Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/430460
ByJudyLin The Associated Press SACRAMENTO The first week of the new legisla- tive session provided a pre- view of the politics that will dominate the year ahead as Democratic leaders push for increased spending on edu- cation and social programs while Republicans strive for relevancy after a strong showing in legislative races last month. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and Assem- bly Speaker Toni Atkins, both Democrats, pledged to increase state funding to avoid tuition increases at the University of Califor- nia even as they demand more transparency and ef- ficiencies from the 10-cam- pus system. Democratic lawmakers also introduced bills that seek to address the wealth gap, from increasing the minimum wage to dou- bling pay for employees who work the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Immigrantinsurance Democrats plan to use President Barack Obama's recent executive order spar- ing some immigrants from deportation to push for al- lowing all immigrants in California, regardless of their legal status, to get health insurance. Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, introduced a bill to create a California Office of New Americans, which he hopes will act as a clear- inghouse for immigrants to learn about the benefits and legal services to which they are entitled. It also would give them access to civics classes. The bill is SB10. The Legislature's work matters to all children "re- gardless of who they are, re- gardless of where they come from, regardless of the color of their skin or language they speak or where their parents come from, regard- less of their legal status," de Leon, D-Los Angeles, said after being sworn in as the Senate leader. California already allows immigrants in the coun- try illegally to obtain driv- er's licenses, under a law that takes effect in Janu- ary, and provides college fi- nancial aid for top students who are seeking citizenship, under the state's so-called Dream Act. Cap-and-tradetargeted Although they remain in the minority, Republicans are feeling upbeat after blocking Democrats from gaining a supermajority in both houses of the Legisla- ture and recruiting a more diverse field of lawmakers. They have staked their po- sition on college-tuition freezes and will attempt to repeal a greenhouse-gas re- duction mandate that they characterize as a hidden gas tax. Starting Jan. 1, Califor- nia's cap-and-trade pro- gram will apply to compa- nies that produce consumer fuels. The cost of comply- ing with the carbon mar- ket, in which companies buy the right to emit green- house gases, is expected to increase the price of a gal- lon of gasoline by 13 cents to 20 cents by 2020, or even as much as 50 cents, accord- ing to the nonpartisan Leg- islative Analyst's Office. Sen. Andy Vidak, R-Han- ford, introduced SB5 while Assemblyman Jim Patter- son, R-Fresno, introduced a companion measure, AB23, to exempt transpor- tation fuels from the cap- and-trade rule. The new class of Repub- licans also could moderate some of the party's propos- als. Senate Republicans wel- comed Janet Nguyen, who is the first Vietnamese- American woman elected to the Legislature. In the Assembly, Ling-Ling Chang became the first Taiwan- ese-American Republican woman to join the cham- ber, and Young Kim is the first Korean-American Re- publican to be elected to the Assembly. Lawmakers set a colle- gial tone in both houses that could yield more bipar- tisanship. Olsen and Sen- ate Minority Leader Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, said lawmakers broadly agree about needing to improve the state's economy. At- kins, the Assembly speaker, said California should have a more predictable regula- tory climate while provid- ing improvements in educa- tion and transportation to retain businesses. Reining in tuition hikes also has emerged as a top budget priority. Atkins has borrowed from Olsen's proposal to adopt zero-based budget- ing, starting with the UC. Lara and Sen. Anthony Can- nella, R-Ceres, proposed a constitutional amend- ment for the 2016 ballot that would give the gover- nor and Legislature more oversight of the UC. And Kim has introduced a bill, AB42, to freeze UC tuition until the governor's tempo- rary tax hikes expire. Still, Democrats argue that many jobs still pay too little and will push to close the wealth gap. Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, re- vived his proposal to in- crease California's mini- mum wage to $11 in 2016 and $13 in 2017, plus tying the minimum wage to infla- tion starting in 2019. The bill is SB3. SACRAMENTO First week charts a course for Legislature By Kristin J. Bender and Paul Elias The Associated Press BERKELEY Protests in New York and Missouri have died down, but an- gry crowds in California spent much of the weekend blocking traffic and clash- ing with police in this ul- tra-liberal bastion thou- sands of miles from the where Michael Brown and Eric Garner were killed. Although many activists in other parts of the coun- try have gone home, pro- tests in Berkeley and Oak- land are still active, reflect- ing the area's long history of protest dating back to the 1960s and strict limits on local police powers. The crowds that came out to protest in Berkeley numbered only a few hun- dred, but some are not col- lege students or residents so much as full-time dem- onstrators who protest anything — war, prison conditions and economic inequality — and some- times use demonstrations as a pretext for violence and vandalism, just as they did during the Occupy Wall Street movement. Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said a tiny fraction of protesters are obscur- ing the wider message calling for reform of po- licing policies nationwide. "The people in the Bay Area are sensitive to worldwide issues," Bates said. "Unfortunately, there is a small element that uses violence at times to make their point." Merchants on Monday cleaned up broken glass and took stock of the pre- vious night's looting from downtown Berkeley stores. Bates called the vio- lent elements of the dem- onstration "cowards and thugs who need to take off their masks." It was not immediately known how many busi- nesses were damaged, and no damage estimate was offered. Five people were arrested, police said. Aakash Agarwal, a sophomore at the Univer- sity of California at Berke- ley, witnessed the looting of a Radio Shack. He said about three dozen people cheered when the store's front window shattered. In keeping with the city's protest history, Berkeley leaders have put limits on their police. Of- ficers cannot have search dogs, stun guns or helicop- tersandarerestrictedinthe type of gear they can wear, said Berkeley police union President Sgt. Chris Stines. POLICE SHOOTINGS Protests, violence go on in Bay Area cities 527-5557 • 848 Johnson Street, Red Bluff BonnieBurlison•GraceLeBaudour Candy Harman • Kathy Reed Kathy Hiebert •Susan Williams Gift Certificates Scarves, Jewelry, Hair Care Product & Gift Items Reflections 50% off All Gift Items with coupon expires 12/25 COUPON 530-366-3166 www.redbluffdodge.com 545 Adobe Rd., Red Bluff, CA YOURNO-HASSLE BENNY BROWN'S RED BLUFF DODGE•JEEP•CHRYSLER•RAM ISN'T PLAYING! WE ARE GOING FOR #1 SPOT IN CALIF. All offers for a limited time. Not all buyers will qualify for individual programs. See Red Bluff Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram for complete details and vehicle qualifications for all currently running programs. 0% and 1.9% APR financing are not applicable on these new selected models. All prices plus government fees and taxes, any finance charge, any dealer document, preparation charge, and any emission charge. Subject to prior sales & credit approval. Some vehicle images in this ad are for illustration purposes only and may vary from actual vehicle. Ad expires 12/7/14. INTEREST RATES AS LOW AS 0% 72 MONTHS ON NEW 2014 MODELS 350 VEHICLES! WE ARE DEALING! WE WANT YOUR TRADE-IN CREDIT ISSUES? CALL US! INTEREST RATES AS LOW AS 2.9% 84 MONTHS ON NEW & USED MODELS ON APPROVAL OF CREDIT REBATES HAVE GONE UP ON EVERY NEW VEHICLE IN STOCK. COME ON DOWN. WE ARE EASY TO DEAL WITH. 3770Hwy45•Colusa,CA•530.458.8844•www.colusacasino.com FRIDAY,DECEMBER12 TH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 TH Advanced Tickets Start at Just $ 20 SHOW8:30PM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT COLUSA CASINO RESORT, DIAMOND W WESTERN WEAR IN CHICO, RUSH PERSONNEL IN YUBA CITY OR ONLINE AT STARTICKETS.COM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT COLUSA CASINO RESORT, DIAMOND W WESTERN WEAR IN CHICO, RUSH PERSONNEL IN YUBA CITY OR ONLINE AT STARTICKETS.COM Free Gift! • Party Favors! • Free Meal! • Midnight Toast! • Presales Available Now! Wednesday, December 31 st inCashPayouts! Over st MustBe21toAttend.ManagementReservesAllRights©2014. | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 8 A