulders the burden alone. That is more than the state currently spends on the California State University, the University of California and state-sponsored childcare combined. The federal transportation bill passed last week prohibits future federal funding for the project, virtually assuring that California alone will carry the costs.

“Costs for high speed rail will continue to rise even as public support plummets,” said Senator LaMalfa. “California doesn’t have the money for this project. We are cutting the school year, releasing violent felons early, and the… Read More

Hand Over Your Money and No One Gets Hurt

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:15:01 +0000

As unbelievable as it seems, in the midst of our never-ending budget crisis, the plan from Governor Brown and the legislature’s Democrat majority comes down to this: “Give us what we want, or somebody’s going to get hurt.” If you’re starting to feel like our state government is holding a gun to our head, there’s probably a pretty good reason for that. Because that’s sure what it looks like to me.

Just a few days ago we got to see the legislature’s leaders here in Sacramento smiling and patting themselves on the backs having sent their budget bill to the Governor’s desk. There’s just one catch: the law requires our legislature to pass a “balanced” budget each year. They haven’t, and this budget isn’t. The “balanced” part of the budget, the hard part, has been left on our doorstep – with a ransom note firmly attached.

It is utterly irresponsible for our legislature to approve a budget plan that relies on the assumption that tax revenues will balance with spending if – but only if – voters agree to increase taxes on themselves. That’s just not right. Drafting and passing a balanced budget by June 15th each year is… Read More

District Map Funny Business Finally Exposed

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:57:23 +0000

In a couple articles posted this afternoon, ProPublica “How Democrats Fooled California’s Redistricting Commission” and one in the San Jose Mercury News and probably many others by now, the funny stuff going on behind the scenes with how Califonia’s districts were reapportioned this year comes to light. In the ideal, I still believe that Prop 11 and Prop 20, that removed the map-drawing responsibilities from the Legislature to the hands of an ideally independent commission are the right way given many decades of history in US redistricting shenanigans. As you read through the history of this years’s commission efforts in the articles and other media, one would likely realize the commission didn’t work out well either and should’ve had more of its members vote ‘no’ on the final map proposals instead of being in love with their final work product. [Stopping a corrupted process and tossing it to the courts would not be a "failure."] Post-map testimony provided by Commissioner Dr. Michael Ward would cause one to suspect the smoke from a possible fire. Indeed, Californians ended up with commissioners who APPLIED to be part… Read More

Grandma Joins The Union!

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:57:19 +0000

The last days of the legislative session before adjournment are always filled with an array of last minute surprises. Nevertheless, I’ll admit my shock when a brazen gut-and-amend bill with far-reaching implications appeared. Assembly Bill 101, a bill to unionize child care workers, is co-authored by Assembly Speaker John Perez and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg.

Only a couple of weeks ago, Assembly Bill 889 (Ammiano), affectionately known as “The Babysitter Bill,” showed up on the radar, although the bill has already passed the Assembly and appeared to be on track to make to the Governor’s desk. AB 889 would require household “employers” (aka parents) to pay minimum wage, provide workers’ compensation benefits, meal and rest breaks, as well as overtime pay to any “domestic employee,” even a babysitter, over the age of 18 from the first hour worked. AB 101 picks up where AB 889 leaves off.

Both licensed and license-exempt child care providers who receive state subsidies will be required to join an exclusive “provider organization” if 50% or more of those targeted “show interest.” Sign a card, join the union. No… Read More

Adventures In Babysitting: Nanny State To Sue For Rest Break?

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:38:36 +0000

How will parents react when they find out they will be expected to provide workers’ compensation benefits, rest and meal breaks and paid vacation time for…babysitters? Dinner and a movie night may soon become much more complicated.

Assembly Bill 889 (authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano of San Francisco) will require these protections for all “domestic employees,” including nannies, housekeepers and caregivers. The bill has already passed the Assembly and is quickly moving through the Senate with blanket support from the Democrat members that control both houses of the Legislature – and without the support of a single Republican member. Assuming the bill will easily clear its last couple of legislative hurdles, AB 889 will soon be on its way to the Governor’s desk.

Under AB 889, household “employers” (aka “parents”) who hire a babysitter on a Friday night will be legally obligated to pay at least minimum wage to any sitter over the age of 18 (unless it is a family member), provide a substitute caregiver every two hours to cover rest and meal breaks, in addition to workers’ compensation coverage, overtime pay, and a meticulously calculated… Read More

Early Prisoner Release is Not a Solution for the Safety of Californians

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:05:56 +0000

Be sure to check out my video located below this column…

“The formula for releasing prisoners and cutting cops is not a smart one.” Attorney General Jerry Brown, Los Angeles Times, August 9, 2009.

I agree, and I trust that now-Governor Brown will stand behinds those words. For without a doubt, the principle responsibility of government is to protect its citizens from those who would do us harm.

Yet, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that California must somehow reduce its prison population by approximately 33,000 inmates, and the first question becomes: Which ones?

Felons convicted of murder, manslaughter, violent or serious crimes against the person total 63,500. There are 19,000 inmates that are in prison for kidnapping and/or sex-related crimes. Property and theft related offenses account for 30,000 inmates. For drug related crimes, of the 23,000 serving time, 15,000 have been convicted of manufacturing or dealing drugs. Other offenses include arson, felons found in possession of firearms and driving the under influence.

Almost 60 percent of all inmates were on… Read More

CRA Convention Hijinks In Sacramento, Karen England’s Leadership Needed For CRA’s Future

Congressman Doug LaMalfa — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

125 dues paid Delegates are now locked out of the CRA convention in Sacramento as directed by the current leadership regime. Even Assemblyman Jeff Miller, Senator Joel Anderson, and lil ol me are not recognized by the CRA! Update: I hear now I’m OK for now, but not Joel and Jeff. It may be moot as they are going to exclude certain clubs.Police officers are now on sight, visiting with some of thoselocked out of the convention floor.

This really underscores the need for new leadership under Karen England and her slate of candidate for officer positionsto havethe CRA have any crediblility in the future as a Republican organization. With a judge placing a temporary restraining order this week on the actions of the current regime, you can bet it will be in court in a few weeks again with some individuals in serious trouble with the judge.[Maybe the Park brother who uttered "BS!" in the judges chamber will be one in the judges disfavor]

With the chaos in that conventionroom, a likely stalemate could happen this weekend with no result. It could spell the end of the CRA… Read More