Earns Bipartisan Support as it Moves Forward
The bill authored by Assemblymember Alyson Huber to address proposed state septic tank regulations was approved with bipartisan support in its first committee hearing today.
AB 580 seeks to encourage the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to develop septic standards that can be adapted to different regions and work to allow for minimal impact and cost on rural homeowners and businesses, and aid the SWRCB in drafting standards by amending the current statute, should it be necessary.
“The public concern we have seen over the current proposed septic tank regulations is well warranted,” said Assemblymember Huber. “A statewide, one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer and would negatively impact rural homeowners and businesses. We need regional flexibility in these regulations to deal with the realties of a large and geographically diverse state.”
The Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials voted unanimously to pass AB 580 after hearing testimony from representatives from the Regional Council of Rural Counties, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Califonrnia and the counties of Placer, Yuba, Fresno and Humbolt. The bill also earned the bipartisan support of Assemblymember Ted Gaines (R-Roseville), Assemblymember Dan Logue (R-Linda) and Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) who have agreed to be co-authors.
AB 885 (Jackson), as approved by the Legislature and Governor in 2000, allowed the SWRCB to adopt regulations on septic tanks for the purpose of protecting the state’s ground water supply. In October of 2008, the SWRCB produced draft regulations in accordance with AB 885.
The proposed regulations put forth last fall by the SWRCB would apply uniformly throughout the state, providing no flexibility to take into account the diverse geographical, hydro-geological, demographic, and other physical and social characteristics that exist across California. As written, the proposed regulations would have severe adverse affects on rural areas throughout California.
California’s rural areas account for over 80% of the State’s water supply and measures may be necessary to ensure a high quality of surface and groundwater supply. However, the inflexible approach taken by the initial SWRCB regulatory proposal will cost Californians an estimated $1.4 billion, with much of this burden being placed on homeowners and businesses in rural counties.
Filed under: Legislation | Tagged: Alyson Huber, environment, regulations, septic | 2 Comments »
Legislation Uses Federal Funds to Increase Unemployment Benefits and Expand Eligibility
Facing a record unemployment rate of 10.5% statewide and as high as 11.7% in communities she represents, Assemblymember Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills) today voted to make California eligible for up to $3 billion in one-time federal unemployment insurance funds available as part of the President’s economic recovery package. Without impacting the state’s budget in any way, AB 3x 23 increases unemployment benefits for 1.95 million Californians and extends benefits for 469,000 unemployed Californians.
“We needed to act now to help people suffering from this economic crisis, more than a half-million people would have lost their only lifeline to pay the bills as they look for work,” said Huber, explaining the need to adjust the state’s unemployment insurance coverage formulas. “Voting for this bill was the responsible thing to do help Californians recover from this economic downturn.”
AB 3x 23 updates state law to conform with the Federal Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act that is part of Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed into law on February 17, 2009. These updates make California eligible to receive up to $3 billion from the federal government it would not have been able to otherwise secure.
These federal funds will be used to directly increase state Unemployment Insurance benefits by $25 per week and to continue providing extended benefits of up to 33 weeks – beyond the state’s current 26-week limit. The federal guidelines also create a separate 20-week extended benefits program, which would allow unemployed Californians to receive up to 79 weeks of benefits. These provisions will remain in effect for claims established through December 2009.
According to the National Employment Law Project, unemployment benefits are an effective economic stimulus, providing $2.15 in economic growth for every dollar in benefits spent by workers and their families on housing, groceries and other basic necessities.
“This was a smart vote that protects Californians,” added Huber. “Getting this help is vital for those who have become unemployed. We are seeing unemployment rise, nearly 1 in 8 people in this area count on this lifeline to make ends meet as they look for work.”
Filed under: AD-10, News | Tagged: unemployment | Leave a Comment »
The 10th AD Task Force Meeting will follow this meeting for a brief organizational meeting and setting of calendar for future meetings. More information can be found on the CDP Website on the Election meeting. I will send out all the appropriate information for the task force meeting right after the holidays. I will be running for one of the Delegate slots with the intent of seeking the E-Board position representing the 10th AD. I hope I can count on your support. Have a great holiday time and will see you all in January.
January 10, 2009: Registration begins at 10:30 AM and the meeting begins at 2:30 PM at the Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Paseo Rio Way
Rancho Cordova, Ca 95827. (Folsum Blvd. & Paseo Rio Way)
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Dear 10th Assembly District friends and members….I am not sure that I have words to express my joy with the results of this election. I am so excited at the possibilities this will bring to our district and for working families and Democrats in the 10th.
Alyson so deserves this victory. She was the hardest working candidate I have ever seen. She had the ability with the help of great volunteers, friends and family and some who didn’t even know her, but knew the significance of the race, come and help out. From Stockton to Amador to El Dorado and especially Sacramento – all pulling for Alyson, – she was able to achieve a great victory.
Thank you all for helping. The following article was published late Tuesday night.
Marcie Bayne
10th Assembly District Democratic Task Force
Chair person
By Randy Bayne
The Bayne of Blog
More than three weeks after Election Day, Alyson Huber has finally been declared victorious in the 10th Assembly District race. While out to dinner, an email was received that said Huber was ahead by 531 votes. This was the first lead she had since election night. After dinner and a trip to the grocery and hardware store, we came home and found this from Capitol Weekly, “Huber projected winner in AD 10.”
Democrat Alyson Huber pulled ahead of Republican Jack Sieglock in the race for the 10th Assembly District late Tuesday, giving Huber a likely victory in the hotly contested Assembly race.
With ballot counting nearly complete, Huber is ahead by 507. Counting should be finished tomorrow, and both sides say Huber is likely to prevail.
“There’s probably only a couple of hundred ballots outstanding in El Dorado County and a handful in Sac and San Joaquin, but it doesn’t appear to be enough to overtake the surge from Sacramento County today,” said Andrew Acosta, a spokesman for Huber’s campaign.
Three weeks has been a long wait but Huber supporters have kept the faith and were certain that the final votes from Sacramento County would put Alyson over the top. We watched closely each day, sometimes several times a day, as vote-by-mail and provisional votes were counted. It was excruciatingly slow, but well worth the wait.
California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres issued this statement. “Based on the latest returns from Sacramento County, it now appears as though Alyson Huber will be the next Assemblymember from California’s 10th District and the 51st Democrat in the caucus,” said Torres. “My congratulations go to Alyson, her dedicated staff and volunteers, and Speaker Karen Bass on what soon will be a key pickup for the Democratic Party. We are grateful for the hard working Democratic activists who helped lead Alyson past the finish line.”
I too want to express my gratitude to those who worked so hard to get Alyson elected. It was a tough campaign with hundreds of people putting in many hours. In the end, we were able to take what was considered by many to be a “safe Republican district” and bring registration to near even and elect a Democrat.
There were some who told us a Democrat couldn’t win, and assured us there would be little help for Alyson. Eventually, they came around and became believers. It was this change that helped Alyson as resources and finances started materializing. The final outcome is as close as the district registration, and Alsyon Huber will be our new Assemblymember.
Sieglock’s campaign said a recount was not likely. They can request one, but the campaign will have to bear the cost.
Congratulations Alyson and thank you volunteers and supporters.
Filed under: AD-10, News | Tagged: Alyson Huber, election '08 | Leave a Comment »
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