THE ASSEMBLY IS NOW IN SESSION
IS SOME REMEMBER, PELLERIN
NOTICES THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM
SERGEANT ARMS WILL PREPARE THE
CHAMBER, BRINGING THE OPPOSITE
MEMBERS. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE
ROLL. ADDIS AGUIAR-CURRY.
COLONIES. ALVAREZ ARAMBULA
BAINES BAUER-KAHAN. BENNETT.
BERMAN. BOERNER HORVATH BONTA.
BRIAN CALDERON. JUAN CARILLO,
WENDY CARILLO, CERVANTES CHIN
CONNOLLY. DALLI. DAVIES DIXON
EASILY FLORA MIKE THONG, VINCE
FONG. FRIEDMAN. GABRIEL.
GALLAGHER GARCIA. GIBSON GRAYSON
HANEY. HEART. HOLDEN. HOOVER.
IRWIN. JACKSON JONES, SAWYER,
KARA. KYLIE. LEAVE. LOW.
LOWENTHAL MAIENSCHEIN, MATHIS
MCCARTY MAKIN, ER MURATSUCHI
WHEN ORTEGA PACHECO POPPING. JIM
PATTERSON, JOE PATTERSON,
PELLERIN PETRIE-NORRIS
QUIRK-SILVA. RAMOS RAISE
THREE OF US ROBERT RIVAS
RODRIGUEZ RUBIO SANCHEZ SANTIAGO
SHIAVO SORIA TÂM. TING VALENCIA,
VÆ VALLAPUDUA WALDRON, WALLACE
WARD WEBER. WICKS WILSON WOULD
ZABAR, MR SPEAKER.
MEMBERS A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE
ASK OUR GUESTS IN THE GALLERY
AND THE REAR OF THE CHAMBER TO
PLEASE STAND FOR TODAY'S PRAYER
AND PLEDGE.
TODAY'S PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED
BY IMAM SAYED MAHDI, BECAUSE
WINNIE.
RAHMAN RAHIM, IN THE NAME OF GOD
, THE MOST COMPASSIONATE THE
MOST MERCIFUL. RESPECTED MEMBERS
OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY
. GOOD AFTERNOON AND A SOLEIMANI
C¢M. MAYBE PEACE, BLESSINGS AND
MERCY. ALL OF THE ALMIGHTY BE
WITH YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A
BRIEF PRAYER INVOCATION AS WE
HONOR AND WELCOME THE BLESSED
MONTH OF RAMADAN. LORD. WE
WELCOME THE MONTH OF RAMADAN.
WITH HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE
AND HUMILITY. WE SEEK YOUR
FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SHORTCOMINGS
, AND WE PRAY FOR YOUR GUIDANCE
AND BLESSINGS THROUGHOUT THIS
MONTH. LORD. AS YOU HAVE STATED
, OH, BELIEVERS, FASTING IS
PRESCRIBED FOR YOU AS IT WAS FOR
THOSE BEFORE YOU SO PERHAPS YOU
WILL BECOME GOD CONSCIOUS. WE
ASK YOU, LORD. THAT THROUGHOUT
THE MONTH OF FASTING TO ENHANCE
OUR CONSCIOUSNESS AND TO GRANT
US AWARENESS OF YOU OF OURSELVES
AND OF THE MOST URGENT NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES, LORD GRANT US
STRENGTH AND PATIENCE. HELP US
TO PURIFY OUR SOULS AND INCREASE
OUR FAITH THROUGH ACTS OF
CHARITY, KINDNESS AND COMPASSION
TOWARDS OTHERS. ALLOW THE HUNGER
AND THIRST THAT WE FEEL. WHILE
FASTING TO REMIND US OF THE
DEPRIVATION OF THOSE LESS
FORTUNATE FORTUNATE THAN US. AND
TO INSPIRE US TOWARDS HUMILITY
AND ACTION. LORD WE ASK THAT YOU
BESTOW UPON THE PEOPLE OF THIS
BLESSED STATE AND NATION,
SERENITY, WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL
STRENGTH DURING THESE
CHALLENGING TIMES. I MEAN, AMEN.
THANK YOU. WE ASKED. YOU MEAN
STANDING AS WE SALUTE THE
NATIONS AS WE RECITE THE NISSANS
PLEDGE. PLEASE JOIN US SOMEBODY
MEMBER MURATSUCHI AS HE LEADS US
IN THE NATION'S PLEDGE. PLEASE
JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IS TASKED. ONE NATION
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. YOU
MAY BE SEATED. READING OF THE
PREVIOUS DAY'S JOURNAL CHAMBER.
SACRAMENTO TUESDAY, MARCH 14TH
2023 SECONDS AT THE READING OF
THE PREVIOUS DAY'S JOURNAL, BE
DISPENSED WITH PRESENTATIONS AND
PETITIONS. THERE ARE NONE
INTRODUCTIONS AND REFERENCES THE
BILLS WILL BE DEFERRED REPORTS
OF COMMITTEES WILL BE DEEMED
READ AND AMENDMENTS DEEMED
ADOPTED MESSAGES FROM THE
GOVERNOR. THERE ARE NONE
MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE. THERE
ARE NONE.
AND MAJORITY LEADER REYES,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR
PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. THANK YOU,
MR SPEAKER. I REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SUSPEND ASSEMBLY RULE
45.5. TO ALLOW ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CALDERON TO SPEAK ON AN
ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY. TODAY
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SUCH SHALL BE
THE ORDER. I REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SUSPEND ASSEMBLY
RULE. 1 18 A TO ALLOW
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALIENT
CALDERON TO HAVE GUESTS AND
PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE FLOOR TODAY
AND FOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BOERNER HORVATH, OTSUKI AND
WEBER TO HAVE GUESTS SEATED AT
THEIR DESK. AGAIN WITHOUT
OBJECTION. SUCH SHALL BE THE
ORDER REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO ORDER SCR SIX HAMBURG AND SCR
41 RUBIO TO THE THIRD READING
FILE. WITHOUT OBJECTION. THAT
SHOULD BE THE ORDER PURSUANT TO
ASSEMBLY RULE. 96 I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REFER THE
FOLLOWING BILLS TO COMMITTEE.
MAYBE 10 27 PETRIE-NORRIS FROM
THE PRIVACY CONSUMER PROTECTION
COMMITTEE TO THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE AND THEN BACK TO THE
PRIVACY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
COMMITTEE. A B 13 36 LOW FROM
THE PRIVACY AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION COMMITTEE TO THE
BANKING AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
AND THEN BACK TO THE PRIVACY AND
CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE.
AND A B 14 92 ALVAREZ FROM THE
REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
TO THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. AND THEN
BACK TO THE REVENUE AND TAXATION
COMMITTEE. OBJECTION. THAT SHALL
BE THE ORDER.
YEAH ABSENCES FOR THE DAY WILL
BE PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL FOR
ILLNESS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ORTEGA
.
MEMBERS WERE ONTO BUSINESS ON
THE DAILY FILE. SECOND READING
CLERK FOR READING ASSEMBLY
BUILDS 5025 91 3 24 WITH
AMENDMENTS 6 25 AMENDMENTS 6 78
WITH AMENDMENTS 9 82 WITH
AMENDMENTS 10 68 WITH AMENDMENTS
4 99 16 49 5 88 11 14 WITH THE
MOON'S 10 85 WITH AMENDMENTS 14
77 WITH AMENDMENTS 87 WITH
AMENDMENTS TO 30 WITH AMENDMENTS
TO 37 WITH AMENDMENT 7 21 WITH
AMENDMENTS TO 75 4 17 4 39 WITH
AMENDMENTS AND ASSEMBLY BILL 6
94 WITH AMENDMENTS. OUR BILLS
ARE DEEMED READ. ALL OF MENTAL.
ALL AMENDMENTS WILL BE DEEMED
ADOPTED.
AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN CALDERON.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR GUEST
INTRODUCTIONS AT THE REAR OF THE
CHAMBER. THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER
MEMBERS. IT IS AN HONOR TO
INTRODUCE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST
THIS AFTERNOON. JOINING US IN
THE REAR OF THE CHAMBER IS LOS
ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF ROBERT
LUNA. SHERIFF LUNA WAS ELECTED
LAST YEAR TO SERVE AS THE 34TH
SHERIFF OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
PRIOR TO THIS ROLE, HE SERVED AS
THE LONG BEACH CHIEF OF POLICE
AND IS ENJOYED A CAREER IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT SPANNING THREE
DECADES. PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING SHERIFF ROBERT LUNA TO
THE CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL.
AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MURATSUCHI
. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR
GUESTS INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. MR. SPEAKER MEMBERS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MY
UNPAID INTERN FOR MY FOR THE
WEEK. MY EIGHTH GRADE DAUGHTER,
SOPHIA KEIKO MURATSUCHI. WELCOME
TO THE CALIFORNIA WELCOME BACK
TO THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY.
ALRIGHT MEMBERS WERE ON ASSEMBLY
THIRD READING. AND WE ARE GOING
TO BEGIN WITH FILE ITEM. 24 THIS
IS E. C. R 22 CLERK WILL READ.
THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALEY RELATIVE
TO RAMADAN. AND SOME OF THEM ARE
SILLY. YOU MAY OPEN ON THE
RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. MR
SPEAKER. I AM HONORED TO RISE
TODAY AS THE FIRST MUSLIM EVER
ELECTED TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
TO PRESENT A CR 22 COMMEMORATING
THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. I'M
ALSO PLEASED TO WELCOME MY GUEST
CHAPLAIN TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
WHO PROVIDED ARE OPENING PRAYER.
SAY IT MAGIC AS WINNIE WHERE IS
HE? THEY'RE IN THE BACK OF THE
CHAMBER. IMAM QAZWINI IS A
NATIVE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
WHO LEADS THE CONGREGATION AT
THE ISLAMIC EDUCATION CENTER OF
ORANGE COUNTY, WHERE MY FAMILY
AND I HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR MANY
YEARS. IMAM QAZWINI IS NOT ONLY
A PILLAR AND OUR MUSLIM
COMMUNITY, BUT HE ALSO
CONTRIBUTES EXTENSIVELY TO
INTERFAITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
PUBLIC POLICY SPACES AS WELL. UH
PLEASE WELCOME. PLEASE HELP ME
IN WELCOMING IMAM QAZWINI. THIS.
BEFORE I SPEAK ON TODAY'S
RESOLUTION. I WANTED TO TAKE A
FEW MINUTES. A FEW MOMENTS TO
COMMENT ON THE PERSONAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF MY ELECTION TO
THIS BODY. AND AS THE FIRST
MUSLIM ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MY
PARENTS IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED
STATES. FROM LEBANON IN THE MID
EIGHTIES TO FLEE A CIVIL WAR. MY
SISTERS AND I WERE BORN AND
RAISED HERE IN CALIFORNIA. AND
WE GREW UP WITH HUMILITY AND
WITH GREAT GRATITUDE. FOR THE
FREEDOMS AND BLESSINGS OFFERED.
BY THE UNITED STATES. MY PARENTS
ARE ALSO DEVELOPED MUSLIMS AND
THEY INSTILLED IN US AT AN EARLY
AGE, THE VALUES THAT WOULD GUIDE
OUR MORAL COMPASS THROUGHOUT
LIFE. ONE OF MY FAVORITE GIFTS
MY PARENTS GAVE ME WAS MY NAME.
MY GIVEN NAME IS BILAL, WHICH IS
NOT A VERY COMMON NAME IN THE U.
S. WHEN I STARTED SCHOOL AT
FIRST, I WASN'T THE BIGGEST FAN
OF MY NAME. IT WAS UNUSUAL AND
DIFFICULT TO PRONOUNCE. BUT THEN
I LEARNED ABOUT THE MEANING OF
MY NAME AND HOW SPECIAL IT TRULY
WAS. BILAL IS THE NAME OF ONE OF
THE GREAT HEROES IN ISLAM. HE
WAS BORN IN AFRICAN SLAVE AND 15
80 A D. ONE BILAL WAS IN HIS
THIRTIES, HE HEARD ABOUT THE
MESSAGE OF PROPHET MOHAMMED AND
HE CONVERTED TO ISLAM. HIS SLAVE
MASTERS WERE NOT PLEASED WITH
HIS CONVERSION, AND HE WAS
MERCIFULLY MERCIFULLY BEATEN AND
TORTURED FOR HIS CONVERSION.
DESPITE THE TORTURE, HIS FAITH
NEVER WAVERED. NEWS OF BILAL'S
TORTURE REACHED THE PROPHET WHO
SENT A WEALTHY TRADER TO
NEGOTIATE FOR BILAL'S
EMANCIPATION. ONCE BILAL WAS
FREED, HE BECAME ONE OF THE MOST
LOYAL COMPANIONS TO THE PROPHET.
WHEN THE PROPHET WAS DECIDING
HOW MUSLIMS SHOULD SHOULD BE
CALLED TO PRAYER. HE KNEW IT HAD
TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL. IN
JUDAISM, THE HORN IS USED AS THE
INSTRUMENT OF CHOICE. IN
CHRISTIANITY. IT'S THE CHURCH
BELL. BUT IN ISLAM, THE
INSTRUMENT SELECTED WAS THE
HUMAN VOICE. AND BELOW WAS THE
FIRST APPOINTED. MUEZZIN OR
PRAYER CALLER IN ISLAM. HIS
VOICE ECHOED AND MESMERIZED
PEOPLE TO GATHER AND PRAY TO
GOD. THE STORY OF BILAL IS ONE
OF HOPE, FAITH AND EQUALITY. IT
REMINDS US OF THE CORE VALUES
ROOTED IN ALL HUMANITY AND THAT
SERVED AS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR
OWN NATION. THEY'RE ALL MEN. AND
WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL IN THE
EYES OF GOD. THE HOLY MONTH OF
RAMADAN IS THE NINTH MONTH IN
THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR AND MAKE A
MARKS A TIME OF SPIRITUAL
RENEWAL, REFLECTION AND
COMMUNITY. THERE ARE ALMOST TWO
BILLION MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD,
AND EVERY YEAR WE OBSERVE
RAMADAN BY FASTING. FROM SUN
SUNRISE TO SUNSET. THIS IS A DRY
FAST. WHICH MEANS NO FOOD OR
WATER OR ANY DRINK DURING THE
DAY. GROWING UP. I WAS OFTEN THE
ONLY MUSLIM IN MY CLASSES AND
EXPLAINING THE FAST TO MY PEERS
WAS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE. WHY
WOULD ANYONE GIVE UP FOOD AND
WATER? WELL THERE'S A DEEP
SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFIT
TO FASTING. ON THE SPIRITUAL
SIDE. THE PURPOSE IS TO DRAW YOU
NEARER AND CLOSER TO GOD. AND TO
BECOME MORE CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF
GOD'S PRESENCE. WHEN YOU GO
WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER, YOU
QUICKLY REALIZE HOW DEPENDENT
YOU ARE IN THESE BASIC
NECESSITIES WE OFTEN TAKE FOR
GRANTED. FASTING REMINDS US HOW
BLESSED WE ARE TO RARELY GO A
DAY WITHOUT BEING HUNGRY, 30
SECONDS AND HOW FRAGILE
INDEPENDENT WE ARE IN GOD'S
BLESSINGS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE
FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD. WHEN I GREW UP
FASTING WAS AN UNKNOWN AND
FOREIGN CONCEPT. NOW WE ALL CALL
IT INTERMITTENT FASTING. AND
IT'S A GROWING TREND IN THE
HEALTH INDUSTRY. THERE IS A
VERSE IN THE QURAN THAT ALLUDES
TO THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF
FASTING AND SAYS IF WE ONLY KNEW
HOW GOOD IT WAS FOR US, WE WOULD
DO IT EVERY DAY, AND NOW SCIENCE
IS FINALLY CATCHING UP AND
PROVING THAT TO BE TRUE. IF
YOU'RE CURIOUS WHAT A DAY IS
LIKE WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER. I
INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME FOR A FAST
AND THEN TO BREAK THE FAST IT
AND IF THEY ARE DINNER AT SUNSET
IF YOU'RE OTHERWISE HEALTHY, I
PROMISE YOU IT WILL NOT KILL
YOU. AND YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED
AT THE STRENGTH OF YOUR OWN
WILLPOWER. AGAIN MR. SPEAKER I
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS
ESPECIALLY BEING THE FIRST
MUSLIM IN THIS BODY AND I PROUD
AND HONORED TO BRING THE
REPRESENTATION THAT I THINK THIS
BODY HAS BEEN MISSING. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES FOR AN I VOTE ON A CR
22. I REQUEST THAT THE FIRST
WILL BE OPEN FOR CO AUTHORS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR ASTLEY
AND MADAM MAJORITY LEADER.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. A C. R 22 RECOGNIZES
THE IMPORTANCE OF A MONTH THAT
HOLDS VALUE TO OVER ONE MILLION
CALIFORNIANS AND ALMOST 1/4 OF
THE WORLD'S POPULATION. BY
HIGHLIGHTING RAMADAN ON THE
STATE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. WE ARE
ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE VALUE AND
CONTRIBUTIONS OF MUSLIM
AMERICANS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.
FIVE DAYS AGO WAS THE FIRST DAY
OF RAMADAN WITH THE ISLAMIC
COMMUNITY BEGINNING THEIR 30 DAY
FASTING FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN.
FOR MUSLIMS. THIS IS A TIME FOR
REFLECTION AND SPIRITUAL
DISCIPLINE, EMBODYING THE
DEVOTION TO FAITH, FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT WE ALL
HOLD DEAR. KEY COMPONENT OF
RAMADAN IS TO EXPERIENCE HUNGER
TO BETTER EMPHASIS EMPATHIZE
WITH THOSE FACING HARDSHIPS DUE
TO POVERTY. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT
THIS PERSONAL ACT OF FASTING, AS
RAMADAN ALSO REQUIRES SERVICE
AND CHARITY TO THOSE FACING
CHALLENGES. SHE WAS THROUGH THAT
SPIRIT OF SERVICE. MANY MUSLIM
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE PROVIDE FOOD DISTRIBUTION
AND OTHER RESOURCES TO THOSE IN
NEED. THESE EFFORTS ARE VITAL IN
OUR STATE AS ONE IN FIVE
CALIFORNIANS CURRENTLY STRUGGLE
WITH FOOD INSECURITY. THE MUSLIM
AMERICAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO
BE A PILLAR OF CALIFORNIA,
MAKING RAMADAN PART OF THE
FABRIC OF OUR STATE'S DIVERSITY
AND HISTORY. THANK YOU TO THE
MEMBER FROM CORONA FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. MEMBERS I ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF HCR 22 SO THAT
WE CAN COLLECTIVELY WISH OUR
MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS A
BLESSED AND JOYOUS RAMADAN.
THANK YOU, MISS REYES AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BERMAN. YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES. ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATIVE JEWISH CAUCUS. I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF A CR 22 IN
COMMEMORATION OF THE MONTH OF
RAMADAN. RAMADAN IS A HOLY MONTH
FOR MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD.
THIS HOLIDAY IS ABOUT GRATITUDE
, COMPASSION AND RESPECT FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE FROM ALL
WALKS OF LIFE. THE IFTAR
BREAKING OF THE FAST EACH NIGHT
FOCUSES ON BUILDING COMMUNITY
AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY
AND I ACTUALLY ONE OF THE
COOLEST EXPERIENCE OF
EXPERIENCES OF HAVE HAD
TRAVELING WAS WHEN I WAS IN
ISTANBUL. AH 20 YEARS AGO, AND
IT HAPPENED TO BE DURING THE
MONTH OF RAMADAN AND GOING TO
ASSAULT ON THE NET PARK AND YOU
HAD THE IDEA, SOFIA ON ONE SIDE
AND THE BLUE MOSQUE ON THE OTHER
SIDE AND JUST THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES. I CAME OUT TO THE PARK
AT SUNDOWN TO BREAK THE FAST AND
HOW THEY PEOPLE WERE SO HAPPY TO
SEE AN OUTSIDER THERE. UM AND TO
TALK TO ME AND EXPLAIN TO ME
WHAT RAMADAN, MAN. WHAT BREAK
FAST MEANT TO INVITE ME TO BE A
PART OF THAT EXPERIENCE WAS JUST
A REALLY MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE
FOR ME, RAMADAN TEACHES
IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL AND PERSONAL
VALUES THAT WE SHOULD ALL STRIVE
TO LIVE BY SIMILAR TO THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY. THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
HAS FACED MANY HARDSHIPS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND EVEN IN
CALIFORNIA. ISLAMOPHOBIA AND
HATE CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS HAVE
SURGED IN RECENT YEARS. AND JUST
AS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS
FACED INCREASING ANTI SEMITISM
SO TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY HAS
SEEN ANTI ISLAMIC INCIDENTS
SURGE. HERE IN CALIFORNIA ARE
JEWISH AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES
HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT EACH OTHER WHEN THESE
INCIDENTS ARISE. TOGETHER, WE
MUST FIGHT THESE STEREOTYPES AND
DISCRIMINATION. WE MUST PREVENT
ALL HATE AGAINST THE MUSLIM
COMMUNITY AND HOPE THAT THEY
HAVE A SAFE AND MEANINGFUL
HOLIDAY. WE MUST LEARN TO
EMBRACE OTHER CULTURES AND BE
TOLERANT OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS.
IN THAT SPIRIT AND ON BEHALF OF
THE JEWISH CAUCUS. I WISH ALL OF
CALIFORNIA RAMADAN MUBARAK
BLESSED RAMADAN AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE ON
A C R 22. THANK YOU, MR BERMAN
AND SEEING NO OTHER MEMBERS
WISHING TO DISCUSS THE
RESOLUTION, MR SALLY, DID YOU
HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER TO CLOSE?
I JUST RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
SILLY CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLE
MEMBER. CO AUTHORS, MR SCALISE
AFTER THE FIRST ROLL THE OPEN
FOR CO AUTHORS, ALL THOSE WISH
TO BE A CO AUTHOR, PLEASE VOTE
NOW.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLE. THERE
ARE 77 CO AUTHORS. INCLUDING MR
ASTLEY. MEMBERS. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE WILL TAKE A VOICE
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. ALL
THOSE OPPOSED, SAY, NAY, THE
EYES HAVE IT RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. MEMBERS WILL BE MOVING
FORWARD TO FILE ITEM NUMBER 40
BY MR GABRIEL. THIS IS A HR 25.
THE CLERK WILL READ HOUSE
RESOLUTION. 25 BY SOME REMEMBER
GABRIEL RELATIVE TO A RESOLUTION
CONDEMNING THE HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE WEAKER
PEOPLE IN CHINA, XINJIANG UIGHUR
AUTONOMOUS REGION AND SUPPORTING
THE WORK OF THE WEAKER FORCED
LABOR PREVENTION ACT. GABRIEL,
YOU MAY OPEN THANK YOU. MR
SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY TO PRESENT
HR 25. TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE
HORRIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
BEING COMMITTED AGAINST THE
WEAKER PEOPLE IN CHINA AND TO
SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE WEAKER FORCED LABOR
PREVENTION ACT. AS WE BEGIN BOTH
THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. AND
GENOCIDE AWARENESS MONTH. IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT WE SIGN A
SPOTLIGHT ON THE GENOCIDE
AGAINST THE WORKERS, A
PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM ETHNIC
MINORITY IN CHINA. ACCORDING TO
THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST
MEMORIAL MUSEUM, THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST
THE WEAKER PEOPLE IS SYSTEMATIC
AND MULTIFACETED AND INCLUDES
IDENTITY BASED PERSECUTION. MASS
DETENTION SURVEILLANCE FOR
STERILIZATIONS, FORCED LABOR AND
FORCED ASSIMILATION. WE ARE
BARRED FROM FREELY PRACTICING
THEIR RELIGION, SPEAKING THEIR
LANGUAGE AND EXPRESSING OTHER
FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF THEIR
IDENTITY. RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO
MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE, INCLUDING
DRESS, LANGUAGE, DIET AND
EDUCATION. THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT CLOSELY MONITORS
WIGGER RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
EVEN ORDINARY ACTS SUCH AS
PRAYING OR GOING TO A MOSQUE,
MAYBE A BASIS FOR ARREST OR
DETENTION. EVEN MORE CONCERNING
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS
CREATED A SYSTEM OF ARBITRARY
MASS DETENTION AND FORCED
DISAPPEARANCE. ACCORDING TO WELL
SOURCED HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS
BETWEEN ONE AND TWO MILLION
WORKERS ARE CURRENTLY IMPRISONED
IN DETENTION CENTERS AND
INDOCTRINATION CAMPS. I WILL SAY
THAT AGAIN BETWEEN ONE AND TWO
MILLION PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY
IMPRISONED IN DETENTION CENTERS
AND INDOCTRINATION CAMPS WHERE,
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THEY ARE
SUBJECT TO MASS SURVEILLANCE,
TORTURE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
FORCED STERILIZATION. CHILDREN
ARE OFTEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR
PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE LIVING ABROAD
ARE OFTEN UNABLE TO GET
INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR MISSING
LOVED ONES, OR EVEN CONFIRM THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN DETAINED, CAUSING
FURTHER TRAUMA AND FEAR WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY. THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO INSTITUTED A
WIDESPREAD AND BRUTAL CAMPAIGN
OF STATE SPONSORED FORCED LABOR
INVOLVING THE WEAKER PEOPLE WITH
A NETWORK OF FACTORIES HAVE BEEN
BUILT WITHIN AND NEAR DETENTION
CAMPS WHERE WORKERS ARE FORCED
TO WORK OFTEN FOR LOW OR NO
WAGES. THE SCALE OF THIS MODERN
DAY SLAVERY IS STAGGERING. ONE
IN FIVE COTTON GARDEN GARMENTS
IN THE GLOBAL MARKET ARE TAINTED
BY FORCED LABOR FROM THE WIDER
REGION. IN THE FACE OF SUCH
BRUTAL OPPRESSION. WE CANNOT
REMAIN SILENT. THANKFULLY AT A
TIME OF INCREDIBLE PARTISANSHIP
IN WASHINGTON, THERE HAS BEEN
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS ABOUT THE
NEED TO CONFRONT THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT AND SPEAK OUT
FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE
MISTREATMENT OF THE WORKERS.
PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS AND
SECRETARIES OF STATE OF BOTH
PARTIES HAVE JOINED THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN
UNEQUIVOCALLY CALLING THE
SITUATION IN CHINA WHAT IT IS. A
GENOCIDE. AND IN DECEMBER 2020
PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED INTO LAW
THE BIPARTISAN TIGER FORCED
LABOR PREVENTION ACT, A
GROUNDBREAKING LAW THAT
ESTABLISHES A REBUTTABLE
PRESUMPTION THAT ANY GOODS
MANUFACTURED IN THE WIDER
REGION. OR PRODUCED BY CERTAIN
ENTITIES IMPLICATED IN FORCED
LABOR ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ENTRY
TO THE UNITED STATES. THIS
LEGISLATION WAS THE PRODUCT OF
TIRELESS ADVOCACY BY DIVERSE
COALITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
AND LABOR UNIONS, INCLUDING THE
A F L C I O COLLEAGUES WERE OUR
ABILITY IN THIS BODY TO IMPACT
FOREIGN POLICY IS LIMITED. WE
ALSO CANNOT STAND IDLY BY HR 25
SEEKS TO LIFT UP AND SUPPORT THE
ESSENTIAL WORK OF THE LEADER FOR
FORCED LABOR PREVENTION ACT TO
USE DIPLOMATIC TOOLS AND OUR
ECONOMIC POWER TO STOP THE
OPPRESSION OF THE WEAKER PEOPLE.
AND TO CALL ON CLOTHING
MANUFACTURERS TO DO THE SAME. TO
PARAPHRASE CONGRESSMAN MIKE
GALLAGHER. WE MUST TAKE ACTION
SO THAT NO CORPORATE EXECUTIVE
NO POLICYMAKER, NO INVESTOR. NO
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT CAN AVOID
RESPONSIBILITY AND CLAIM THAT
THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS
GENOCIDE. OR AS ONE OF MY
PERSONAL HEROES, HOLOCAUST
SURVIVOR AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
PEACE PRIZE WINNER ELIE WIESEL
SAID. WE MUST TAKE SIDES.
NEUTRALITY HELPS THE OPPRESSOR,
NEVER THE VICTIM. SILENCE
ENCOURAGES THE TORMENTOR, NEVER
THE TORMENTED SOMETIMES WE MUST
INTERFERE. HUMAN LIVES ARE
ENDANGERED WHEN HUMAN DIGNITY IS
IN JEOPARDY. NATIONAL BORDERS
AND SENSITIVITIES BECOME
IRRELEVANT. WHEREVER MEN AND
WOMEN ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF
THEIR RACE, RELIGION OR
POLITICAL VIEWS. THAT PLACE MUST
AT THAT MOMENT, BECOME THE
CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
COLLEAGUES I INVITE YOU TO JOIN
WITH PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND
BACKGROUNDS AND TAKING SIDES AND
IT'S SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE
HORRIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
AGAINST THE WEAKER PEOPLE AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AND I VOTE
ON HR 25. THANK YOU, MR GABRIEL
ANDERSON MEMBER JACKSON. YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. I RISE TODAY AND
SUPPORT OF HR 25. I WANT TO
THANK THE MEMBER FROM SAN
FERNANDO VALLEY FOR INTRODUCING
THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. AND
BRINGING UP THE HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE WEAKER
PEOPLE TO THIS CHAMBER. THIS
CHAMBER HAS A RICH HISTORY OF
SPEAKING PEACEFULLY AND
FORCEFULLY. IN ORDER TO HOLD
SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST
POWERFUL ACCOUNTABLE. FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND SOME OF
THE WORST CRIMES AGAINST
HUMANITY. THIS RESOLUTION
CONTINUES IN THIS TRADITION. AND
AFFIRMS OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY
TO FIGHT TO FIGHT AGAINST AN
OPPRESSOR. AND SPEAK IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHO SEEK
FREEDOM. THEREFORE WE MUST
CONSTANTLY SHINE OUR LIGHT INTO
THE DARKEST CORNERS OF THE WORLD
AND CONFRONT THESE EVILS. TRUE
LEADERSHIP IS HAVING THE COURAGE
TO SEE OBSERVE THE TRUTH. AND
SPEAK OUT. WE ARE EACH OTHER'S
WATCH MEN AND WOMEN. THE KEEPERS
OF EACH OTHER'S HUMANITY. AND WE
MUST CONSTANTLY DECLARE THAT AN
INJUSTICE AGAINST ONE IS AN
INJUSTICE AGAINST US ALL. TODAY
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
IS THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS
NATION AND THE WORLD'S SECOND
LARGEST ECONOMY. CHINA IS
INTEGRAL TO OUR ECONOMY HERE IN
CALIFORNIA AND THE WORLD. INDEED
CHINA IS THE UNITED STATES'
LARGEST TRADING PARTNER IN WHICH
WE EXCHANGED HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM OUR
TECH PRODUCTS. THE CLOTHING THAT
WE WEAR AND THE PHARMACEUTICAL
DRUGS WE RELY ON TO STAY ALIVE.
ALTHOUGH IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE
LEARNED THE JINGJIANG REGION
PRODUCES ABOUT 1/5 OF ALL THE
WORLD'S COTTON, IT IS PICKED BY
SLAVE LABOR BY UP TO A HALF A
MILLION WORKERS AND SOLD TO THE
REST OF THE WORLD. WE ALSO KNOW
THAT PRC IS HOME TO SOME OF THE
WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE INTERNMENT
CAMPS. WHICH ARE BEING
SYSTEMATICALLY USED TO OPPRESS
STERILIZE AND ENSLAVE AND, YES,
CLEANSE THE WIGGER PEOPLE. THE
GOOD NEWS IS THE WORLD IS NOW
WATCHING. INVESTIGATING
SCRUTINIZING AND PASSING LAWS TO
PRESSURE AND DEMAND THE PRC TO
END THIS ATROCITY OF THE WEAKER
PEOPLE. FOR IF WE FAIL TO SPEAK
OUT TO PROTECT OUR COLLECTIVE
HUMANITY, WE WILL HAVE HAVE LOST
THE FIGHT FOR HUMAN DECENCY, AND
WE'LL HAVE ACCEPTED AND EVEN
BECOME COMPLICIT IN THE
PRACTICES OF FORCED LABOR,
FORCED LABOR AND SLAVERY. AS WE
KNOW THIS IS HOW IT BEGINS. BUT
WE ALSO KNOW HOW WE COULD END.
WE KNOW THIS FROM THE ATROCITIES
MARKING HUMAN HISTORY. THAT
THEIR OCCURRENCES ARE OFTEN
GRADUAL. I AM REMINDED OF THE
WORDS OF THE GREAT MARTIN IMOLA.
HE SAYS. FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE
SOCIALIST AND I DID NOT SPEAK
OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A
SOCIALIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR
THE TRADE UNIONIST. AND I DID
NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT
A TRADE UNIONIST. THEN THEY CAME
FOR THE JEWS AND I DID NOT SPEAK
OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A JEW.
THEN THEY CAME FOR ME. AND THERE
WAS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK FOR ME.
SO LET US SPEAK. BE A WITNESS.
AND CALL EVIL OUT. EVERY TIME WE
SEE IT. FOR WE ARE BUDDY
CONTINUUM OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE
AND EXISTENCE. IF ATROCITIES ARE
HAPPENING IN CHINA TO THE WEAKER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT IS
HAPPENING. TO ALL OF US. MAY WE
ALL SUPPORT HR. 25 I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE.
THANK YOU, DR JACKSON AND SOME
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THREE OF US.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER AND MEMBERS. I STAND IN
SUPPORT OF HR 25 THAT CONDEMNS
THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
AGAINST THE WEAKER PEOPLE. THE
WEAKER PEOPLE HAVE A RICH AND
VIBRANT CULTURE WITH MOST
PRACTICING ISLAM. CURRENTLY THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS FORCING
WORKERS TO RENOUNCE THEIR FAITH
, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE GOING IN
SO FAR AS TO FORCED LABOR,
TORTURE AND MURDER. THIS IS WHY
TODAY I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON
THIS RESOLUTION. I WANT TO THANK
THE MEMBER FROM THE WEST SAN
FERNANDO VALLEY FOR BRINGING
THIS RESOLUTION TO US. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR EYE
BOAT. THANK YOU, MISS REVIS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CHOLERA YOU
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. I RISE ON BEHALF THE
API LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AND
SUPPORT OF HR 25 TO CONDEMN THE
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BEING
COMMITTED AGAINST THE WEAKER
PEOPLE. SINCE THE WEAKER FORCED
LABOR PREVENTION ACT WENT INTO
EFFECT LAST YEAR ABOUT 30
COMPANIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
AS ENABLING THE WIDE SCALE AND
HISTORIC ABUSE OF THE WEAKER
PEOPLE. THE WINNERS OF THE
SECOND LARGEST PREDOMINANTLY
MUSLIM ETHNICITY IN CHINA, AND
SINCE 2017 SEVERAL HUMAN RIGHTS
GROUPS HAVE DOCUMENTED THE
OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS OF DETENTION
AND SURVEILLANCE, FORCED UPON
THEM SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF
THEIR RELIGION AND ETHNICITY.
ESPECIALLY AS ISLAMOPHOBIA
CONTINUES TO BE PERPETUATED
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. CALIFORNIA
MUST JOIN THE DOZENS OF
ORGANIZATIONS AND COUNTRIES
CALLING FOR AN END TO THIS
VIOLENCE AND FOR CLOTHING BRANDS
TO CUT TIES WITH SUPPLIERS
UTILIZING THE FORCED LABOR OF
THE WORKERS AS YOU RECOGNIZED
THE JOYOUS, REFLECTIVE RAMADAN
SEASON, LET US NOT FORGET THOSE
WHO CONTINUE TO SUFFER BECAUSE
OF THEIR FAITH. THANK YOU.
RAMADAN MUBARAK AND ON BEHALF
THE API CAUCUS. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR I VOTE. THANK YOU, MR
CHOLERA AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SALLY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR SPEAKER. I RISE ON
BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIAL MUSLIM
CAUCUS. AND STRONG SUPPORT OF
HOUSE RESOLUTION. 25 BY MY
COLLEAGUE FROM WOODLAND HILLS.
FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NOW THE WORLD
HAS WITNESSED CHINESE, THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT COMMIT
HORRIFIC ACTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE WEAKER
PEOPLE. WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY
MUSLIM. OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED
DUE TO THEIR ETHNICITY AND
FAITH. SINCE 2017 OVER 16,000
MOSQUES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR
DESTROYED BY THE CHINESE
COMMUNIST PARTY. AS A MUSLIM
MYSELF. THIS ISSUE STRIKES VERY
THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE
THAT STRIKES HOME FOR ME. IT
COULD BE MY SISTER. MY MOTHER,
MY GRANDMOTHER THAT IS FORCED
INTO ONE OF THESE LABOR CAMPS.
FOR SIMPLY WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
OR THERE OR THERE COULD BE
SUBJECTED TO STERILIZATION,
FORCED ABORTIONS AND ULTIMATELY
MURDERED. BY THE CHINESE
COMMUNIST PARTY. THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR ON THIS ASSEMBLY FLOOR, WE
WILL SPEAK ON AND REMEMBER
SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENTS,
HORRIFIC ACTS OF EVIL IN THE
PAST. WHICH SHOULD NEVER BE
FORGOTTEN. AS IMPORTANT IT IS,
AS IT IS TO REMEMBER RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO SPEAK.
AND TO STOP THESE HORRIFIC ACTS
OF GENOCIDE THAT ARE OCCURRING.
RIGHT NOW IN THE MUSLIM
POPULATION IN CHINA. HISTORY IS
BEING WRITTEN. THE UNITED STATES
, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE
FREE WORLD MUST STAND AND
UNIFIED CONDEMNATION. TO END
THIS EVIL GENOCIDE. BEFORE
THOUSANDS MORE ARE VICTIMIZED.
IT IS THAT THESE TIMES THAT WE
RECALL OUR MORAL OBLIGATIONS AND
THE WORDS BEST SAID BY DR MARTIN
LUTHER KING. INJUSTICE ANYWHERE.
IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE
EVERYWHERE. AGAIN I RISE IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF HR. 25 I URGE
AND I VOTE. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MR ASTLEY,
AND SEEING NO OTHER MEMBERS
WISHING TO DISCUSS THIS
RESOLUTION, MR GABRIEL, YOU MAY
CLOSE THANK YOU. MR SPEAKER. I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO SPOKE SO
BEAUTIFULLY ON THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT, UM I STRUGGLED WITH AS A
KID GROWING UP IN THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY KNOW THAT MANY FOLKS
IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
STRUGGLED WITH HIS WHY WASN'T
THERE MORE OUTRAGE DURING THE
HOLOCAUST? WHY WEREN'T THERE
MORE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE UP? WHERE
WERE WHERE WERE ALL OF THE GOOD
PEOPLE WHO RECOGNIZE THAT
SOMETHING TERRIBLE WAS
HAPPENING? WHY DIDN'T ORDINARY
CITIZENS AND GOVERNMENTS AND
LEADERS AND PEOPLE IN POSITIONS
OF AUTHORITY STEP UP? AND INSERT
THEMSELVES AND HOW MIGHT THE
WORLD BE DIFFERENT? HOW MANY
MILLIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS MIGHT
BE ALIVE TODAY? HOW MANY OF THE
GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT
GRANDCHILDREN OF THOSE PEOPLE
MIGHT BE ALIVE TODAY? HAD MORE
PEOPLE BEEN WILLING TO STAND UP
AND SPEAK UP? I KNOW THAT WE
LIVE IN INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED
TIMES. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS
THAT ARE DISTRACTING OUR
ATTENTION, REALLY BIG AND
IMPORTANT THINGS, BUT I FELT
WITH THE MONTH OF RAMADAN COMING
AT THE BEGINNING OF GENOCIDE
PREVENTION MONTH, IT WAS
INCUMBENT UPON US TO TAKE A
MOMENT AND STOP AND REFLECT ON
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE UP TO
TWO MILLION HUMAN BEINGS AND
CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN CHINA.
AND THAT WE AS COMPLICATED AS
DIFFICULT AS OUR RELATIONSHIP IS
WITH THAT COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO LEAD WITH OUR
VALUES AND TO SPEAK OUT WHEN WE
SEE CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL ABUSES
OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND SO IN THAT
SPIRIT, I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO
JOIN WITH US AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST AND I VOTE ON HR 25.
THANK YOU, MR GABRIEL. WOULD YOU
LIKE THE FIRST ROLL OF MEMBER CO
AUTHORS? THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER.
THANK YOU. CLARK WILL OPEN THE
DOOR. MR COLE APPEARS. ON EACH
ARE 25 ALL THOSE WISHING TO BE A
CO AUTHOR, PLEASE VOTE. CLERK
WILL CLOSE THE ROLE. THERE ARE
79 CO AUTHORS AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE CAN TAKE A VOICE
VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION. ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. ALL
THOSE OPPOSED, SAY, NAY, YOU
GUYS HAVE IT RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. AND MR. MR GABRIEL, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR GUESTS
INTRODUCTIONS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND WITH YOUR INDULGENCE
COLLEAGUES, PART OF THE REASON
THAT I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS
RESOLUTION AS I FOUND OUT THAT A
NUMBER OF LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS
ACTIVISTS AND EXCEPTIONAL
LEADERS WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND
WE ACTUALLY ARE VERY PRIVILEGED
WITH US TODAY. WE HAVE WITH US
IN TODAY, A NUMBER OF GUESTS IN
THE GALLERY THAT INCLUDES TWO
SURVIVORS OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS
ARE ABLE TO ESCAPE. AND COME TO
THE UNITED STATES. THEY RECENTLY
WERE IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK,
WHERE THEY TESTIFIED BEFORE
CONGRESS AND MET WITH KEY
LEADERS, INCLUDING OUR FORMER
SPEAKER, NANCY PELOSI. SO I'M
PROUD TO INTRODUCE GULBAHAR
HEIGHT EY, HE AND CALVIN OR
SIDDIQ, WHO ARE WITH US, WE ALSO
HAVE TWO LEADERS FROM THE WEAKER
HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT. THEIR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OMAR CANNOT.
AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER
JULIE MILLSAP. AND WE ALSO HAVE
SEVERAL LEADERS FROM JEWISH
WORLD WATCH, A DEEPLY IMPACTFUL
HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION THAT
WAS FOUNDED IN MY COMMUNITY
HEADQUARTER TO MY ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT, AND THAT WORKS WITH
PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND
BACKGROUNDS TO FIGHT AGAINST
GENOCIDE AND MASS ATROCITIES. SO
WE HAVE MY FRIEND, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR SERENA A. BURSTEIN
SENIOR ADVISOR SAMUEL CHEW AND
BOARD MEMBER JONATHAN BASS AND
ENTREPRENEUR FROM LOS ANGELES
FROM A FAMILY OF HOLOCAUST
SURVIVORS. WHO SHUT DOWN HIS
FACTORY IN THE WIDER REGION
AFTER HE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND
WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE AND THEN
LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST GO
MAHAR, WHO THE DAUGHTER OF
GULBAHAR, WHO BRAVELY FOUGHT TO
END HER MOTHER'S INTERNMENT IN A
CONCENTRATION CAMP AND WHO
PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN
SECURING HER RELEASE. THESE ARE
VERY BRAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER IN
WASHINGTON AND STATE CAMP IN
NATIONAL CAPITALS ALL OVER THE
WORLD. AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING THEM TO THE STATE
CAPITAL.
THANK YOU AND MEMBERS. WE WILL
NOW RECESS THE REGULAR SESSION
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONVENING THE
FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. THE
REGULAR SESSION IS RECESSED.
MEMBERS WERE NOW IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION AND
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL
SUBSTITUTE THE PRAYER PLEDGE AND
OTHER ORDERS OF BUSINESS. PRIOR
TO MOVING TO MOTIONS AND
RESOLUTIONS. WE ARE NOW UNDER
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS AND
MADAM MAJORITY LEADER YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. SP TWO. SKINNER HAS
BEEN REPORTED TO THE DESK. I
MOVED TO THE SPLINT SUSPEND THE
RULES TO TAKE UP SP TWO WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO FILE A MOTION BY
RACE AND A SECOND BY GIBSON AND
MR FLORA. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? MR
SPEAKER. I MAKE HIM A MOTION
THAT WE MOVE. UM THE FIRST
HISTORIAN SESSION TO ADJOURN
SENDAI EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
ALRIGHT MEMBERS. HERE'S WHAT'S
GOING ON. THERE'S A MOTION
THAT'S BEEN SECONDED AND MR
FLOOR WOULD LIKE A SUBSTITUTE
MOTION. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? I
SEE YOU A SECOND BY MR MATHIS
MEMBERS WERE GOING TO VOTE ON A
SUBSTITUTE MOTION HERE, WHICH
WILL, UH, ADJOURNED THE SESSION
AND MR FLORES ASKING FOR AN I
VOTE. MAJORITY LEADERS ASKING
FOR A NO VOTE WILL OPEN THE
ROLE. ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTES WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. CLERK WILL.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL EYES.
18 KNOWS 59 THAT MOTION FAILS.
WE'RE BACK TO MS RAISES MOTION
MEMBERS. THIS IS TO SUSPEND THE
RULES AND TAKE UP SB TWO WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO FILE. I ASSUME
THERE'S AN OBJECTION TO THIS AND
YOU WOULD LIKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLE. MS
RACES ASKING FOR AN IBOOK MR
FLOOR IS ASKING FOR A NO VOTE.
THIS IS A MOTION JUST TO TAKE UP
THE BILL AND SUSPEND THE RULES.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLE TALLY.
THE VOTES IS 59 NOS 18 RULES ARE
SUSPENDED. AND WITH THAT WE ARE
MOVING TO SB TWO SCANNER. THE
COURT WILL READ THE BILL A
SECOND TIME. SENATE BILL TWO.
AND OF COURSE, WILL READ THE
BILL A THIRD TIME. SENATE BILL
TWO BITES IN THE SKINNER AND
ACCOLADE ENERGY FOR WHAT
PURPOSE? I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE
RULES IN THE BOOK. THE
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION TO WITHDRAW
ASSEMBLY BILL X ONE DASH TO THE
TEMPORARY SUSPEND THE STATE'S
GAS TAX TO GIVE IMMEDIATE PRICE
RELIEF AND TAKE IT UP
IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
FILE. RIGHT MR VAN. WE'RE NOT ON
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. WE ARE
ON THE BILL. RIGHT NOW. SP TO
THAT MOTION IS OUT OF ORDER, MR
FLORA. WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF
ORDER? EMOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
. THE HE DID NOT, UH, THE CHAIR
DID NOT SEE HIM. COMMUNITY WAS
WE ARE ON THE BILL. ACCORDING TO
OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN, WE ARE ON
THE BILL RIGHT NOW, WHICH HAS
BEEN TAKEN UP. THERE WERE MANY
POINTS OF OPPORTUNITY. I THINK
TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS
MATTER FURTHER. MR FONG. A POINT
WHERE I APPEAL THE RULING OF THE
CHAIR I WAS RECOGNIZED, AT LEAST
FROM THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO
YOU. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE ARE DELIBERATIVE BODY AND IF
WE'RE NOT WILLING TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION WITH MULTIPLE POINTS
OF VIEW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
POINT OF THIS HISTORICALLY
SESSION IS. MR FONG. THIS
DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW WILL BE ON
THE BILL AND THERE WILL BE AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
YOUR POINTS WITH THAT. MR IRWIN,
YOU MAY OPEN ON SB TWO. THANK
YOU, MR SPEAKER AND MEMBERS I
RISE TO PRESENT SP TWO.
CALIFORNIANS PAY FAR MORE FOR
GAS THAN THEY SHOULD. THE LAST
SPIKE IN PRICES COST OUR
CONSTITUENTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
, WHILE THE OIL COMPANIES WERE
POCKETING HUGE PROFITS. BUT
INEXPLICABLY, INEXPLICABLY, EVEN
WHEN WE ARE NOT EXPERIENCING A
SPIKE, WE PAY HIGHER PRICES THAN
OTHER STATES. EVEN WHEN WE
ACCOUNT FOR OUR TAXES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES. RECENTLY
WE WERE PAYING AN AVERAGE OF
$2.60 MORE PER GALLON THAN THE
REST OF THE NATION. THIS IS
UNACCEPTABLE AND HAS LED US TO
THIS SPECIAL SESSION AND TO THIS
BILL. THE ASSEMBLY WORKING GROUP
HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THE
GOVERNOR'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL
SINCE JANUARY, WHERE WE HEARD
SKEPTICISM FROM MANY MEMBERS.
THE NEW PROPOSAL, HOWEVER,
ADDRESSES MANY OF OUR CONCERNS,
AND I BELIEVE IS A WIN FOR
CALIFORNIANS. BASICALLY THIS
PROPOSAL HAS THREE MAJOR
COMPONENTS. TRANSPARENCY
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE
REQUIREMENT TO CREATE A ROADMAP
TO TRANSITION TO A CLEAN TO
CLEAN TRANSPORTATION. THIS BILL
CREATES THE DIVISION OF
PETROLEUM MARKET OVERSIGHT THAT
WILL ACT AS A WATCHDOG. THE
EXPERTS IN THE DIVISION WILL
HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUBPOENA
DATA AND WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE A
DEEP LOOK AT THE DAY TO DAY
FLUCTUATIONS OF THE MARKET. IN
CALIFORNIA. WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO
ONE IN THAT ROLE. THE NEW
DIVISION WILL BE ADVISED BY AN
INDEPENDENT CONSUMER FUELS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADE UP OF
INDUSTRY EXPERTS. IF THE NEW
DIVISION DEEMS IT NECESSARY. IT
CAN SHARE INFORMATION AND REFER
VIOLATIONS TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL. IN ADDITION, THIS BILL
PROVIDES FOR AN ANNUAL REPORT TO
THE LEGISLATURE THAT INCLUDES A
REVIEW OF GAS PRICES FOR THAT
YEAR. SP TWO ALLOWS BUT DOES NOT
REQUIRE THE ENERGY COMMISSION TO
ESTABLISH A PENALTY BASED ON A
MAXIMUM GROSS GASOLINE REFINING
MARGIN. BUT BEFORE A PENALTY CAN
BE PUT IN PLACE, THE C E C BASED
ON THE DATA. AND EXPERT INPUT
MUST MAKE FINDINGS THAT THE
PENALTY WILL NOT AFFECT SUPPLY.
WILL NOT INCREASE PRICES AND
WILL NOT HARM CONSUMERS. IF THE
PENALTY IS ESTABLISHED, THE
STATE AUDITOR WILL BE REQUIRED
TO COMPLETE AN AUDIT OF THE
PROGRAM AND MAKE A DETERMINATION
AS TO WHETHER THE PROGRAM IS
ACHIEVING THE ATTENDED GOAL OF
REDUCING GASOLINE PRICE SPIKES
AND STABILIZING THE GASOLINE
SUPPLY MARKET. IF THE AUDITOR
CONCLUDES THAT THE PROGRAM IS
NOT WORKING AS INTENDED THAN THE
C E C WILL BE REQUIRED TO CEASE
IMPLEMENTING THE GROSS REFINING
MARGIN AND THE PEN PENALTY
PROVISIONS WITHIN 180 DAYS.
FINALLY AND I THINK MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE C E C AND
CARVED WITH INPUT FROM THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE
DIVISION WILL DEVELOP BY THE END
OF 2024 A ROADMAP TO ACHIEVING
OUR CLEAN TRANSPORTATION GOALS.
THIS WILL REQUIRE WORKING WITH
ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE
OIL INDUSTRY TO DETERMINE HOW TO
REACH OUR 2035 GOALS WITHOUT
ADVERSELY AFFECTING OUR
CONSTITUENTS. PEOPLE IN
CALIFORNIA ARE SUFFERING WITH
THE INCREASED COSTS WITH THE
INCREASED COST OF GOODS. MANY
SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE
HUGE INCREASES IN GAS PRICES
THAT WE HAVE SEEN, AND THIS IS A
SPECIALLY TRUE FOR THOSE WHO ARE
LIVING ON THE FINANCIAL EDGE.
WORKING LOW WAGE JOBS BUT STILL
HAVING TO COMMUTE. MEMBERS EVERY
TIME THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE IN GASOLINE PRICES. WE
REACT WITH SELECT COMMITTEES AND
NEW STUDIES. THIS TIME IS
DIFFERENT. WE HAVE THE CHANCE
TODAY TO DO WHAT CALIFORNIANS
DESERVE, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE
REAL OVERSIGHT WITH DEDICATED
EXPERTISE TO OVERSEE THE
GASOLINE MARKET AND TO CREATE A
PLAN FOR ACHIEVING OUR LOW
CARBON AND CLEAN AIR FUTURE.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE COUNTING
ON YOU. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU, MR IRWIN
AND MR JOE PATTERSON. YOU
RECOGNIZED. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER. I
PROVIDED AMENDMENTS AT THE DESK
TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO
CALIFORNIANS. DOUBLE REED BILL
TO WITH AMENDMENTS BY SOMEBODY
WITH JOE PATTERSON SAID ONE
THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENTS THAT I
PROVIDED. SUSPEND THE GATE US.
STATES GAS TAX FOR ONE YEAR TO
REDUCE GAS PRICES. THEY ENACT A
GAS TAX HOLIDAY TO PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE RELIEF AT THE PUMP AND
BACK FILLS LOST TRANSPORTATION
REVENUES FROM THE STATE'S
GENERAL FUND. THEY ALSO STRIKE
LANGUAGE THAT GIVES UNCHECKED
POWER TO UNELECTED BUREAUCRATS
TO RAISE THE PRICE OF GAS. THE
REASON THESE AMENDMENTS ARE
NEEDED IS BECAUSE A PROVIDES
IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO CONSUMERS AS
GAS PRICES ARE STILL AT
HISTORICAL HIGHS. IN FACT, IT
HELPS EASE $17 PAID BY
CALIFORNIANS IN STATE TAXES FOR
EACH AND EVERY PHILIP POINT OF
ORDER MAJORITY LEADER MR
SPEAKER. UH, THE OF COURSE YOU
CAN. GENTLEMEN FROM ROCKLAND
MADE EMOTION BUT STARTED TO
ARGUE HIS MOTION BEFORE YOU
RULED ON IT. HE WAS OUT OF
ORDER. YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN.
WE HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE AT
THE DESK, MADAM MAJORITY LEADER
AND I WOULD MOVE TO TABLE THEM.
MOTION TO TABLE AND SECOND BY MR
GIBSON POINT OF ORDER. THERE IS
NO POINT OF ORDER. MR CALLENDER
. MR SPEAKER. AMENDMENTS WERE
CROSS TIMELY. AND UNDER THE
RULES ON AN AMENDMENT, THE
AUTHOR OF THOSE AMENDMENTS HAS
ALLOWED TO DEBATE THAT AND MAKE
THE CASE FOR THE AMENDMENTS.
HOWEVER, WITH THE MOTION. WHEN
THE MOTION IS MADE. IT IS ONLY
EMOTION AND THAT HAS TO BE RULED
ON IT WANTS THE MEMBERS STARTED
TO ARGUE HIS MOTION. THEN HE WAS
OUT OF ORDER. THANK YOU, MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER. MR GALLAGHER.
YOUR MOTION IS YOUR POINT OF
VIEW IS NOT WELL TAKEN. AND
MADAM MAJORITY. THERE IS A
MOTION TO TABLE SECONDED BY MR
GIBSON. THE AMENDMENTS, WHICH
REPRESENTED TODAY. PURPLE OPEN
THE ROLE. ALL THOSE VOTES WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. MEMBERS OF THE
PROCEDURAL MOMENT MOTION. MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER IS ASKING FOR AN
EYE BOAT. MR. GALLAGHER IS
ASKING FOR A NO VOTE.
CLERK WILL CLOSE ROLL TALLY. THE
VOTES AS 55 WAS 19. AMENDMENTS
ARE LAID ON THE TABLE. MR
LACKEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
MEMBERS. I KNOW THE HEADLINE OF
THIS BILL IN FRONT OF US, SAYS
THIS BILL. WAS DEALING WITH
MAXIMUM GROSS GASOLINE REFINING
MARGINS. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE.
THIS IS A JOB KILLING GAS TAX A
T A X. IF YOU REPRESENT A
COMMUTER DISTRICT LIKE I
HAPPENED TO AND VOTE FOR THIS
MEASURE. YOUR YES VOTE WILL
EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A GAS TAX.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKING
CLASS CONSTITUENTS WHO DON'T
HAVE THE LUXURY OF A ZOOM JOB.
WE DON'T NEED UNELECTED,
UNACCOUNTABLE STATE GOVERNMENT
BUREAUCRATS. INVESTIGATING. WHY
ARE GAS PRICES? PRICES ARE SO
HIGH. EFFORT TRULY LOOKING FOR
TRANSPARENCY. AND ACCOUNTABILITY
AND PRICING. LET'S START OFF
WITH TELLING THE TRUTH TO ALL
CALIFORNIANS WHO WILL LISTEN.
THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH
GASOLINE REFINING CAPACITY TO
MEET DEMAND. LET ME SAY THAT ONE
MORE TIME BECAUSE IT'S VERY,
VERY SALIENT POINT. THE STATE
DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH GASOLINE
REFINING CAPACITY TO MEET
DEMAND. SUPPLY CONSTRAINTS ARE
MOSTLY THE RESULT OF REGULATORY
BURDENS AND POLICIES IMPLEMENTED
BY GUESS WHO. OUR STATE. THAT DO
NOT ALLOW PROCEDURES TO MEET
CURRENT DEMAND. THIS BILL BEFORE
US WILL FURTHER EXASPERATE THIS
PROBLEM AND LEAD TO GASOLINE
SUPPLY REDUCTION. THIS IS REAL
WORLD ECONOMICS, PLAIN AND
SIMPLE. OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE
REAL SOLUTIONS TO THIS CRISIS,
NOT A HODGEPODGE ATTEMPT TO
DEMONSTRATE SOME KIND OF ACTION
WAS DONE BY THIS BODY. THIS BILL
WILL HAVE A DISASTROUS IMPACT ON
MY COMMUNITY CONSTITUENTS AND
OUR ECONOMY. SO I PLEAD FOR YOU
TO LAY OFF. I KNOW YOU WON'T
VOTE, NO BUT LEAST LAYOFF.
BECAUSE THE REST OF US FROM MY
CAUCUS WILL VOTE NO. THANK YOU,
MR LACKEY AND A SEVEN MEMBER
LEE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR SPEAKER MEMBERS. ONE
YEAR AGO, I INTRODUCED A MEASURE
TO REDISTRIBUTE EXCESS PROFITS.
WINDFALL PROFITS FROM BIG OIL TO
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. AND
NOW TODAY THROUGH THE FEEDBACK
OF THIS BODY AND THE SENATE AND
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WE SEE
THE EVOLUTION OF THE PROPOSALS
TO SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE
STRONG. THE STRONGEST POINT AND
AS A SIMILAR IRWIN HAD ALREADY
TALKED ABOUT THE STRONGEST POINT
OF THIS PROPOSAL IS IN DATA
TRANSPARENCY. WE CAN, TRUTHFULLY
AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY NOW KNOW THE
PRACTICES OF THE REFINED THE
FIVE COMPANIES THAT CONTROL THE
ENTIRE OR REFINING BUSINESS,
BASICALLY IN CALIFORNIA AND
UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THEY SAY
PRICES ARE GOING UP AND DOWN.
WHAT IS IT TRULY WHAT'S TRUE THE
TRUTH OF THAT, BUT EVEN WITH THE
DATA THAT WE SEE TODAY, HERE'S
THE NUMBERS WE KNOW HERE IS THE
NUMBERS THAT WE KNOW WITH THE
DATA WE SEE TODAY THE AVERAGE
PROFIT PER GALLON BETWEEN 2001
AND 2021 FOR 20 YEARS WAS 32
CENTS PER GALLON IN 2022 QUARTER
TO QUARTER THREE, BECAUSE WE
ONLY GET QUARTERLY BREAKDOWNS
RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE AT THEIR
PROFIT PER GALLON WAS 91 CENTS
PER GALLON AND 77 CENTS PER
GALLON. NOW I KNOW THE OTHERS.
THE OTHER AISLE AND THE OIL
INDUSTRY LOVE THE TALKING POINT
THAT IT IS ALL JUST REGULATIONS
AND TAXES. BUT OUR REGULATIONS
AND EVEN THE GAS TAX OR A
CONSTANT, SO WHAT WOULD ACCOUNT
FOR CONSTANT SPIKES OF UP AND
DOWN AND EVEN AFTER YOU TAKE
AWAY TAX IS THE FIVE BIG OIL
CORPORATIONS MAKE AN AVERAGE 30%
MORE PROFIT IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA THAN ANY OTHER STATE
IN THE NATION. ANY OTHER STATE.
AND OIL CORPORATIONS. THEY WANT
TO BLAME US FOR INVESTING IN A
GREEN FUTURE. WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
FOR ALL OF US AND DIVERT
THEMSELVES AND DISTRACT FROM
THEIR GREED. BECAUSE ISN'T IT
ALWAYS SO CONVENIENT THAT THE
OIL COMPANIES SAYING THE THING
THAT IS KEEPING THEM FROM
SETTING THEIR PRICES LOW? IS
TAXES AND REGULATIONS THAT THEY
WOULD BENEFIT FROM NOT HAVING
ISN'T IT SO CONVENIENT. AND THEN
ANOTHER GREAT DAY AT POINT IS
THAT THREE TIMES IN THE LAST
DECADE THREE TIMES THE LAST
DECADE, THE OIL REFINING MARGIN
WENT OVER 50 CENTS PER GALLON
THREE TIMES AND TWO OF THEM WERE
IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE. AND IF
WE HAD THIS PROPOSAL LAST YEAR,
AS MILLIONS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
WERE SUFFERING FROM RECORD HIGH
PRICE GOUGING IF WE HAD A
PROPOSAL SAY, SET WITH THE
PENALTY OF 50 CENTS PER GALLON
THAT WOULD HAVE GENERATED $1.7
BILLION TO REDISTRIBUTE TO
CONSUMERS TO REDISTRIBUTE
CALIFORNIANS. AND THAT IS
CONSUMERS AND RED BLUE,
INDEPENDENT EVERY DISTRICT THAT
THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT
MONEY. I WANT TO APPLAUD THE
GOVERNOR FOR TAKING SWIFT ACTION
ON THIS, AND ESPECIALLY THE
LEGISLATURE FOR OUR OUR FEEDBACK
ON IT. FOSSIL FUEL OBSOLESCENCE
IS ON THE HORIZON. THEY KNOW
THAT AND THEY WILL MAKE SURE
THAT THEY WILL SQUEEZE EVERY
LAST PENNY UNTIL THAT FUTURE OR
UNTIL THE FUTURE HAPPENS, AND WE
SHOULD NOT STAND TO LET THEIR
GREED FOR ANY DAY LONGER. I ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU, MR LEE
ANDERSON MEMBER FONG, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. MEMBERS I RISE TO
OPPOSE SBX 1-2. MEMBERS I AM
PROUD TO REPRESENT THE ENERGY
PRODUCTION CAPITAL OF
CALIFORNIA. AND THIS BILL WILL
HAVE TREMENDOUS RAMIFICATIONS
AND CONSEQUENCES. IF YOU LOOK IF
YOU LOOKED AT MY COMMUNITY, NO
ENERGY GOAL CAN BE MET WITHOUT
MY COMMUNITY. WE PRODUCE 70% OF
THE STATE'S OIL PRODUCTION AND
60% OF THE STATES WERE NO OVER
PRODUCTION AND TO CREATE THIS
FALSE CHOICE TO PUNISH AND
ENERGY PRODUCTION IS THE WRONG
APPROACH. CALIF THIS RUSHED JOB
KILLER BILL CREATES A NEW LAYER
OF GOVERNMENT MAKE NO QUESTION
ABOUT THAT. A NEW, UNTESTED
GROUP OF POLITICAL APPOINTEES
THAT WILL CONTROL HOW MUCH
CALIFORNIANS PAY FOR GAS AND
MICROMANAGE THE ENERGY
PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA.
CALIFORNIA FAMILIES ARE
DEMANDING AFFORDABLE GAS PRICES,
NOT MORE RED TAPE. THIS BILL.
DESPITE WHAT THE AUTHOR SAYS
DOES NOTHING TO LOWER THE PRICE
OF GAS. IN FACT, IT MAY DO THE
OPPOSITE AND INCREASED PRICES BY
WORSENING EXISTING SUPPLY
PROBLEMS, THE RESULT OF THIS
SHORT SIGHTED LEGISLATION WILL
BE ENERGY MARKET DISRUPTIONS,
HIGHER COSTS AND ENERGY
SHORTAGES. IN 2000 MEMBERS.
THERE WAS A REPORT BY THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL ATTORNEY
GENERAL BILL LOCKYER, THAT
OUTLINED THE CONCERNS ON GAS
PRICES, IT WARNED. THAT WE
NEEDED TO MORE REFINING CAPACITY
, MORE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND
CALIFORNIA'S UNIQUE BLEND THAT
MAKES US AN ENERGY ISLAND WOULD
HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS TO OUR
GAS PRICES SINCE THEN. THESE
CHALLENGES HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. WE
HAVE LOST REFINING CAPACITY. WE
LACK ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
CALIFORNIA IS EVEN MORE ISOLATED
WHEN IT COMES TO GASOLINE SUPPLY
. AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW
THAT TAXES HAVE GONE UP AND WE
ARE NOW PAYING THE PRICE
LITERALLY AT THE GAS PUMP. THIS
PROPOSAL IS BEING JAMMED THROUGH
THE PROCESS WITH MINIMAL PUBLIC
AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT. MEMBERS
BOTH SIDES WERE NOT PRESENT IN
THIS CONVERSATION. HOW CAN YOU
HAVE A DEBATE WHEN IT'S ONLY ONE
SIDE? IN FACT, THIS PROPOSAL
CREATES SO MUCH HAVOC WITH
DRAFTING ISSUES THAT IS ALREADY
IN NEED OF CLEANUP LEGISLATION.
AND THIS BILL HASN'T EVEN PASSED
. THERE IS NOW A PLEDGE BY THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO REMOVE
ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTION FROM
THESE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS,
AND THAT IS NEEDED. POLICIES
MEMBERS THAT WE PASS IN THIS
BODY MUST BE GROUNDED IN
ECONOMIC REALITY NOT TO CREATE
POLITICAL HEADLINES. INCREASING
ENERGY SUPPLIES IS THE SOLUTION
TO LOWER GAS PRICES. PRICE
CONTROLS WILL ONLY LEAD TO LONG
LINES AT THE PUMP LIKE IT DID
UNDER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER.
THIS IDEA HAS EMPIRICALLY
FAILED. IT HAS NOT WORKED.
ANYWHERE THAT IT'S BEEN TRIED.
THIS BILL IS A SENSELESS ATTACK
ON DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION
THAT WILL ONLY HARM HARDWORKING
CALIFORNIANS IN THE FIELD BY
CREATING A HOSTILE BUSINESS
CLIMATE. THE GOVERNOR IS PUTTING
CALIFORNIANS OUT OF JOBS AND
MAKING CALIFORNIA MORE DEPENDENT
ON FOREIGN COUNTRIES FOR ENERGY.
WE FIND RAYS ARE ONLY ABLE TO
BUY THE OIL THAT'S AVAILABLE IF
THE ONLY OPTION IS FOREIGN OIL
THAN THE STATE IS UNDERMINING
ITS OWN ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS BY
MAKING US MORE DEPENDENT ON
FOREIGN OIL. THIS PROPOSAL WILL
REWARD AUTHORITARIAN COUNTRIES
WHO DISREGARD THE ENVIRONMENT,
DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE LABOR LAWS
AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN IT
COMES TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
IMPORTED OIL ARRIVES ON TANKER
SHIPS, WHICH IS MUCH DIRTIER
THAN WHAT CAR WOULD HAVE BURNS
FUEL MUCH DIRTIER THAN WHAT CARS
AND TRUCKS USE EVERY BARREL OF A
TANKER UNDERMINES CALIFORNIA'S
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS. OIL
PRODUCED IN CALIFORNIA BY
CALIFORNIANS ADHERE TO THE
STRICTEST ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ON
THIS PLANET. NOW THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT ALLEGED
PRICE GOUGING. THERE ARE CURRENT
LAWS ON THE BOOKS WHEN IT COMES
TO PREVENTING PRICE GOUGING. THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL CURRENTLY HAS
THIS AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE
OFFENDERS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS.
IT HAS NOT BEEN INVOKED MEMBERS
HAS THERE BEEN ANY EXERCISE OF
THIS OF THESE STATUTES. THERE
HASN'T BEEN. WHY BECAUSE THERE'S
NO EVIDENCE NO MATTER HOW MANY
TIMES YOU SAY IT, THE EVIDENCE
COMES UP EMPTY. PASSING A BILL
LIKE THIS MODELED AFTER IDEAS
THAT HAVE EMPIRICALLY FAILED,
DISRUPTING THE ENERGY MARKET AND
IGNORING THE ECONOMIC REALITY
WHERE EVERY SINGLE CALIFORNIA
AND WILL ULTIMATELY BEAR THE
DIRECT AS WELL AS THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. AND COST IS THE
WRONG APPROACH. IF THE GOVERNOR
IS SERIOUS ABOUT LOWERING GAS
PRICES AND SAFEGUARDING THE
ENVIRONMENT, YOU SHOULD
REEVALUATE HIS OWN POLICIES THAT
MAKE GASOLINE MORE EXPENSIVE AND
LIMIT SUPPLY AND APPROVE THE
THOUSANDS OF PERMITS FOR MORE
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION THAT ARE
CURRENTLY SITTING ON HIS DESK.
REMEMBERS. AS THE PREVIOUS
AUTHOR STATED. THERE WAS AN
ATTEMPT LAST YEAR TO GUT AN
AMENDED BILL TO IMPOSE IT
WOULDN'T FALL PROPERTY PROFITS
TAX AGAIN. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
THAT THIS IDEA WORKS. WE ARE
MOVING INTO AN UNTESTED PROCESS
STRUCTURE. THAT WILL EMPIRICALLY
LEAD TO ENERGY SHORTAGES
MEMBERS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY WE
AREN'T HAVING A REAL DISCUSSION
THAT ALLOWS BOTH SIDES TO HAVE
BEEN PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
WE'RE GONNA ALLOW THE OTHER SIDE
TO PARTICIPATE AFTER THE BILL
HAS BEEN PASSED AND AFTER THE
CONSEQUENCES THAT IS BACKWARDS
MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS
OF WORKERS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR
IN MY COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, I ASKED
YOU TO VOTE NO ON SB X ONE JUST
TO THANK YOU, MR FONG AND SOME
ROMERO TUCCI, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REPRESENT
TWO MAJOR REFINERIES IN MY
DISTRICT. THE PBF REFINERY IN
TORRANCE. AND THE CHEVRON
REFINERY IN EL SEGUNDO. AND I
RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS
MEASURE. AND, FRANKLY, AT A
LOSS. AS TO WHY. MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.
ARE NOT SUPPORTING THIS STRONG
MEASURE TO BRING SOME
TRANSPARENCY. TO THIS INDUSTRY
THAT HAS LARGELY BEEN
UNREGULATED IN TERMS OF HOW GAS
PRICES ARE SET. YOU KNOW? MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND
THE UTILITIES AND ENERGY
COMMITTEE. SAID IT WELL THIS
MORNING AT THE COMMITTEE HEARING
WE HAVE AN ALI, YOU KNOW, AND
OLIGARCHY. HERE. WE WE OLIGOPOLY
HERE NOT NOT NOT AN OLIGARCHY,
AN OLIGOPOLY THAT'S FOR ANOTHER
COUNTRY. AH! WE HAVE WE HAVE AN
OLIGOPOLY HERE. WE HAVE SUCH A
SMALL NUMBER. THERE WAS
TESTIMONY THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW
, UH FROM FROM THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE. FIVE REFINERIES CONTROL
97% OF THE GAS THAT CALIFORNIA
CONSUMERS CONSUME. AND SO THIS
IS THE BIGGEST BENEFIT OF THIS
BILL IS TO GIVE POWER TO THE
ENERGY COMMISSION AND THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO GET
TO HAVE THE SUBPOENA POWER,
SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
CALLING FOR, YOU KNOW, TO GET
MORE TRANSPARENCY SO THAT WE
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH HERE. THE. TESTIMONY.
PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE. WAS THAT CALIFORNIANS
ARE BEING CHARGED A RECORD $2.61
MORE PER GALLON THAN THE REST OF
THE NATION. AND WHILE THE OIL
BIG OIL WANTS CALIFORNIANS TO
FOCUS ON THE GAS TAX AND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AS THE
REASON FOR THAT HIGHER PRICE. IN
FACT, CALIFORNIA'S GAS TAX AND
FEES AND REGULATIONS ADD UP ONLY
2 99 CENTS LESS THAN HALF OF
THAT DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF
CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES BEING
HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE
NATION. THEY BEGGED THE OIL
INDUSTRY WILL NOT EXPLAIN WHERE
THIS MYSTERY SURCHARGE THAT
EVERYONE BOTH REPUBLICANS, AS
WELL AS DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THIS ADDITIONAL
1.62. DOLLARS. 62 CENTS COMES
FROM AND SO YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
WHEN THE GOVERNOR FIRST STARTED
CALLING FOR THE WINDFALL PROFIT
TAX. I WASN'T IN SUPPORT OF THAT
. I WASN'T IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
BECAUSE I WAS I WAS ARGUING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES. WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BE ABLE
TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE REGULATING GAS PRICES SO
THAT YOU KNOW, MY BIGGEST FEAR
IS THAT THE PENALTIES WAS JUST
GONNA BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS
. THAT IS A BIPARTISAN CONCERN.
THIS MEASURE. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE
PENALTIES. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE
ANY MAXIMUM PROFIT CAPS. ALL IT
REQUIRES IS NUMBER ONE IS THAT
WE GET THAT INFORMATION SO THAT
SO THAT WE KNOW YOU KNOW HOW WE
ARRIVE AT THE GAS PRICES AND
NUMBER TWO THE REASON WHY I FEEL
STRONGLY AND SUPPORTING THIS
BILL IS THAT THIS BILL
SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS THE
ENERGY COMMISSION FROM
ESTABLISHING EITHER A MAX MARGIN
OR A PENALTY. UNLESS THE ENERGY
COMMISSION FINDS THAT THERE
LIKELY BENEFITS TO CONSUMERS
OUTWEIGH THE POTENTIAL COST TO
CONSUMERS. HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT
MAKING THAT DETERMINATION? THE
BILL SPELLS OUT THREE SPECIFIC
CRITERIA. IT SAYS THAT THE
ENERGY COMMISSION MUST NUMBER
ONE EXAMINE WHETHER IT'S LIKELY
THAT THE MAX MARGIN AND THE
PENALTY WILL LEAD TO A GREATER
IMBALANCE BETWEEN SUPPLY AND
DEMAND. SO GOING TO YOU KNOW,
OUR COLLEAGUE FROM LANCASTER'S
CONCERNED ABOUT ABOUT SUPPLY.
THAT IS ONE OF THE SPECIFIC
CRITERIA THAT THIS BILL IS
CALLED, AS WILL REQUIRE THE
ENERGY COMMISSION TO ADDRESS AND
NUMBER TWO WHETHER IT'S LIKELY
THAT THE MAX MARGIN AND PENALTY
WILL LEAD TO A HIGHER GAS PRICES
AT THE PUMP ON IT ANNUAL BASIS
SO AGAIN. THIS BILL. NUMBER ONE.
IT'S TRANSPARENCY IS SEEKING
MORE INFORMATION SO THAT WE
UNDERSTAND HOW OUR GAS PRICES
ARE SET. NUMBER TWO IS
SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES THE ENERGY
COMMISSION. IT PROHIBITS THE
ENERGY COMMISSION FROM PASSING
ANY PENALTIES OR ANY ANY MAXIMUM
PROFIT. ON ON ON OIL BY FOCUSING
ON THE ISSUES OF SUPPLY AND GAS
PRICES. THAT IS WHY I FEEL THAT
WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS BILL FOR
THE SAKE OF CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS
. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IF YOU
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE THEN
YOU SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT
THIS BILL. THANK YOU, MR MERRITT
SOUCI AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ALVAREZ. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER. I RISE
TODAY, NOT TO SIDE WITH WHAT
SOME FOLKS WOULD SAY ARE THE
GOOD GUYS AND OTHER FOLKS WHO
SAY ARE THE BAD GUYS. ACTUALLY
RIGHT TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF THE ONES THAT IT REALLY
MATTERS, TOO. AND THAT'S THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA THAT
CONSTITUENTS FIRST AND FOREMOST
, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT.
ARE CONSUMERS FROM THE PRICE OF
GAS. AND THIS BILL GOES A LONG
WAY IN PROVIDING US WITH
IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN ORDER
TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THAT'S THE
CASE OR NOT. I WANT TO BEFORE I
CONTINUE REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE. UH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S, UH, JACKIE
IRWIN FOR HER WORK LEADING TO
WHERE WE ARE TODAY BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES OF THIS
BILL THAT ARE ACTUALLY REALLY
IMPORTANT, BUT THE ONE THAT I
PERSONALLY CARE ABOUT, AND IT
HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED HERE
TODAY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALSO
TAKE A LOT OF INTEREST IN IS THE
FINAL SECTION OF THE BILL, WHICH
TALKS ABOUT A TRANSITION PLAN.
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TALKED
ABOUT QUITE A BIT. BUT NEVER
REALLY DISCUSSED IN MUCH DETAIL.
THIS BILL HAS A PROVISION THAT
WOULD REQUIRE THAT A TRANSITION
PLAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD. AS A
RESULT OF THIS LAW BEING
ENACTED. AND I THINK THAT'S A
GOOD THING I WANT TO READ. WHY
WE T Y HEADLINE FROM ANALYSIS
DONE JUST LAST WEEK BY CAL
MATTERS. COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS OF ELECTRIC CARS.
ARE AFFLUENT. COLLEGE EDUCATED.
AND AT LEAST 75% WHITE AND
ASIAN. IN CONTRAST, ELECTRIC
CARS ARE ALMOST NON EXISTENT. IN
BLACK. LATINO LOW INCOME AND
RURAL COMMUNITIES, REVEALING THE
ENORMOUS TASK THAT WE FACE AN
ELECTRIFYING OUR FLEET. THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THE
LANGUAGE IN THIS BILL, I THINK
ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THAT BUT IN
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WITH AS MANY
OF YOU AS WISH TO SPEAK TO ME ON
THIS. AND WITH MR IRWIN, I'VE
SAID THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A
MORE ROBUST PLAN. THERE IS MORE
WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I
DON'T WANT THIS JUST TO BE. A
STATEMENT THAT WE CAN STAND AND
SAY WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS US.
NO, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY WORK
TOWARDS THIS. THE REALITY IS
THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. A LOT
OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I
REPRESENT ARE NOT ADOPTING
ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND DO NOT
HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE
NOR THE RESOURCES TO DO SO. SO
IT IS MY FULL EXPECTATION. THAT
AFTER THIS BILL PASSES TODAY,
BECAUSE I KNOW IT PROBABLY WILL.
THAT WE GET TO WORK ON ACTUALLY
ADDRESSING AN ISSUE AND NOT JUST
USE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK
TO THE CAMERAS AND TO GRAB
HEADLINES BUT TO ACTUALLY DO THE
REAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD START,
BUT I THINK WE HAVE MORE WORK
AHEAD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO AS A
LEGISLATURE, REALLY TAKING THE
REINS OF THIS CONVERSATION OF
THE TRANSITION. WHAT IS THAT?
REALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE? HOW
ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO HELP?
WE CAN START BY FIRST SWITCHING
UP THE CAP AND TRADE POLICY
FUNDING POLICY. WE'RE ONLY 25%
OF THAT MONEY. GOES TO
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. HOW
ABOUT WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES?
THERE'S THINGS WE COULD DO, AND
I LOOK FORWARD THAT AFTER
TODAY'S VOTE, WE CONTINUE TO DO
THAT WORK SO WE CAN HAVE A REAL
TRANSITION INTO THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER. THANK
YOU, MR ALVAREZ. AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MATHIS, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER MEMBERS. WE'VE ALREADY
HEARD A LOT OF DEBATE ON THIS,
AND ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS
KEEPS COMING UP. WHERE WHERE IS
THIS EXTRA COST COME FROM? IT'S
ACTUALLY RELATIVELY SIMPLE.
WE'VE CUT BACK OUR DOMESTIC
SUPPLY. WE'RE DOWN TO 30%
DOMESTIC AND WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IS
WELL. GLOBAL CRUDE OIL IS IT'S A
GLOBAL COST. BUT THERE'S A COST
IN TRANSPORTING 70% OF OUR RAW
CRUDE INTO CALIFORNIA. SAY THAT
AGAIN, 70. COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF
THE STATE. COMES ON SHIPS FROM
OTHER AREAS. THIS IS THE SAME
OIL THAT WHEN THERE'S AN OIL
SPILL, THIS IS THE OIL WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT. IT'S NOT WHAT'S
MADE HERE AT HOME. IT'S WHAT
WE'RE BRINGING IN THERE IS A
COST. Tð IMPORTING. CRUDE OIL
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. WHERE DO
YOU THINK THAT COST GOES? IT
GETS PASSED ON. THAT'S THAT
ADDED, COST PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO
PAY. YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA. WE
HAVE THE HIGHEST COST OF DOING
BUSINESS, THE HIGHEST TAXES. THE
FEES, THE REGULATORY BURDENS SO
WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER ONE.
WITH THIS BILL. WE WE TALKED
ABOUT RECORD PROFITS, BUT WE DO
NOT TALK ABOUT THE MARGINS OF
INFLATION AND WHAT'S DRIVING THE
COST OF EVERYTHING UP. AND IT
STARTS WITH THE TAXES AND FEES
THAT WE PUT ON EVERYBODY ACROSS
THE BOARD. AND THEN YOU ADD IN
OUR MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES THAT
PUSHED THE COST OF PRODUCING
ANYTHING UP. WHICH THEN PUSHES
THE COST OF ELECTRICITY UP.
WHICH THEN PUSHES THE COST OF
PRODUCING WATER UP. WHICH GETS
INTO OUR RAW MATERIALS. AND OUR
PRODUCTION COST AND OUR FUEL
COST. AND THEN WE GET TO RETAIL.
IS MIND BLOWING. THAT WERE
REALLY NOT EVEN HAVING A DEBATE
THIS THIS IS THE DEBATE RIGHT
HERE. AND WE WE'VE SHUT DOWN THE
OTHER SIDE. WE HAVEN'T
RECOGNIZED OTHER OTHER PEOPLE
WHO HAVE OTHER IDEAS. BUT THIS
IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUSH
FORWARD. ANOTHER COST. TWO
CALIFORNIANS IS WHAT WE ARE
PUSHING FORWARD. YOU CAN ALL
SPIN IT. HOWEVER YOU WANT. BUT
THE REALITY OF IT IS UNTIL WE
INCREASE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.
THE COST IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
WRITE. THAT'S A FACT. THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
OUR DOMESTIC PRODUCTION IN
YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD IT. IT'S
THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY WE HAVE THE BEST.
PROTECTED JOB GUIDANCE RULES.
FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. WE DO
EVERYTHING HERE CLEANER AND
BETTER THAN THE OTHER GUY. BUT
YET 70% IS ALREADY BEING TAKEN
AWAY FROM OUR LOCALS. AND IS
BEING IMPORTED. SO NEXT TIME YOU
PAY AT THE PUMP. LIKE EVERYBODY
IN MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW
WE'RE WE GOT TOOLEY LAKE THAT'S
COMING BACK AND YOU CAN DRIVE AN
ELECTRIC CAR THROUGH A FLOOD.
YOU'RE GONNA BE GET PAID, AND
YOU'RE GONNA KEEP PAYING. AND
KEEP PAYING. UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO CUT TAXES. WHICH HAS
BEEN A REPUBLICAN OPTION.
THERE'S BEEN AN OPTION WE PUT
FORWARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN. BUT
YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
INSTEAD YOU WANT TO DO THIS
WINDFALL SOCIALISM NONSENSE, AND
WE KEEP SEEING HOW WELL THAT
WORKS. EVERY TIME YOU GUYS HAVE
DONE THIS, THE COST AND
EVERYTHING ELSE HAS GONE UP. SO
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP TAXING OUR
FOLKS VOTE. I IF YOU WANT TO
FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO
REDUCE COSTS IN CALIFORNIA VOTE
NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
MATHIS AND SOME MEMBER BRIAN,
YOU RECOGNIZED THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. ABOUT A YEAR AGO. MY
PARTNER PICKED ME UP FROM THE
AIRPORT COMING HOME FROM
SESSION. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
A NEW APARTMENT. AND SHE PICKED
ME UP. THE GAS LIGHT WAS ON. I
SAID, WE NEED TO GET SOME GAS
BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
AND SHE SAID, I KNOW MY CAR
BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE. AND ON THE WAY TO CHECK
OUT OUR APARTMENT. THE CAR
STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
ROAD ON THE LEFT TURN LANE. SO I
WALKED SIX BLOCKS IN MY SUIT.
DURING THE HEAT WAVE. PULLED UP
AT A GAS STATION. GOT A TANK. I
TOLD THE GUY IN THE FRONT, HE
SAID. LOOK I SAY THE TANK FOR
20, OR YOU CAN BORROW IT FOR 10.
I SAID. I'LL BORROW IT FOR 10,
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY CASH. I'LL
GIVE TO YOU WHEN I GET BACK, HE
SAID. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE'LL
TAKE YOUR CARD AT THE PUMP FOR
THE PUMP, AND I'LL START PUMPING
IT FOR YOU APPRECIATE IT. SO I
DO THE TRANSACTION. HE STARTS
PUMPING. I WALKED BACK OUT. HE'S
PUMPING AND I NOTICED THE PUMP
IS THREE CENTS HIGHER THAN EVERY
OTHER PUMP IN THE STATION. AND
HIGHER THAN THE SIGN. AND IT
BOTHERED ME. AND IT IMPACTED
THAT RELATIONSHIP, BUT I HAD NO
CHOICE. WE'RE STALLED OUT SIX
BLOCKS THE OTHER DIRECTION. SO I
TOOK MY CAN AND I WALKED IN MY
SUIT SIX BLOCKS DOWN. FILLED UP
THE CAR I GOT IN THE CAR WITH MY
FIANCEE. WE WERE DRIVING BACK TO
THE GAS. I SAID, LOOK, THIS IS
WHAT HAPPENED. AND I DON'T KNOW
WHY HE DID THAT. WHY DID THEY DO
THAT? I WAS STRUGGLING WITH IT.
IT OFFENDED MY SENSE OF DECENCY.
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE
SAID, BECAUSE HE CAN BECAUSE WE
NEED IT. THEY KNOW WE NEED IT.
AND YOU HAD TO GET IT. THAT'S
WHAT'S HAPPENING INDUSTRYWIDE.
IT'S NOT TAXES. IT'S NOT
REGULATION. IT'S BECAUSE WE NEED
IT AND THEY CAN BUT UNDER THIS
PROPOSAL THAT CAN'T ANYMORE.
WE'RE GONNA COLLECT THE DATA.
WE'RE GONNA COLLECT THE EVIDENCE
THAT SHOWS WHETHER THE PRICE YOU
PAY AT THE PUMP IS RELATIVE TO
THE COST NEEDED TO PRODUCE IT OR
WHETHER IT'S SIMPLE PRICE
GOUGING LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. WE
SAW THE LAST FEW YEARS WHEN
PEOPLE NEEDED IT, AND THEY COULD
WE JUST CHANGED THIS WITH
INSULIN IN CALIFORNIA. WE
CHANGED IT WITH OTHER THINGS. WE
PUT EMERGENCY PRICE GOUGING
MEASURES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. THEY DIDN'T AFFECT THE
PRICE AT THE PUMP BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TOO MUCH POWER IN THIS BODY
AND IN OUR STATE. BUT AGAIN
TODAY THAT CAN CHANGE. AND IT
WILL CHANGE WITH EVIDENCE IT'LL
CHANGE WITH DATA. IT WILL CHANGE
WITH THE CONCENTRATED GROUP OF
EXPERTS OF EVALUATING OUR SUPPLY
OF VALUE WAITING OUR PRICES AND
IT WILL CHANGE WITH THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA BEING INFORMED THE
ENTIRE PROCESS. IT WON'T BE THIS
BLACK BOX OF INFORMATION.
MYSTERY SURCHARGES THE WAR IN
UKRAINE. IT'LL BE DATA DRIVEN
WITH CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR I VOTE.
THANK YOU, MR BRIAN, AND IT'S A
MEMBER. RUBIO YOU'RE RECOGNIZED
. THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER AND
MEMBERS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS FOR THE AUTHOR. UM,
FIRST, I DON'T THINK THE
LANGUAGE IS CLEAR ON WHETHER
THIS REFERS TO EXTRACTORS OR
PRODUCERS IF SHE CAN CLARIFY
THAT, UH, THE OTHER QUESTION IS
I ALSO HAVE SOME OR THE OTHER
COMMENT. I HAVE CONCERNS AS MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SAN DIEGO DOESN'T
UH, A LOT OF US HERE ON THE
FLOOR. UM CAN YOU TELL ME IF THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IT WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK. WITH US AND
HELP ADDRESS THE CONCERNS HEAVEN
BOTH I AND MY OTHER MEMBERS
HAVE. THANK YOU. MR NGUYEN. SHE
WILL ADDRESS THOSE INTER CLOSED,
MS RUBIO. YOUR TIME IS FINISHED
. YES THANK YOU AND, UH, LEADER
GALLAGHER, NEW YORK RECOGNIZED.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR SPEAKER
AND MEMBERS FIRST A WORD ON
PROCESS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. AND WHAT I
WANT TO ASK THIS BODY IS WHY DO
WE KEEP ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN?
YOU ARE ABOUT TO VOTE ON A BILL.
THAT'S BEEN IN PRINT LESS THAN A
WEEK. RIGHT? WHEN WE'VE BEEN IN
AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION FOR
MONTHS. WELL WE COULD HAVE HAD
LANGUAGE TO LOOK AT WHERE WE
COULD HAVE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE COULD HAVE ALLOWED A LOT OF
DIFFERENT IDEAS TO BE THOUGHT
ABOUT WORKED INTO THE PROCESS,
AND INSTEAD YOU'RE ALLOWING THE
GOVERNOR TO DRIVE THE POLICY.
NOT YOU AS A LEGISLATOR. SAME
THING HE DID LAST YEAR. BY THE
WAY. AND WHAT DID HE SAY? HE
WENT TO NEW YORK. AND HE SAID
ABOUT YOU ALL. US. IN THIS BODY
THAT HEY, I HAD TO JAM THE
LEGISLATURE. I HAD TO JAM THEM.
IN ORDER TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND NOW HE'S DOING IT AGAIN. HE
DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OUR IDEAS. HE
DOESN'T WANT TO LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS. THINK ABOUT IT. WE
CALLED THIS EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION. FOR ONE REASON ONLY. HE
CALLED IT RIGHT. HE CALLED IT TO
WHAT HELP CONSUMERS AND LOWER
THE PRICE OF GAS. AND WE'VE
HEARD EXACTLY ONE IDEA. IN THIS
WHOLE TIME. WE'VE HEARD ONE
IDEA. HIS WE'VE HAD SEVERAL
BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY SESSION.
NONE OF THEM NOT YOURS AND NOT
MINE. GOT A HEARING OR HAD ANY
KIND OF DISCUSSION. INSTEAD THE
DEAL GOT DONE NOT BY YOU ALL.
BUT BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEADERS AND THEY SAID, OKAY,
HERE YOU GO. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO VOTE ON IT. YOU'VE GOT A
WEEK. WHAT KIND OF PROCESSES
THAT. SO PART OF WHAT I'M SAYING
TODAY IS MAN, STAND UP FOR
YOURSELF. STAND UP FOR THE
LEGISLATOR, THAT YOU ARE THAT
YOU WERE ELECTED TO BE. AND SAY
NO. THIS IS OUR PROCESS. WE MAKE
POLICY, GOVERNOR. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR IDEAS. WE'LL TAKE THOSE
INTO CONSIDERATION BUT WILL MAKE
THE POLICY. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE
HAVE HERE TODAY. AND I, MAN, I
HOPE THAT THAT'S GONNA STOP
SOMETIME SOON. MAYBE TODAY. THIS
IS THE CHANCE. JUST SAY NO, STOP
IT. AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE
THIS EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. WE
CAN HEAR ALL OF THE IDEAS AND WE
CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT
ACTUALLY IS GOING TO LOWER
PRICES. GAS PRICES FOR CONSUMERS
BECAUSE THIS ISN'T GOING TO DO
IT. I MEAN, LOOK AT THE
LANGUAGE. NO, WE DID HAVE ONE
HEARING RIGHT? AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
EXPERTS AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE
SAYING. WE HEARD FROM EXPERTS
ACTUALLY. IN THE OVERSIGHT
HEARING. AND EXPERTS FROM BOTH
BERKELEY AND STANFORD. TESTIFIED
MAYBE THE ONLY TIME THAT
BERKELEY AND STANFORD HAVE EVER
AGREED BUT THESE EXPERTS BOTH
TOLD YOU THAT THIS POLICY WILL
LEAD TO HIGHER GAS PRICES AND
LIKELY SHORTAGES. THAT'S WHAT
THEY SAID. ARE YOU GOING TO
LISTEN TO HIM IN THE ONE
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT HEARING
THAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS ENTIRE
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION? THAT'S
WHAT THEY TOLD YOU AND THE
MYSTERY SURCHARGE. THEY DIDN'T
MAKE IT A MYSTERY TO YOU. THEY
ACTUALLY EXPLAINED IT. THEY TOLD
YOU THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY
HAPPENING BETWEEN THE REFINER
AND THE RETAILER. BUT THIS BILL
IS ONLY GOING AFTER THE
REFINERS. AND INDIRECTLY THE
PRODUCTION SIDE AS WELL. YOU'RE
NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING BETWEEN THE REFINER
AND THE RETAILER, WHERE THE
MYSTERY SURCHARGE IS BUT YOU'RE
ALSO DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE COST DRIVER
OF GAS IN THE STATE, WHICH IS
TAXES AND REGULATIONS, AND THEY
MADE THAT CLEAR A DOLLAR 20 OR
MORE A GALLON THAT WE PAY AT THE
PUMP. ARE CONSUMERS PAY AT THE
PUMP BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES
PASSED OUT OF THIS BUILDING. YOU
WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
PRICE? YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT. WE GAVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHY WE'RE
PUSHING TO SUSPEND THE GAS TAX.
WE COULD HAVE HAD THOSE
DISCUSSIONS. WE COULD HAVE DONE
SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY IS GOING
TO LOWER THEIR PRICES. INSTEAD
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING
THAT'S GOING TO RAISE THEIR
PRICES AND YOU'RE GOING TO PUT
THE POWER NOT IN YOUR HANDS WHO
ARE ELECTED TO HELP THEM AND
PROTECT THEM. WE PUT THE POWER
IN A BUNCH OF UNELECTED PEOPLE'S
HANDS. PROBABLY SO YOU CAN BLAME
THEM LATER WHEN THEY RAISE
EVERYBODY'S GAS PRICE. BUT THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SAN DIEGO IS
RIGHT. HE POINTED OUT. THERE'S A
LOT OF DISPARITIES HERE. I COME
FROM A RURAL DISTRICT. RIGHT WE
CAN'T AFFORD ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
WE DRIVE CARS WITH GAS. AND SO
DO HIS. AND WE'RE THE ONES THAT
ARE GOING TO PAY THE PRICE OF
THIS POLICY. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S
THE WEALTHY. WHO DRIVE ELECTRIC
VEHICLES IN THE WEALTHY
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WHO ARE
GOING TO BENEFIT WE'RE GOING TO
PAY THE PRICE. I'M TIRED OF
PAYING THE PRICE. BUT TODAY WE
CAN STAND UP. YOU CAN FINALLY
STAND UP. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TORRANCE MISSPOKE, BUT HE'S
ACTUALLY RIGHT. IT IS AN
OLIGARCHY. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
IT'S THE GOVERNOR AND HIS
SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT ARE
PUSHING THE AGENDA AND THERE'S
NO LEGISLATURE TO CHECK IN. TIME
IS EXPECTED OLIGARCHY. BUT IT
COULD STOP TODAY IF WE STAND UP
FOR OURSELVES. THANK YOU
MEMBERS. THANK YOU, MR
GALLAGHER. AND. SOME MEMBER 10,
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. APPRECIATE IT, UM I'M
NOT SURE WHICH OVERSIGHT HEARING
R MINORITY LEADER WAS LISTENING
TO, BUT I WAS AT A DIFFERENT
ONE. AND THEN IT VERY SIMPLY
WHEN I KEPT ASKING WHY THE OIL
INDUSTRY IS MAKING RECORD
PROFITS IN CALIFORNIA OVER EVERY
OTHER STATE. IN THE UNION. TODAY
WE FINALLY GOT AN ANSWER.
THERE'S NO COMPETITION. LET'S GO
BACK TO ECONOMICS. I LIKE I LIKE
MY COLLEAGUE FROM CURRENT. LET'S
TALK ABOUT ECONOMICS. WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S NO
COMPETITION? WELL. THE INDUSTRY
GETS TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THEY GET TO SET THE PRICE. THEY
GET TO JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE
FROM L. A SAID. THEY CAN DO IT
BECAUSE THEY CAN SO WHAT DO WE
SAY? WE SAW NO COMPETITION. WE
SAW THIS BODY. WATCH PRICES GO
UP AND UP. DID NOTHING ABOUT IT
IN TERMS OF CHECKING THIS
INDUSTRY. AND NOW WE HAVE. WHAT
I THINK IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL
PROPOSAL. WHICH IS WE'RE GOING
TO GET INFORMATION. WE'RE GOING
TO GET DATA. BECAUSE WHAT YOU
NEED TO DO WITH AN OLIGOPOLY? IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
DON'T SET THE PRICE SO HIGH THAT
PEOPLE CAN'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE
THERE'S UNLIMITED DEMAND FOR
THIS PRODUCT. REQUIRES
REGULATION. SO WE HAVE TO DO
WITH THE UTILITIES. BECAUSE
THERE'S A MONOPOLY. WE HAVE TO
CREATE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
REGULATION TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
CAN GET THIS PRODUCT THAT
ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE NEEDS AND I
THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WE
TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS
PRODUCT IS TO GET OUR FOLKS TO
WORK. GET OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL.
GET AROUND OUR COMMUNITIES. BUT
THIS IS WHAT LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT
THIS IS A PROBLEM. WE ARE TRYING
TO SOLVE IT. WE ARE TRYING TO DO
IT THOUGHTFULLY WITH INFORMATION
WITH DATA WITH TRANSPARENCY.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE'RE GOING
TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED ALREADY. WE
HAVE AN INDUSTRY THAT TOLD US
JUST TRUST US. TRUST US ON
SCHEDULING. WELL, WE'VE GOT IT
HANDLED. WELL, WE HAD SIX
REFINERIES GO DOWN. SOME
UNEXPLAINED BECAUSE WE CAN'T
EVEN I CAN'T EVEN FIND
INFORMATION. HOW WHY THESE WHY?
THESE WERE FINALS WENT DOWN IN
OCTOBER. BUT WHAT HAPPENED?
PRICES SPITE? BECAUSE THERE'S NO
COMPETITION. SO UNLESS WE. I SAY
WE, THE STATE ARE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING TO REIN IN THIS
INDUSTRY. GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN? THEY'RE GONNA CHARGE
WHATEVER PRICE THEY WANT. ALL 40
MILLION OF US. AND WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO PAY WHATEVER PRICE
THEY WANT. UNLESS WE PASS THIS
BILL. AND STAND UP TO THIS
INDUSTRY AND TO SAY ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH. RMB ASKED YOU TO VOTE
FOR S P TWO. THANK YOU, MR TING
AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SAILING
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR
SPEAKER. I'M NEW TO THIS BODY,
AND FRANKLY, I'M MORE CONFUSED
BY THIS DEBATE. I THOUGHT THE
AGENDA WAS CLEAR IT WAS TO RAISE
GAS PRICES AND DRIVE PEOPLE OUT
OF THEIR CARS AND INTO THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM INTO THE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, AND
THAT'S WHAT OUR POLICIES HAVE
BEEN DOING. WE'RE DRIVING UP GAS
PRICES, SO PEOPLE MAKE THE
DECISION TO GET OUT OF THE CAR
AND INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S
HAPPENING. IT'S BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING
THE FRUITS OF THAT THE GAS
PRICES ARE HIGHER THAN THEY'VE
EVER BEEN BEFORE. I'M ALSO
CONFUSED BECAUSE I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HURRY IS.
GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN HIGH FOR
THE LAST YEAR, AND WE HAVEN'T
MADE IT A PRIORITY TO BRING HIM
DOWN. BUT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE
HAVE TO PASS A BILL WE DON'T
EVEN KNOW. FULLY UNDERSTAND
HASN'T GONE THROUGH COMMITTEES
OR ANY PROCESS AT ALL. WE JUST
HAVE TO VOTE ON IT. SO I'M I'M
CONFUSED. I'M ALSO CONFUSED BY
THE LIST OF SUPPORTERS. UM WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT THESE
SUPPORTERS ARE INTERESTED IN
LOWERING OUR GAS PRICES AND I
REPRESENT A COMMUTER DISTRICT WE
DRIVE. TWO HOURS AT LEAST A DAY
IN TRAFFIC TO SUPPORTERS ARE
ACTION FOR THE CLIMATE
EMERGENCY. CALIFORNIA CLIMATE
VOTERS. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ALLIANCE. CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL VOTE VOTERS.
CALIFORNIA GREEN NEW DEAL
COALITION. CLEAN POWER CAMPAIGN
, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING
GROUP FOSSIL FREE CALIFORNIA AND
THE SIERRA CLUB. SO I'M SUPPOSED
TO BELIEVE THAT THESE INTEREST
GROUPS ARE INTERESTED IN
BRINGING DOWN MY GAS PRICES. I
DON'T BELIEVE IT. I THINK WE'RE
SAYING THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD.
WE WANT HIGHER GAS PRICES AND
SHORTAGES. THAT'S THE ACTIONS OF
TODAY'S DECISION. IT WILL RESULT
IN HIGHER GAS PRICES AND
SHORTEST SHORTAGES. BUT BASED ON
THE IDEA IDEAS THAT THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE HAS LAID OUT I
THINK IT'S CONSISTENT. YOU GUYS
WANT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS,
AND THIS IS GOING TO HELP YOU DO
THAT. I DON'T BELIEVE THE ENERGY
COMMISSION IS GOING TO BRING
DOWN GAS PRICES. JUST LOOK AT
THEIR TRACK RECORD. THEY NOW
REGULATE OUR ELECTRICITY PRICES
ARE ELECTRICITY PRICES ARE
ALMOST DOUBLE THAN WHAT THE REST
OF THE UNITED STATES BASE ARE WE
ALMOST PAID DOUBLE IN
ELECTRICITY PRICES SO IF THEY
CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY CAN
BRING DOWN OUR ELECTRICITY
PRICES FIRST, I MIGHT CONSIDER
GIVING THEM MORE POWER TO
REGULATE GASOLINE. BUT THE TRACK
RECORD IS NOT GOOD. WE WANT TO
TALK ABOUT EXCESS PROFITS. I
THINK AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT EXCESS
GOVERNMENT PROFITS. OUR BUDGET
HAS DOUBLED HERE IN THE LAST 10
YEARS. WE HAD $100 BILLION
SURPLUS LAST YEAR. AND WE HAD TO
GIVE IT SOME OF IT BACK BECAUSE
THE GAIN LIMIT OUR BUDGET FROM
2021 WENT FROM 162 BILLION 2022
TO 242 BILLION, AND NOW WE'RE
GONNA HAVE 296 BILLION ALMOST
300 BILLION. WHAT'S THE
APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF PROFIT FOR
THE GOVERNMENT? I THINK WE
SHOULD HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
SO WITH ALL RESPECT, I OPPOSE
THIS BILL BEHALF OF MY COMMUTERS
AND ALL GASOLINE CONSUMERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND I
WELCOME A CONVERSATION ON
BRINGING GAS PRICES DOWN. I HOPE
THAT COULD BE BIPARTISAN,
COLLABORATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE AND
NOT COERCIVE AND PRESSURED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR ASTLEY.
AND MR JOE PATTERSON. YOU
RECOGNIZED THANK YOU. MR
SPEAKER. I READ THE BILL. YOU
KNOW WHICH EVEN THOUGH GIVEN THE
ABBREVIATED TIMELINE, I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY READ IT
. AND ONE THING THAT REALLY
STRUCK OUT TO ME WAS THAT THIS
LEGISLATION OR THIS, THE
AMENDMENTS STRUCK LANGUAGE THAT
SAID THAT ANY MONEY COLLECTED
FROM THESE PENALTIES WOULD BE
RETURNED TO THE TAXPAYER IN THE
FORM OF REFUNDS. SO ALL THIS
BILL DOES IS IT CREATES A SLUSH
FUND. AND NOT A DOLLAR IS
GUARANTEED TO GO BACK TO
ALLEVIATE PEOPLE WHO ARE
ACTUALLY SUFFERING FROM THE HIGH
COST OF GASOLINE. AND I DON'T
KNOW WHY THAT WAS STRUCK FROM
THE AMENDMENTS. BUT IT'S AH YOU
KNOW, I THINK CALIFORNIANS OUGHT
TO KNOW. THAT THERE'S NO
GUARANTEE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY
GOING TO ALLEVIATE GAS PRICES. I
WILL SAY WE IT SEEMS LIKE WE
HAVE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT
WE WANT TO LOWER GAS PRICES, BUT
THIS ISN'T GOING TO DO IT. AND
SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
NO VOTE. MR PATTERSON AND AS A
MEMBER OF OUR CANE RECOGNIZED,
THANK YOU. I LIKE MANY OF YOU
ALSO READ THE BILL. AND WOULD
LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT. IT MAKES
VERY CLEAR THAT ALL PENALTIES
WILL COME BACK TO THIS BODY TO
BE DIRECTLY USED TO HELP THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE HURT BY THE HIGH
COST OF GAS PRICES. WE ARE
ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE TO TAKE
CARE OF THEM. AND THIS BILL
ALLOWS US TO DO EXACTLY THAT. SO
I WANTED TO MAKE THAT
CLARIFICATION. IN ADDITION, I
WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK A LOT
OF INCREDIBLE WORK WAS DONE ON
THIS BILL. I'VE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF SITTING THROUGH TWO
HEARINGS AND UTILITIES AND
ENERGY AND TALKING ABOUT THIS
BILL AT LENGTH WITH EXPERTS. AND
THE GOVERNOR'S, UM EXPERTS AND
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STAFF WHO
WILL BE MOVING THIS FORWARD. AND
I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE
DAY WITH THIS BILL DOES IS IT
PROVIDES SUNSHINE. SUNSHINE TO
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. THE PROFITS IN THIS
STATE OUTPACED PROFITS ANYWHERE
ELSE IN THE WORLD. AND AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TING HAS SO
APTLY PUT COST ASIDE. THAT'S
JUST THE PROFITS. THEY'RE
PROFITING OFF THE BACKS OF
EVERYDAY CALIFORNIANS, AND WE
NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY. BECAUSE
TO DATE, OUR EXPERTS HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY. I
EARNESTLY BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE
GET THIS INFORMATION THAT THIS
BILL WILL ALLOW, WE WILL NEVER
NEED THE PENALTIES BECAUSE ONCE
THERE IS SUNSHINE ON THE
BEHAVIOR OF BIG OIL THINGS WILL
CHANGE. CALIFORNIANS WILL NOT
HAVE TO PAY MORE AT THE PUMP
THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN, WHICH
IS WHAT HAPPENS TODAY. IN
ADDITION, I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT THE BILL WAS
CHANGED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DON'T DO ANYTHING TO HURT
CALIFORNIANS THAT NO PENALTIES
WILL BE PUT INTO PLACE IF THEY
SEE EC FINES THAT THE PRICE WILL
GO UP AT THE PUMP OR SUPPLY AND
DEMAND CANNOT HANDLE IT. SO THE
BILL IS CRAFTED TO ENSURE THAT
WE ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THE
PEOPLE WERE ELECTED TO SHOW UP
HERE AND LOOK OUT FOR THE
CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE HURTING WHO
EVERY DAY HAVE TO DECIDE IF
THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THEIR RENT
OR PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE OR PAY
FOR CHILDCARE. OR DRIVE TO WORK
BECAUSE GAS PRICES ARE SO HIGH
AND ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS WE HAVE
SEEN OR GOING INTO THE POCKETS
OF BIG OIL. SO WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK HER. I VOTE.
THANK YOU, MR BAUER. KANE.
SEEING NO OTHER MEMBERS WISHING
TO DISCUSS THE MEASURE. MR WHEN
YOU MAKE CLOTHES THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE
THE VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION. I DO
WANT TO CLARIFY WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT PROCESS BECAUSE I
THINK A LOT OF THE OTHER
QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED. THIS IS
ABOUT THIS IS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY
AND TRANSPARENCY IS NOT GOING TO
DRIVE PRICES UP AT THE TANK.
LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ON THAT. BUT
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT
PROCESS IN BOTH THE SENATE AND
THE ASSEMBLY. THERE WERE FOUR
MEMBERS CHOSEN BY THE SPEAKER TO
WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF,
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM
SINCE JANUARY, AND WE WERE VERY
CLEAR WITH THEM. THAT THE
INITIAL PROVOKED PROPOSAL COULD
REALLY CREATE A LOT OF
INSTABILITY IN THE MARKET, AND
MOST OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE
MADE IN OUR WORKING GROUP ENDED
UP IN THIS PROPOSAL. SO THIS IS
NOT THE GOVERNOR SHOVING DOWN
SOMETHING SOMETHING DOWN OUR
THROATS. THIS IS A WORKING GROUP
THAT MADE SURE TO ADDRESS THE
CAUCUS. OVER THE LAST MONTH
ABOUT WHAT THIS PROPOSAL WOULD
ULTIMATELY LOOK LIKE, BUT I HAVE
ALSO SPOKEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S
STAFF, AND THEY ARE OPEN TO
FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ON ISSUES
THAT MIGHT REQUIRE, UH, SOME
CLEANUP. SO TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION FROM THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FROM BALDWIN
PARK, YOU HAVE MANY CITIES THAT
YOU REPRESENT. AGAIN I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND I
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE TODAY. THANK
YOU. WILL OPEN THE BALL. ALL
THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTES WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE.
CLERK WILL CLOSE ROLL TALLY THE
VOTES, EYES 52 NOS 19. THE
MEASURE IS PASSED. WITHOUT MR
FLORA. GREAT EMOTION FOR NOVO
CHANGES OR ADD ON JUST LOCK THE
RULE.
OKAY MR FLOOR HAS BEEN ASKING
FOR WITHHOLDING OF THE ADDITIONS
OR CHANGES ON THE ROLL, CALL
VOTE AND MISS REYES MOVE TO
ALLOW FOR VOTE ADS AND VOTE
CHANGES MOTION THEN TO ALLOW FOR
BOAT ADS AND VOTE CHANGES
SECONDED BY MR GIBSON. THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLE. THIS IS
PROCEDURAL. THIS RACE IS ASKING
FOR AN I MR FLOOR IS ASKING FOR
A NO. THIS IS PROCEDURAL MEMBERS
TO ALLOW MEMBERS. BOAT CHANGES
OR ADDITIONS. IF THEY SO WISH.
THIS IS SIMPLY PROCEDURAL
MEMBERS. CLICK CLOSE ROLL EYES
52 NO 16. RULES ARE SUSPENDED
MOTION PASSES OKAY? MEMBERS. WE
ARE BACK IN MOTIONS AND
RESOLUTIONS AND MR FONG YOU ARE
BELATEDLY RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU,
MR SPEAKER. I MOVE TO SUSPEND
THE RULES AND INVOKE THE
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION TO
WITHDRAW ASSEMBLY BILL X 1-2 TO
TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE STATE'S
GAS TAX TO GIVE IMMEDIATE PRICE
RELIEF AND TAKE IT UP
IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
FILE AND DO YOU HAVE A SECOND?
SECONDED BY MISS DAVIES. MS.
REYES. I WOULD ASK FOR A NO
VOTE. OKAY MEMBERS. THERE WAS A
MOTION TO SUSPEND THE
CONSTITUTION BY MR FONG, WHICH
HAS BEEN SECONDED. MR FONG IS
ASKING FOR AN I VOTE. MISS RACE
IS ASKING FOR A NO VOTE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLE. THIS
REQUIRES 54. MR FONG IS ASKING
FOR AN I VOTE. MISS REYES, THE
MAJORITY LEADER IS ASKING FOR A
NO VOTE.
CLOSE THE ROLL EYES. 21 KNOWS
55. MOTION FAILS AND THIS RACE
YOU RECOGNIZE FOR YOUR MOTION,
MR SPEAKER AND MEMBERS CR ONE BY
SPEAKER RENDON ADJOURNS ESPECIAL
SESSION. SIGNING I ASKED FOR AN
I VOTE AND FOR IMMEDIATE
TRANSMITTAL TO THE SENATE WILL
BE TAKEN UP WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
FILE. IS THERE AN OBJECTION? FOR
AN ADJOURNMENT MOTION. THANK
YOU, MR FLORA. OKAY WE WILL
MEMBERS WHO WILL BE TAKING UP
THIS MOTION, WHICH HAS BEEN
SECONDED BY MR HART. CLERK WILL
READ THE RESOLUTION. A SEMI
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ONE BY
SOMEBODY. SPEAKER ANTHONY RENDON
RELATIVES FINAL GERMAN OF THE
2023 24 1ST EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
MAJORITY LEADER VARIOUS MAJORITY
LEADER REYES ONCE AGAIN, WOULD
YOU PLEASE? UM, STATE THE OPEN
ON THIS MEASURE. WE DID THE
WHARF. I NEED YOU TO OPEN ON
THIS RESOLUTION. OR YOU CAN
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. MAJORITY LEADER
RAISED, SEEING AND HEARING NO
FURTHER DEBATE. WILL OPEN THE
ROLE. ALL THOSE VOTES WE DESIRE
TO VOTE. ON THE RESOLUTION.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLE. AND
TALLY THE VOTES. EYES 57 NO.
ZERO RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. AND
WITH THAT. PURSUANT TO A CR ONE
FOR THE FIRST EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION IS ADJOURNED. SUNNY DIE.
PENDING ADOPTION IN THE SENATE.
AND MEMBERS WERE BACK IN REGULAR
SESSION. MEMBERS WERE GOING TO
GO ON TO THE SECOND DAY CONSENT
CALENDAR. DOES ANY MEMBER WISH
TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR THE
CONSENT CALENDAR.
SORRY. DOES ANY MEMBERS WISH
THEY REMOVED ITEMS SEEING NON?
THE CORPORAL READ THE SECOND
CONSENT CALENDAR ASSEMBLY, BOTH
13 12 BY THE COMMITTEE ON
BANKING AND FINANCE AND EQUITY
AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IN
THE ROLE OF THE CONSENT
CHALLENGE. YEAH, THOSE VOTES WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE ALL THOSE VOTES
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL THOSE
VOTES WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. CLERK
WILL CLOSE THE ROLE. CALLIE
VOTES. I 72 NO. ZERO CONSENT
CALENDARS ADOPTED WILL READ THE
REMAINING ITEMS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR REBUILT TO 45. 17 0,
SOMEBODY BUILT TO 88 17 0 AND
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22
0.
MEMBERS AT THIS TIME. THE STATE
OF THE JUDICIARY. IS OCCURRING
IN THE SENATE CHAMBERS. WE WILL
BE LIFTING THE CALL. AND WE
ASKED THAT YOU TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR. WE
HAVE A GERMANS AND MEMORY AND
JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS, SO WE
ARE DONE WITH THE BUSINESS ON
THE DAILY FILE. CALLS LIFTED
STAGES. HISTORY IS UNDERWAY IN
THE SENATE CHAMBERS. AND WE WILL
HAVE A LOT OF COMMITTEES MEETING
THIS AFTERNOON. AND IF YOU NEED
VOTE CHANGES MEMBERS. ONCE YOU
GO AHEAD AND BE RECOGNIZED.
ALRIGHT MEMBERS. IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING. WE WILL NOT HAVE
AN ADJOURNMENT MEMORY TODAY.
THANK YOU. SO WE'LL BE MOVING ON
TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR TODAY ARE
AS FOLLOWS THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE ONE ON HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES. WE MEETING UPON
A GERMAN SESSION IN CAPITAL ROOM
1 27. THE BUDGETS COMMITTEE FILE
ON PUBLIC SAFETY WILL MEET UPON
A GERMAN SESSION. CAPITAL ROOM 4
37. THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE WILL MEET UPON A
GERMAN SESSION CAPITAL AND 4 44.
THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
WILL MEET UPON GERMAN SESSION.
CAPITAL AND 4 47. THE REVENUE
AND TAXATION COMMITTEE WILL MEET
UPON A GERMAN SESSION. CAPITAL
ROOM, 1 26 AND THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WILL
MEET UPON GERMAN RECESSION IN
THE SWING SPACE ROOM, 1100
SEEING AND HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS. I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN
EMISSION TO ADJOURN, MR LEE
MOVES AND MR PATTERSON SECONDS
OF THIS HOUSE. STANDS ADJOURNED
SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS NOT IN HERE.
HORSES SESSIONS SCHEDULE IS AS
FOLLOWS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 28TH
CHECK AND SESSION WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 29TH CHECKING SESSION
THURSDAY, MARCH 30TH FLOOR
SESSION IS AT NINE. EXCUSE ME,
IS IT NINE A.M. ON MARCH 30TH.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN
WITHOUT OBJECTION. CORN CALLS
LIFTED AND THE HOUSE IS
ADJOURNED. WE WILL RECONVENE ON
THURSDAY, MARCH 30TH AT NINE.
A.M.