Representing the 9th District

Speaker Pérez, Assembly Democrats Take Lead on Ending Unfair Burden on Middle Class from Rising Public College Fees

Sacramento - Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) unveiled new legislation to create the Middle Class Scholarship program. Introduced by Speaker John A. Pérez, (D-Los Angeles) and co-authored by Dickinson, the proposal is designed to keep more money in the pockets of middle-income families with students attending the state’s public colleges and universities.

"Investing in California's students is an investment in our future educated workforce. For every $1 we spend on higher education, the state gets a $3 return on its investment. All Californians, including those from middle class families, deserve access to an affordable college education," said Assemblymember Dickinson.

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Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) introduced Assembly Bill 1627, the Healthy Neighborhoods Act. The bill would require new and expanded developments to incorporate measures which would reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) that otherwise might be generated by the project. The bill will be heard by the legislature in the coming months.

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Sacramento – Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) released the following statement today on the ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California:

“This is an historic day! I wholeheartedly believe that gays and lesbians should have the right to marry the person they love. This case will next go to the US Supreme Court, and I trust that they will concur with lower court rulings; that Prop 8 must be overturned, and that members of the LGBT community will have the right to marry restored. I applaud the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on this momentous occasion for the LGBT community and for all of us.”

Dickinson has long supported LGBT issues. As Sacramento County Supervisor, he led the effort to extend domestic partner benefits to Sacramento County employees.

Sacramento – Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) announced today that he received a perfect 100% score in the Consumer Federation of California’s 2011 legislative scorecard. According to the scorecard, Assemblymember Dickinson voted in favor of consumers for 14 integral bills and never voted against consumers. Legislators were evaluated on a number of issues, including financial privacy protection, health care reform, drug safety, household toxics, insurance rate regulation, and real estate lending practices.

“I am honored to receive this perfect score from the Consumer Federation of California,” said Assemblymember Dickinson. “Throughout my career, I have been a strong advocate for consumer protection and I believe we must do more to safeguard consumers in California,” Dickinson added.

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Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson’s (D-Sacramento) Assembly Bill 526 was approved by the California State Assembly on a bipartisan vote of 65-0. The bill would improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the granting of state and federal funds for delinquency and gang intervention and prevention programs. The bill will next be heard in the Senate.

“The goal of AB 526 is to bring greater coherence to the state’s delinquency prevention and youth development policies and programs,” said Assemblymember Dickinson. “This bill will begin to move the state in a better direction for using available funds more efficiently and effectively.”

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Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) introduced Assembly Bill 1541. The bill would subject the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to the state’s Public Records Act, make information submitted by utilities to the CPUC available for public review and bring the CPUC into line with the policy and practice of other public agencies in California.

“The CPUC is charged with the critical role of regulating and overseeing safety of the natural gas system as well as protecting Californians from tragedies like San Bruno and Rancho Cordova,” said Assemblymember Dickinson, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review. “This bill would bring transparency and accountability to the CPUC with the primary goal of protecting public safety and increasing oversight.”

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"The Governor's address hit the right tone and focused on the most important issues facing California today. He was realistic about our state budget hurdles and getting our fiscal house in order, but hopeful about our recovering economy. California's future is promising and we are moving proactively in the right direction; between our emerging clean energy economy, landmark plans for the nation's only high speed rail and protecting the Delta, creation of more and more green jobs, critical investment in education, and continuing to be the country's environmental leader and top destination for venture capital. There is hard work ahead, but I look forward to working with the Governor and my fellow members of the Legislature on how we can ensure the brightest future for California."

Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson’s (D-Sacramento) Assembly Bill 1204 was approved by the Assembly Agriculture Committee on a vote of 7-0.  The bill expands the authority of Cal Expo to run the California Exposition to allow it to address the multiple issues of declining attendance at the State Fair and horse racing, $45 million deferred maintenance, cumbersome governing structure and more.

“As other local facilities are built or modernized in our community, Cal Expo will likely continue to lose business if it is not updated, further hindering its ability to compete,” said Assemblymember Dickinson.  “AB 1204 would allow the Cal Expo Board and the State Fair Leasing Authority to run the fairgrounds in a way that will preserve it for future generations, while maintaining strict oversight.”

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Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson’s (D-Sacramento) Assembly Bill 526 was approved by the Assembly Public Safety Committee on a vote of 6-0.  The bill would improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the granting of state and federal funds for delinquency and gang intervention and prevention programs.

“The goal of AB 526 is to bring greater coherence to the state’s delinquency prevention and youth development policies and programs,” said Assemblymember Dickinson.  “This bill will begin to move the state in a better direction for using available funds more efficiently and effectively.”

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Sacramento – Assembly Bill 332, by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento), failed passage today in its first policy hearing in the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.  The bill was an effort to protect consumers whose economic circumstances lead them to seek loans that are both extremely expensive and are highly risky for the borrower, known as Auto or Car Title Loans.  AB 332 would have instituted several consumer protections for borrowers seeking Auto Title loans.

“I am disappointed that my Assembly colleagues chose not to vote on this important consumer protection measure.  The structure of auto title loans creates a severe imbalance of risk and reward between the borrower and lender, and that imbalance demands additional consumer protections such as those contained in AB 332,” said Assemblymember Dickinson.  “We need to get a handle on this problem, and my hope was that AB 332 would be a significant first step,” he added.

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