nathanfletcher.com

Volunteer Alert: Let's Get Walking for Nathan!

2010-09-08T17:44:45Z

8 weeks and counting till Election Day 2010! Come out and join us this Saturday for a Fletcher for Assembly precinct walk in University City!

We'll start out at 10:00 am at Standley Park and then we'll meet up again at 1:00pm for lunch.

Everyone's welcome! It'll be a fun time for the whole family.

Please contact our campaign director, Eddie, at esprecco@nathanfletcher.com if you can make it!

Redistricting reforms must advance

2010-09-07T21:13:47Z

Good piece in today's UT on the importance of redistricting efforts to help reform a dysfunctional legislature.

Redistricting reforms must advance

BY UNION-TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD,

In 2008, California voters took a decisive step toward improving the performance of the dysfunctional state Legislature by approving Proposition 11 and taking redistricting authority for Assembly and Senate seats away from politicians and giving it to an independent commission. The district boundary lines that politicians drew after the 2000 census had produced a Legislature and a congressional delegation with virtually no swing districts.

In Sacramento , the result has been gridlock on big issue after big issue. Democratic legislators care primarily about pleasing the interest groups on their side, starting with public employee unions, whose support they need if their political careers are to advance. Republican legislators care primarily about pleasing the interest groups on their side, starting with big corporations, whose support they need for their political advancement.

This has produced a crude, reductive political landscape. Majority Democrats routinely hold hostage even modest, common-sense GOP legislation to use as leverage for bills their union backers tout. Minority Republicans routinely shun GOP colleagues who anger business interests by occasionally breaking ranks and backing tax hikes or new government regulations. Read More.

Watch the Final Chelsea's Law Vote!

2010-08-31T22:14:12Z

Watch as Chelsea's Law passes from the State Legislature by a vote of 72 - 0! With that final unanimous vote, Chelsea's Law advances to Governor Schwarzenegger. Click here for the video.

CHELSEA’S LAW CLEARS FINAL LEGISLATIVE STEP—NOW HEADS TO GOVERNOR

2010-08-31T17:11:37Z

CHELSEA’S LAW CLEARS FINAL LEGISLATIVE STEP—NOW HEADS TO GOVERNOR

Unanimous Assembly Vote Concludes Legislative Approval Process for

Landmark Public Safety Measure

AUGUST 30 – Sacramento, CA – After six months of work, Chelsea’s Law, Assembly Bill 1844, cleared its final legislative hurdle today as it passed unanimously from the State Assembly. With the legislative process complete, the measure will be sent to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Governor has said he will sign the legislation, authored by AssemblymanNathan Fletcher in partnership with the family of Chelsea King, which will better protect California children from violent sexual predators.

“Today’s vote marks the end of the legislative process for Chelsea’s Law. Hundreds of meetings and thousands of volunteer hours have come together to produce a very strong piece of legislation that will better protect our children from the dangers of violent sexual predators. ” Fletcher stated. “In a Legislature that’s not always known for getting things done, it’s very encouraging to see all sides come together for the safety of our children.”

Kelly and Brent King issued the following statement: “Oh behalf of Chelsea, and the 100,000 people who have given us the inertia to complete this process, we offer a symbolic sunflower ovation to all California Assemblymembers and Senators who voted in favor ofChelsea's Law. This is a uniquely collaborative achievement, powered by people who care passionately about the children of California.”

Fletcher amended Chelsea’s Law through the course of the legislative process to increase the size and scope of its public safety reforms. He also identified savings within the Corrections system to render the legislation cost neutral. Now, in addition to the cornerstone one-strike life without parole sentencing option for the most egregious sex offenders who target children, the final version ofChelsea's Law includes a criminal containment model and dynamic criminal risk assessment tool to match paroled offenders who pose the greatest threat of recidivism with the greatest levels of supervision and surveillance from authorities.

Specifically, Chelsea's Law includes:

A true one strike, life penalty without the possibility of parole for the most dangerous sexual offenders
Increased sentences for forcible sex crimes
Increased parole terms for those who target children under the age of 14
Restrictions on sex offenders' ability to enter parks
A first-in-the-nation containment model and dynamic risk assessment structure
A requirement that Megan's Law publicly list sex offenders' risk assessment scores
A revision of the California mentally disordered offender laws to provide for continued detention of offenders where evaluation and assessment deem such to be necessary

Chelsea's Law passed with the support of 69 legislative coauthors that span the political spectrum. Governor ArnoldSchwarzenegger, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, United States Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, numerous leading California District Attorneys and a number of California cities and counties formally support the legislation.

Chelsea's Law was carried to this point by a network of nearly 100,000 Chelsea's Light Foundation "changemakers" from around the world, law enforcement groups, crime victim advocates and concerned citizens.

Passed with an urgency clause, Chelsea’s Law will take effect immediately after Governor Schwarzenegger signs the bill. He will do so within thirty days. A time and place for signing has yet to be determined.

# # #

Nathan Receives Local Hero Award from Crime Victims Fund

2010-08-31T19:51:04Z

Last night Nathan was awarded the Local Hero Award from the San Diego Crime Victims Fund. This organization is outstanding. For twenty-eight years they have provided critical support and services for victims of crime in the San Diego region. More than 10,000 members of our community have been the recipient of this help. Their recognition is humbling!

Both Nathan and San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore received Local Hero Awards.

Volunteers: Cornerstone of the Nathan Fletcher Campaign

2010-08-30T18:07:54Z

Recently, volunteers from throughout San Diego came together to stuff envelopes for an upcoming Nathan Fletcher for Assembly event:

Many hands made lighter work that day and also made quick work of the Pizza at lunch. Over the next 65 days there will be many more opportunities to participate in re-electing Nathan Fletcher to the State Assembly.

Please visit the ACTION CENTER to find out more about the ways you can help, including walking precincts, calling your neighbors or hosting a coffee.

Nathan Speaks to Firefighters from Across America

2010-08-31T20:00:31Z

Nathan just spoke to firefighters from across the country about the experience he had participating in Fire Ops. The experience really struck a chord with Nathan.

California Senate Passes Chelsea's Law!

2010-08-26T23:20:13Z

CHELSEA'S LAW CLEARS 6TH HURDLE:

California Senate Passes Chelsea's Law!

The California State Senate just voted unanimously to support Chelsea's Law. Now we are one step away from sending Governor Schwarzenegger a true one strike, life without parole sentence for violent sex offenders who target children. Later this week, the strengthened version of Chelsea's Law that passed the Senate will go before the Assembly for one final concurrence vote.

In the Senate, we expanded the scope of Chelsea's Law so it now includes:

A true life penalty without the possibility of parole for the most dangerous sexual offenders
Increased sentences for forcible sex crimes
Increased parole terms (in some cases lifetime parole) for those who target children under the age of 14
Restrictions on sex offenders' ability to enter parks where children congregate
A first-in-the-nation containment model and dynamic risk assessment structure including polygraph testing for sex offenders on parole
A requirement that Megan's Law publicly list sex offenders' risk assessment scores
A revision of the California mentally disordered offender laws to provide for continued detention of offenders where evaluation and assessment deem such to be necessary

Thank you for being with us every step of the way and for your continued commitment to protecting our children. Your calls, letters, volunteer hours and petitions have made all the difference.

I've never been prouder of a team than this one that came together to pass one of the most comprehensive public safety measures in California's history.

We'll keep you posted on our progress.

Nathan

Chelsea's Law Passes CA Senate

2010-08-26T23:16:15Z

SENATE APPROVAL BRINGS CHELSEA’S LAW WITHIN ONE STEP OF GOVERNOR’S DESK

Chelsea’s Law Heads Back to the State Assembly for a Final Concurrence Vote

AUGUST 24 – Sacramento, CA – Chelsea’s Law, Assembly Bill 1844, passed through the California State Senate today by a unanimous vote. The measure, authored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher in partnership with the family of Chelsea King, will better protect California children from violent sexual predators.

“Going through the Senate we’ve made Chelsea’s Law better—stronger and more comprehensive,” Fletcher stated. “The heartbreaking loss of Chelsea earlier this year revealed a broken public safety system, and it called our entire community and our entire state to action. With the King family’s unwavering dedication and with the good-faith of many who contributed to shaping this measure, we’ve built a solution that will protect children and spare other families from tragedy.”

Kelly and Brent King, Chelsea’s parents, offered the following comments after the vote: “The collective hard work by Assemblyman Fletcher, his bi-partisan legislative partners and impassioned Californians is culminating in a historical outcome with tangible benefit to our state’s children. Chelsea’s larger-than-life legacy is helping to fulfill her and our dreams for positive change.”

In the Senate, Fletcher amended Chelsea’s Law to increase the size and substance of its public safety reforms and identified changes within the corrections system to make it revenue neutral. In addition to the cornerstone one-strike life without parole sentencing option for the most egregious sex offenders who target children, Chelsea's Law includes a criminal containment model structure and dynamic criminal risk assessment tool to match higher risk paroled offenders with higher surveillance from authorities.

Specifically, Chelsea's Law includes:

A true life penalty without the possibility of parole for the most dangerous sexual offenders
Increased sentences for forcible sex crimes
Increased parole terms for those who target children under the age of 14
Restrictions on sex offenders' ability to enter parks
A first-in-the-nation containment model and dynamic risk assessment structure
A requirement that Megan's Law publicly list sex offenders' risk assessment scores
A revision of the California mentally disordered offender laws to provide for continued detention of offenders where evaluation and assessment deem such to be necessary

Chelsea's Law has the support of 68 legislative coauthors that span the political spectrum. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Attorney General Jerry Brown, United States Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, numerous leading California District Attorneys and a number of California cities and counties have all declared their support for the legislation.

Chelsea's Law is additionally being driven by a network of nearly 100,000 Chelsea's Light Foundation "changemakers" from around the world, law enforcement groups, crime victim advocates and concerned citizens.

From the Senate, Chelsea’s Law will proceed to the California State Assembly for a final concurrence vote which will be conducted in the next week. If it passes the Assembly Floor, it will proceed to Governor Schwarzenegger for final approval. The Governor will have thirty days to sign Chelsea’s Law.

# # #

New Capitol Update: The Deadline is Approaching

2010-08-26T23:42:39Z

This is the final week of the 2010 regular legislative session at the State Capitol. That means there's going to be plenty of action on remaining bills between now and Friday night. In this Capitol Update, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher discusses where Chelsea's Law, The California Veterans Homes Fund and the California Adoption Month Resolution fall in this process. Nathan also talks about the opportunity he had to suit up with the San Diego City Fire Department to go through firefighter training. Watch it here!

In a league of her own

2010-08-22T18:05:30Z

This is an amazing and touching story. I hope this girl makes it to the big leagues!

In a league of her own

13-year-old pitcher uses fastball and knuckleball to dominate boys

PLANT CITY, Fla. -- She registered another perfect pitching record this year, 12-0, for her Little League team.

She threw her second perfect game -- and predicted this one just hours before she did it.

Her fastball hits the mid-60s, and she can send opponents to the bench in tears, embarrassing them with a knuckleball she learned from former major league knuckleball legend Joe Niekro.

Meet Chelsea Baker, a girl pitcher in a boys' league.

Heads are turning in Plant City, where Chelsea hasn't lost a sanctioned Little League game in four seasons.

Although it is a little early to call the 13-year-old the next big thing in baseball, she's a sought-after pitcher who has the attention of respected talent evaluators, including former Boston Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette. They see grand possibilities in her developing knuckleball, already-hopping fastball and strong hitting skills that sparked a .604 batting average this past season. Read More.

Rivers shows what he's made of -- even when he shouldn't

2010-08-22T18:06:32Z

The Phillip Rivers tackle of Cowboys Safety Barry Church was one of the greatest football plays I can remember. It says a lot about our quarterback...nice to have a pro who shows up to play every single down.

Rivers shows what he's made of -- even when he shouldn't

Philip Rivers has to know better. He has to know, as Falstaff did, that the better part of valor is discretion, and that strategic cowardice goes quadruple for quarterbacks.

Yet here he was, placing himself and the Chargers’ season at significant risk for dubious benefit; weaving his way through downfield blocking to execute an open-field, touchdown-saving tackle in a lousy PRESEASON game.

It was madness, and it was marvelous.

The Chargers’ $92 million quarterback plays football’s glamour position with a singular, scary and sometimes inspiring disregard for self-preservation.

Some guys throw caution to the wind. Rivers takes caution and fires a deep out when the hurricane flags are flapping. The clichéd compliment is that he is one of those quarterbacks with a linebacker’s mentality. The sad fact is that if Antonio Cromartie were as eager to engage the enemy, the Chargers might have beaten the Jets last January.

To review: Late in the second quarter of their 16-14 dress rehearsal defeat by the Dallas Cowboys , the Chargers had moved the ball from their own 6-yard line to the Dallas 18. Needing three yards to sustain the drive on third down, Rivers completed a short flip to Darren Sproles , who picked up the required real estate, but was then separated from the ball by Cowboys’ linebacker Bradie James.

Rookie safety Barry Church claimed the loose ball at the Dallas 12-yard line and turned toward the Chargers’ goal as a Cowboys’ convoy formed to clear his path. By the time Church reached midfield, it appeared that the things most likely to prevent him from scoring a touchdown were, in order, a clipping penalty, a cramp and an unscheduled appearance by the Stanford band.

But here was Rivers, drifting toward the north sideline as a shambling deep safety, picking his way through the traffic like a pedestrian crossing a freeway, finding Church and then flattening him.

“I just knew he was going to do it,” Chargers coach NorvTurner said. “I prefer him to not do it in that situation. That being said, that’s the wrong way to think. He’s a football player. He’s out there playing. Go after it and do what he did.”

Quarterbacks are so critical to the success of a football team, and are deemed so delicate that they generally wear red shirts in practice as a signal to teammates to avoid contact. Since that precaution is unavailable in actual games, coaches focus an extraordinary amount of energy on pass protection and pass rush, on guarding their field general and attacking the other guy’s.

Still, stuff happens. Pittsburgh’s 2006 Super Bowl win was a direct result of the game-saving stop quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made on Indianapolis’ Nick Harper after a postseason fumble by Jerome Bettis.

That tackle, of course, occurred in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. That Rivers’ tackle took place in the second quarter of an exhibition game of no lasting significance speaks to this passer’s passion, his priorities and his remarkably reckless abandon.

“I don’t know how you can let a guy score,” Rivers said later. “They’re keeping score. Maybe the consequences aren’t as big in preseason as far as wins and losses, but it’s kind of hard just to pass a guy up there.”

If the effort only delayed Dallas’ first touchdown, and proved to be the quarterback’s final play of the evening, Rivers apparently left the game undamaged and likely enhanced in the eyes of his teammates.

For all of his aw-shucks sound bites and his childlike playing persona, there is a quiet toughness to Rivers that resonates in the Chargers locker room.

This is the guy, remember, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery between playoff games in 2007, a guy who has been sacked 102 times in the NFL without missing a start.

This is the guy the Chargers look to for leadership.

History is full of examples of famous generals who led from the front, and researchers at Great Britain’s Leeds University found in a recent series of experiments that successful leaders typically position themselves at the edge of a crowd rather than in the middle.

The same management style that worked so well for Alexander the Great and William the Conqueror has since been adopted by Rivers the Reckless. He should know better, but it works. See source.

Nathan Suits Up With SD Fire

2010-08-22T05:05:46Z

Today Nathan got to learn a few of the ropes of being a San Diego Firefighter. The SD Fire Department gave a number of San Diego leaders and journalists the chance to suit up and go through fire training which involved sawing into burning buildings, rescuing "victims", climbing up two story buildings and hosing out flames.

It was a wonderful look into the hard work and responsibilities of local public safety professionals.

Read the following story from the UT about the experience:

Local politicians get a taste of firefighting

BY MICHAEL STETZ, UNION-TRIBUNE

Politicians were putting out a lot of fires Saturday — just not the figurative kind they’re used to.

These were real — though safely controlled — fires.

The officials wore firefighting gear and jumped out of fire trucks and scrambled up ladders and lugged hoses and rushed into burning buildings.

“I have newfound respect for those who do this,” said a sweaty Bonnie Dumanis, the San Diego County district attorney, who had just climbed off a roof at the Regional Public Safety Training Institute in Mira Mesa.

The six-hour exercise was organized by the International Association of Firefighters, which is holding a convention in town, along with San Diego’s firefighters’ union, Local 145.

Leaders of both made it clear why they put the exhibition on. They want local leaders to get a better understanding of what they do.

That way, when the politicians make decisions on staffing levels and equipment purchases and pay, they have firsthand knowledge of the demands and pressures that firefighters face.

Firefighting cutbacks are a big political issue in San Diego. The city has had to resort to idling engines — a move called “brownouts” — to help close budget deficits.

The $11.5 million saved annually is in overtime costs to firefighters.

Safety issues over brownouts were dramatically illustrated recently when a two-year-old boy in Mira Mesa died choking on a gum ball. The closest fire station, about a block away, couldn’t respond because its engine had been dispatched to an area where a brownout was in place.

One possible solution that’s been talked about is to reduce the number of firefighters staffing trucks from four to three. That would free up more engines without costing extra money. Firefighters are against it, saying they couldn’t fight blazes as safely or efficiently.

Saturday’s event cost no taxpayer money, said Frank De Clercq, president of Local 145. All the firefighters on hand were volunteering.

Those participating got a real dose of firefighting. They ventilated roofs and forced their way into locked buildings.

San Diego Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher compared it to his days as a combat Marine. You have to adapt to the noise and the confusion, he said.

He took part for the learning experience. “If you can, you should try to see what it’s really like.” It’s the same reason he visits schools, universities and companies, he said.

He also has a personal connection. His father was in law enforcement, so he grew up knowing police officers and firefighters.

His family was also once devastated by fire. He said he lost two cousins, ages 4 and 14, to one. “It affects us to this day,” he said.

San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald was present, but didn’t participate because of an injury. She chairs the City Council’s public safety committee.

She’s been looking for funds to help end the brownouts, but it’s a tough time.

“Frankly, we don’t have the money.”

michael.stetz@uniontrib.com; (619) 293-1720

Chelsea's Law could launch national movement

2010-08-20T18:40:35Z

As bill nears final approval, Kings say they see it as a first step in a larger effort

SACRAMENTO — Now just two steps away from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk, Chelsea’s Law could transform California’s approach to sex offenders through a balance of longer sentences, tougher parole conditions and targeted treatment.

“We’ve stayed focused on the worst of the worst,” said Brent King, father of the slain Poway teenager whose name on the bill serves as a lasting memorial.

Beyond the immediate policy change, the law could spawn a national movement driven by Chelsea’s parents to implement similar reforms in other states.

And its apparent success already has encouraged lawmakers to begin laying the groundwork for introducing legislation next year to attack an issue involving sex offenders: residency restrictions that have driven many into homelessness or underground.

But some experts express caution, noting that some past efforts to crack down on sex offenders — such as lifetime GPS tracking for those on parole — have fallen short.

“Overall, the intent of this legislation is laudable,” said professor Sheldon Zhang, the chairman of the sociology department at San Diego State University who specializes in criminology.

“Like so many other crime-fighting (measures),” he added, “politicians as well as the public may feel some vindication of their moral outrage, but rarely think through the consequences of passing a legal mandate without the necessary resources. Unenforced or unenforceable laws cause cynicism and public distrust of our legal and political system.”

The state Senate is expected to pass Chelsea’s Law in the coming days, moving it to the Assembly for a final vote next week. Schwarzenegger has vowed to sign it, likely at a ceremony in San Diego just after Labor Day.

When that day arrives, the Kings said they will appear with Schwarzenegger, feeling a measure of satisfaction knowing they have accomplished a goal to help prevent future tragedies. But it will not heal their broken hearts.

“One will be a feeling of immense pride and gratitude,” said Kelly King, Chelsea’s mother. “The other will be profound sadness and grief that we even got to this place.”

Added Brent King, “This is what she would have wanted.”

Chelsea, 17, was raped and murdered in February by convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner III who had violated parole numerous times. Gardner pleaded guilty to murdering Chelsea and Amber Dubois, 14, of Escondido. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

But even before the confession, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego, began pursuing reforms. Fletcher methodically crafted the bill and the Kings were consulted on each word. And, in an unusual but ultimately bill-saving move, Fletcher immediately approached the chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee. The personal meetings and weekend phone calls with Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, ultimately paid dividends.

Together, growing from adversaries to teammates, they negotiated the final deal that took Assembly Bill 1844 beyond penalties to include significant reforms and cost-cutting so the state could afford locking up more offenders for life.

“It’s a better bill than it was when it was introduced,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher said he was able to protect his priorities, mostly an automatic life-sentence without the possibility of parole for those convicted of serious violent sexual crimes against children. He also kept most penalty enhancements intact, including lifetime GPS monitoring for many parolees, while abandoning other smaller penalty increases to reduce costs.

Leno was able to secure parole changes, particularly a “containment model” approach that experts say will reduce recidivism by targeting the most dangerous with more scrutiny, polygraph tests and specialized treatment.

But there have been worries about adding to the state’s budget deficit. Precise numbers could not be determined, but one analysis suggested the bill would be “significant,” probably in the millions. The prison agency suggested that parole costs alone would increase $3 million per year.

In response, the legislation shifts to county jails hundreds of lower-level criminals not convicted of sex-related crimes. The savings could amount to $32 million a year starting in 2012. Fletcher also believes that the state will save money as fewer offenders strike again.

Leno explained the goal: “We wanted a bill to lock up the worst of the worst — to find a way to make room for them in our overcrowded prison system and implement (reforms) so we could effectively prevent these horrific crimes in the future. We did that.”

Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, endorsed the bill early and helped clear a path.

“They have put together a thoughtful, aggressive bill to correct systemic failures that led to a horrible tragedy,” Perez said.

The Kings say this is just the beginning. They are in the early stages of launching state-by-state campaigns to take Chelsea’s Law national, and are working with California’s two Democratic U.S. senators on a potential federal measure.

“I can hear Chelsea saying, ‘That was a great first step. Come on, let’s go,’ ” said Brent King, reflecting on the road ahead after her law is signed. See Source.

Pension Reform to Save San Diego Taxpayers Millions

2010-08-19T17:20:30Z

We are all aware of the burden of pension and health care obligations on our budget.

This is true for state and local governments.

Late yesterday, we made some progress for San Diego. The State Senate passed Assembly Bill 2510, legislation we've authored to save local taxpayers millions by reining in pension-related health care costs.

We worked in partnership with the City of San Diego and the San Diego Police Officers Association to make a common sense change to the rules that govern how employee benefits are handled.

Assembly Bill 2510 will allow San Diego police officers to join statewide health care pools, and not be limited to San Diego-specific health care pools.

This one modification will reduce San Diego's annual expenses by millions.

Assembly Bill 2510 is a creative solution that represents what city management and city employees can accomplish by working together to find solutions. We'll keep you updated as this legislation heads to the Governor's desk.

Qualcomm: 25 years and counting

2010-08-19T16:31:18Z

Qualcomm: 25 years and counting

$11 billion San Diego success story remains a giant in the world of CDMA, wireless patents
BY MIKE FREEMAN, UNION-TRIBUNEWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2010 AT 9:24 P.M.

Irwin Jacobs recalled the time when Qualcomm, an upstart company in need of cash, first offered to license its Code Division Multiple Access wireless patents to other mobile equipment makers.

Qualcomm got an upfront fee, and if the product turned into a success — which certainly wasn’t guaranteed — then licensees would pay a royalty to Qualcomm for each device sold.

That turned out to be one of the best moves the company made because royalty fees soared as the company’s CDMA technology became widely used in third-generation 3G mobile networks around the world.

Today — 25 years later — Qualcomm is an $11 billion technology giant and San Diego’s largest company. It is rare for the region because — as one technology executive put it — Qualcomm “went the distance.” It didn’t reach a certain size and sell to a larger competitor as is the case with many local startups. Read More here.

Assembly Bill 2510 Passes: Pension Reform Will Save San Diego Taxpayers

2010-08-19T17:17:55Z

Pension Reform To Save San Diego Taxpayers Millions

Ericka Perryman (858) 689-6290

Agreement between Fletcher, City of San Diego and San Diego Police Officers Association Passes Senate

San Diego-Today, Assembly Bill 2510, authored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, won the unanimous support of the California State Senate. Assembly Bill 2510 allows San Diego's Police Officers to receive health care coverage through California's PERS health care program, known as PEMHCA (Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act).

Fletcher partnered with the City of San Diego and the San Diego Police Officers Association on this legislation that will save the city millions of dollars.

"Every taxpayer has a vested interest in reforming and reducing government pension and health care obligations," Fletcher stated. "This is a common sense reform that represents what can be accomplished when people work together to find solutions. Assembly Bill 2510 will reduce costs to the city while protecting the benefits retirees will receive."

"The SDPOA is excited about the unanimous support from the State Senate on this bill," said Brian R. Marvel, president of the San Diego Police Officers Association. "This is a step in the right direction to save the City of San Diego millions of dollars and it will also preserve benefits that were promised to San Diego police officers."

Existing law, Government Code Section 22893, requires local agencies, like the City of San Diego, to pay at least 90% of the cost of employee and retiree dependent coverage if that coverage is through California's PEMHCA system. The 90% threshold is cost prohibitive. Therefore, many local entities, San Diego included, choose to provide employee health care through a small local pool.

Past legislation has made exceptions for California school employers and employees to receive health care benefits through the state PEMHCA system providing the agreement is collectively bargained. Assembly Bill 2510 extends this exception to City of San Diego Police Officers.

Employee health care costs covered by the City of San Diego will decrease through California's PEMHCA system for a number of reasons:

the larger state pool spreads risk and lowers cost;

San Diego's system is geographically limited so retirees located elsewhere in the state or country must purchase more expensive coverage;

the administrative costs to run the city's health care system average 3-5% of premiums, while PEMHCA overhead costs are 0.45%.

Savings from Assembly Bill 2510 will extend beyond the City of San Diego to individual employees and retirees. Currently, a retired San Diego Police Officer with one dependent pays $657 a month for Kaiser health coverage. For two or more dependents, they pay $1,314. In contrast, if that same employee was enrolled in Kaiser through PEMHCA they would pay only $455 per month for one dependent and $910 for two or more.

Assembly Bill 2510 proceeds next to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk.

Agreement between Fletcher, City of San Diego and San Diego Police Officers Association Passes Senate

Fletcher partnered with the City of San Diego and the San Diego Police Officers Association on this legislation that will save the city millions of dollars.

Employee health care costs covered by the City of San Diego will decrease through California's PEMHCA system for a number of reasons:

the larger state pool spreads risk and lowers cost;
San Diego's system is geographically limited so retirees located elsewhere in the state or country must purchase more expensive coverage;
the administrative costs to run the city's health care system average 3-5% of premiums, while PEMHCA overhead costs are 0.45%.

Assembly Bill 2510 proceeds next to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk.

New Update Video: Legislation in the Final Stretch

2010-08-17T23:29:23Z

In this week's Capitol Update, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher shares the news that Chelsea's Law passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and is two steps away from Governor Schwarzenegger's desk. He also explains Assembly Bill 354 that he's authored with Assemblymember Juan Arambula to combat the spread of whooping cough and discusses the recent Spirit of '45 Resolution he authored to honor America's World War II heroes. Watch it here!

San Diego Celebrates the Spirit of '45

2010-08-15T07:05:38Z

Today is the 65th anniversary of the end of WWII! To commemorate this day and honor the Greatest Generation who secured America's victory, Nathan joined a number of veterans and a crowd of San Diegans at a celebration of the Spirit of '45. Nathan has been a leader in the national Spirit of '45 movement since it kicked off in January. He's taken the lead in California authoring a Resolution to declare August 14, 2010 Spirit of '45 Day in California. The Spirit of '45 project aims to renew throughout America the sense of national pride and community which characterized our World War II generation.

Chelsea's Law Unanimously Approved by Senate Appropriations

2010-08-15T06:05:03Z

TWO MORE HURDLES BEFORE CHELSEA'S LAW IS SIGNED

With your help this week, Chelsea's Law received the unanimous support of the State Senate Appropriations Committee. This is great news for every California family. Chelsea's Law has only two more hurdles to clear before heading to Governor Schwarzenegger's desk for final approval.

Chelsea's Law has been strengthened and expanded over the past few months to take California's public safety system in a bold new direction. In addition to the cornerstone of Chelsea's Law - the one-strike life sentence for the most dangerous sex offenders who target children, a criminal containment model and dynamic risk assessment tool have been added to empower our communities and law enforcement professionals. These changes will fundamentally reform the way California protects the innocent from violent sexual predators.

Specifically, Chelsea's Law includes:

A One-Strike Penalty: a true life sentence without the possibility of parole for the most dangerous sexual offenders;
Increased prison sentences for forcible sex crimes;
Increased parole terms for those who target children under the age of 14;
A ban to keep sex offenders out of parks where children play;
A first-in-the-nation containment model and dynamic risk assessment tool;
A requirement that Megan's Law publicly list sex offenders' risk assessment scores; and
A revision of the California mentally disordered offender laws to provide for continued detention of offenders where evaluation and assessment show such to be necessary.

After months of hard work, countless volunteer hours and support from a coalition of thousands, we are nearing the end. But every step of the way, we think about who this is for. Chelsea King was exceptional, an academic and athletic talent with a bright future and so much to offer the world. We continue to push forward in her memory, and we won't stop until Chelsea's Law is signed.

Thank you for bringing us this far. We'll keep you updated as Chelsea's Law heads to the Senate Floor for its next key vote.

Lawmakers grill court body over pricey projects

2010-08-15T05:45:07Z

Lawmakers grill court body over pricey projects

SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- The Administrative Office of the Courts was on the hot seat Wednesday as lawmakers grilled the organization which overseas the statewide affairs and budget of California's courts about its pricey projects.

Most of the questions dealt with the estimated $1.3 billion price tag of the computer system that is intended to link all of the courts in California. The computer system has been controversial because of its glitches, cost and delays.

Sacramento's judges want to dump it.

It's about time for job creation...

2010-08-10T04:41:09Z

It's another packed week at the Capitol. We've seen incremental progress on the budget front, and Chelsea's Law will face its fifth hurdle on Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee. In this week's update, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher also discusses the recent American Legislative Exchange Council conference, a meeting with the San Diego Restaurant Association, and a Community Coffee with families from Carmel Valley.

Watch the video here.

American Legislative Exchange Council

2010-08-08T19:56:26Z

This morning Nathan was pleased to speak to the American

Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Part of ALEC’s’ mission is “to

advance the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited

government, federalism, and individual liberty, through a nonpartisan

public-private partnership of America's state legislators, members of

the private sector, the federal government, and general public.”

Click here to read more

http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=About. This morning’s

event was sponsored by Bayer Corporation. Thank you to President and

CEO Greg Babe for hosting an outstanding event. And a special thanks

to Derek Naten, Director of Government Affairs, for the invitation.

This morning Nathan was pleased to speak to the AmericanLegislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Part of ALEC’s’ mission is “to advance the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty, through a nonpartisan public-private partnership of America's state legislators, members of the private sector, the federal government, and general public.” Click here to read more.

This morning’sevent was sponsored by Bayer Corporation. Thank you to President and CEO Greg Babe for hosting an outstanding event. And a special thanksto Derek Naten, Director of Government Affairs, for the invitation.

Carmel Valley Community Coffee

2010-08-15T05:17:39Z

Today we had a great time meeting with the residents of Carmel Valley at a Community Coffee in their neighborhood. Nathan took questions from the group about Chelsea's Law, the state budget and public education reform. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Nathan Addresses ALEC Annual Meeting

2010-08-08T19:50:22Z

Saturday evening Nathan gave welcoming remarks at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) leadership reception in San Diego. ALEC is a clearinghouse for legislative proposals that focus on reform and sound public policy. The four day annual meeting, being held in San Diego, has brought legislative experts from across the country into town to discuss the top policy dilemmas of today. Nathan has taken opportunities over the course of the meeting to address various forums on the issues affecting San Diego.

Nathan Talks Job Creation and Budget Forecast with Cal Restaurant Association

2010-08-06T02:21:47Z

This morning, Nathan had a great discussion with the San Diego Chapter of the California Restaurant Association about the state budget, government reform and job creation. The group of local restaurant owners, managers and employees were interested to know about the possibilities for positive education reforms, tax code reforms and modernization in the state's bureaucracy. Thank you to the Association for the invitation. Small businesses like local restaurants are the backbone of California's economy, and the legislature has to commit to policies which encourage their success.

Nathan Speaks at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Legislator to Legislator Dinner

2010-08-06T02:10:25Z

Nathan spoke at the ALEC legislator to legislator dinner this everning, where representatives from different states gathered to discuss policy at the national level.

Nathan gave the opening remarks at dinner, where the topic of discussion centered on technology policy and he growth of technology companies in our very own region.

It was a wonderful evening. Ericka has beautiful blonde hair.

Tonight, Nathan spoke at the ALEC Legislator to Legislator dinner this everning, where representatives from different states gathered to discuss high tech policy at the national level. Nathan gave the opening remarks at the dinner, where the topic of discussion centered on technology policy and the growth of technology companies in the San Diego region. It was a wonderful evening.

Schwarzenegger Directs CDCR to Alert the Public When Sex Offenders Violate Parole

2010-08-06T01:55:27Z

Gov. Schwarzenegger Directs CDCR to Provide Public Notices of Paroled Sex Offenders that Remove their GPS, Abscond From Parole

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide public notices whenever a paroled sex offender removes his or her GPS unit and absconds from parole:

“Paroled sex offenders that take action to remove their GPS pose a threat to public safety, and the department must take every necessary step to eliminate that threat, including making sure the public is aware of these individuals. My greatest priority is to protect the safety of all Californians, and a better informed public will help make our communities safer from sex offenders trying to run from parole supervision.”

CDCR currently notifies local law enforcement immediately when a parolee removes their GPS and absconds from parole through the parole Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS), a web-based system that provides local law enforcement with photos and information about parolees. The need for a broader notification of the public came to light from recent incidents involving sex offenders removing their GPS units.

“CDCR’s top priority is public safety,” said CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate. “We will immediately begin the development of a system that notifies the media and the public when a sex offender attempts to abscond from parole supervision.”

Gov. Schwarzenegger Directs CDCR to Provide Public Notices of Paroled Sex Offenders that Remove their GPS, Abscond From Parole

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide public notices whenever a paroled sex offender removes his or her GPS unit and absconds from parole: “Paroled sex offenders that take action to remove their GPS pose a threat to public safety, and the department must take every necessary step to eliminate that threat, including making sure the public is aware of these individuals. My greatest priority is to protect the safety of all Californians, and a better informed public will help make our communities safer from sex offenders trying to run from parole supervision.” CDCR currently notifies local law enforcement immediately when a parolee removes their GPS and absconds from parole through the parole Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS), a web-based system that provides local law enforcement with photos and information about parolees. The need for a broader notification of the public came to light from recent incidents involving sex offenders removing their GPS units. “CDCR’s top priority is public safety,” said CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate. “We will immediately begin the development of a system that notifies the media and the public when a sex offender attempts to abscond from parole supervision.”

New Update Video: At Work to Advance Cost-Saving Reforms

2010-08-03T18:53:50Z

The Assembly and Senate are back at the Capitol this week to resume work on active legislation. Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher has several pieces of legislation moving forward such as Assembly Bill 2510, a pension reform bill that will save San Diego taxpayers millions. The Assemblyman also discusses the recent Downtown Library project groundbreaking, meetings he's had with San Diego County health care leaders and local firefighters, and the fact that finalizing a budget remains California's number one priority. Watch the video here.

SF Chron: California lawmakers to take up Chelsea's Law

2010-08-02T17:48:19Z

California lawmakers to take up Chelsea's Law

Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

Few political issues are as difficult to tackle as laws dealing with California's ever-growing number of convicted sex offenders.

For years, experts on the issue have complained that state laws were determined more by sound-bite politics than policies that improve public safety and protect children. Elected leaders, wary of accusations that they were being soft on sexual predators, have historically stayed clear of reforming such laws, except to make them harsher.

But this week, Sacramento lawmakers will take up a measure that has been greatly revised since its introduction earlier this year to include provisions such as ongoing treatment for sex offenders and sentences tailored to the severity of a crime.

Backers say the changes to AB1844 would focus the state's limited resources on the worst child molesters and will make great strides toward fixing how California deals with people found guilty of sex crimes - even if, at first glance, some of its provisions appear to ease restrictions for some convicted criminals. Perhaps just as unusual - the revised bill is the result of a rare bipartisan collaboration.

The proposal is called Chelsea's Law, after a San Diego teen killed by a registered sex offender in February. Like many legislative responses to horrific crimes against children, it began as a punitive measure that would have increased the sentences and parole terms given to child molesters.

The changes made last month include tailoring those sentencing and parole requirements to specific crimes, instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach. It would match treatment approaches to ongoing assessments of offenders, and it would use polygraph tests for parolees.

The measure still doesn't tackle what many experts consider one of the biggest failures of current sex offender law: restrictions on how close convicted sex offenders can live to places like parks and schools. That restriction has forced thousands of parolees into homelessness, which critics say actually hurts public safety because the offenders become harder to track.

However, the newly proposed changes do conform with many of the other recommendations that the state's own experts - the California Sex Offender Management Board - have made for years.

"The bill, as introduced, was trying to get at some solutions to pretty complex problems, and as it went through the process it got better and better," said Robert Coombs, a victim's rights advocate who chairs the board. The bill still includes harsher sentences for violent sex crimes against children, lifetime sentences for the most horrific offenses and lifetime parole for others - "tough on crime" approaches that are easy to sell to both lawmakers and voters.

New approach

"There are still some elements of just straight-up sentencing enhancements there, but for the most part it is stepping away from a just over-generalized approach and starting to take a look at what we know works instead of what we feel works," Coombs said.

The deal worked out between Republican Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher of San Diego and San Francisco Democratic Sen. Mark Leno, chairman of the public safety committee, represents a marked departure from past efforts to tighten those laws.

In 2006, for example, Republican sponsors of a bill known as Jessica's Law went straight to the ballot after the measure was killed in the Assembly Public Safety committee, which Leno then chaired.

That measure included the restriction on convicted sex offenders living within 2,000 feet of schools or parks. Leno was vilified for his opposition, but as an April Chronicle story noted, the residency rules in Jessica's Law are now under attack by an increasing number of state officials, law enforcement experts and some victims' advocates for forcing sex offenders into homelessness.

That problem is particularly acute in dense, urban areas such as San Francisco, where 84 percent of paroled sex offenders are transient.

Studies have shown there is no connection between where a person lives and whether they will commit another crime, and that instability - such as homelessness - can actually make a sex offender more likely to reoffend. Other states - including Iowa and Georgia - have recently scaled back or eliminated similar residency restrictions. As part of their agreement, Fletcher pledged to revisit the residency issue with Leno next year. He hasn't promised to support a potential bill or ballot measure, "but I am committed to working with him, because there's a fair conversation to be had about what's in the best interest of public safety," Fletcher said.

Funding Chelsea's Law

For Leno, one of the biggest issues was reining in the cost of longer parole and prison sentences.

In order to offset the anticipated increase in inmates, Fletcher agreed to raise the prison threshold for those convicted of an unrelated crime: repeat offenders that commit petty theft. The change means more thieves will stay in county jails instead of state prison.

Even with that change, it's not entirely clear what Chelsea's Law will cost; an updated analysis is expected to be released within the next week. The original bill was estimated to increase state costs by tens to hundreds of millions of dollars over the next two decades.

However, both Leno and Fletcher argue that portions of Chelsea's Law could ultimately save the state money while better protecting children. That's because the state will be required to closely monitor a parolee's risk of reoffending, and to tailor treatment based on those risks - likely resulting in fewer victims, less recidivism and lower prison costs.

This containment model has been proved to work in other states, they said.

Chelsea's Law is not without some opposition: Defense attorneys and the ACLU have concerns about the longer prison sentences and the lack of treatment when offenders are in prison. Coombs also said it remains to be seen how well state officials implement the bill. But, he added, Chelsea's Law is a step in the right direction after Jessica's Law, which he considers a failure.

"We're left to pick up the pieces after someone introduces an initiative that is not well thought out, doesn't address a well-realized problem and is based more on bumper sticker politics," he said. "This is probably one of the bigger steps."