Quick summary:
State Senator Tony Strickland is teaming up with Simi Valley City Council Member Barbra Williamson to raise money for charity.
He continues to hold scheduled public meetings, something Rep. Gallegly isn't doing.
State Senator Tony Strickland voted for the budget but thinks it is bad for everyone involved.
He finally helped eliminate one of those boards in Sacramento that pays politically connected people a high salary to for a few official meetings every month. I don't know what made Democrats defend them for so long but at least this talking point is removed from future budget negotiations.
Click on continue reading for the rest of the email update.
At the end of the update I posted an email sent in from a reader directed at State Senator Tony Strickland on prison issues.
Here is his update:
The Strickland Report: August 2009 In This Issue Strickland Hosts Community Coffee Event in Ventura Tony & Audra Strickland Host Hummingbird Nest Ranch Event Why I Voted for the State Budget Strickland Speaks at Agoura - Oak Park - Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce Strickland Co-Hosts United Blood Services Drive Strickland Speaks at Montecito Rotary Club Meeting Strickland Participates in Ventura County Fair Parade Strickland Tours Cal State Channel IslandsMessage from Tony
On July 24, Democrats and Republicans joined together to solve a $24 billion budget shortfall.
Unfortunately, no one wins when there is a $24 billion budget deficit. Democrats don't win. Republicans don't win. Working families don't win.
Every government program received some cuts. However, I worked with everyone to ensure that there were dramatic cuts to wasteful government spending. For example, I authored Senate Bill 63 which eliminated the Integrated Waste Management Board which pays members $132,178-a-year to meet just one or two times a month.
While the elimination of the Integrated Waste Management Board was a enormous success, our work as legislators is far from done. Job creation and promoting a business friendly environment here in California is key to ensuring our economy from future budget shortfalls. As your State Senator, I will continue to work to make sure all businesses are given the best opportunity to prosper and thrive in California.
I hope you'll take a moment to read about what I'm fighting for on behalf of my constituents. Please feel free to contact me at (805) 306-8886 or on my website at www.senate.ca.gov/strickland if you have a problem with state government, or a question about an issue.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tony Strickland
Please Join State Senator Tony Strickland
For a Community Coffee EventDo you have ideas for the state economy?
Are you having a problem with a state agency that is not getting resolved?
Do you want to give you opinion on state legislation that affects your community?
If so, this is your opportunity to discuss it directly with Senator Tony Strickland.Friday, August 21 from 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Marie Callendar's, 1295 S Victoria Ave. Ventura, CA 93003-6535If you have additional questions, please contact Senator Strickland's district office at (805) 306-8886.
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Lawmakers to host event at Hummingbird Nest Ranch
Please Join Senator Tony Strickland and Assemblywoman Audra Strickland for a wine and cheese event at Hummingbird Nest Ranch for Loving Heart Hospice Foundation.
"The Loving Heart Hospice Foundation is a wonderful organization which provides generous support to terminally ill patients in Ventura County and San Fernando Valley. We are honored to be able to give back to our community by hosting this event for them," said Tony and Audra Strickland.
The event is being held on Thursday, September 17th from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, 2940 Kuehner Drive, Simi Valley, CA
All proceeds to benefit Loving Heart Hospice, a non-profit foundation
Reservations are required to attend this eventTo RSVP for the event, please contact Barbra Williamson at:
bwilliamson.lhhf@scbglobal.net or (805) 517-1620Why I Voted for the State Budget
By Senator Tony StricklandAs published by the Santa Barbara News-Press on August 8.
On July 24 I joined Democrats and Republicans and voted for the California state budget. As you know, California is in a fiscal crisis. Our $24 billion budget deficit was one of several serious problems facing California like mounting job losses and plunging home values. Some special interests advocated for higher taxes. However, I worked with members of both political parties to pass a responsible budget that cut wasteful government spending, made significant reforms to broken programs, preserved as much as possible essential services like education, healthcare, and law enforcement and did not raise taxes.
There were 32 different bills that made up the budget package, and while there were bills I didn't support, I supported the majority of them because no one wins when there is a $24 billion budget deficit. Democrats don't win. Republicans don't win. Working families don't win. It was crucial that legislators came together to form a compromise on the budget that stopped the state from issuing IOU's and restored some semblance of fiscal sanity.
Unfortunately, every government program received some cuts. But, I worked with everyone to ensure that there were dramatic cuts to wasteful government spending. For example, I authored Senate Bill 63 which eliminated the Integrated Waste Management Board. This Board pays members $132,178-a-year to meet just one or two times a month. Members of this board, who are mostly termed out legislators, were making about twice as much as our teachers, police officers, and fire fighters for 1/10 the amount of work. Outrageous examples like this are part of the reason that we faced such a staggering budget deficit. My legislation abolished this board. Political paybacks like this should be the first thing on the chopping block - not the last.
The budget also contains numerous other significant reforms that promote government efficiency and allow us to save billions of badly-needed taxpayer dollars over the coming years. These reforms include greater accountability over state programs like CalWORKs and eliminating fraud and abuse in the In Home Support Services program. The budget has also put an end to automatic cost of living adjustments and has eliminated and consolidated several other boards and commissions in addition to the Integrated Waste Management Board.
While this budget vote was one of the toughest votes for many legislators including myself, it was a necessary compromise that had to be made. In any compromise there is always going to be parts that you don't agree with or bills you'd rather not vote for but this was a crucial step that had to be taken for California to be able to move from economic disaster into stability.
I have long advocated that California live within its means and cut wasteful government spending. I hope this budget shortfall is a teachable moment and California has learned that we cannot spend money that we don't have. Our economy can't sustain it.
Ultimately, the two best things to come from this budget are that we cut wasteful government spending and did not raise taxes. But unfortunately to close the $24 billion budget deficit, we had to reduce funding for many important services.
Now that we have successfully passed a bipartisan state budget we must take steps to create jobs and improve our economy. We must focus on creating a business friendly job environment in order to move away from the cycle of continues budget shortfalls. I reject the old politics that offers a false choice between higher taxes verses lower spending to improve California's economy. I think there is a third way.
California needs to transition to a renewable more energy efficient economy. This will create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve the environment, and lower energy prices. Endless opportunities exist in furthering solar, wave, and wind technology.
As your State Senator, I'm committed to working with everyone regardless of political party to change California's economy and fundamentally change how we tackle the budget.
Around the District
July 30 - Senator Tony Strickland addressed the Agoura - Oak Park - Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce attended by over 100 people at a luncheon in Westlake Village. The topic of discussion centered on the budget and our current economy. From left to right: Gary Lysik, Calabasas Chief Financial Officer; Bob Wilson, owner of Ciscos; Alex Soteras, Chamber Director; Senator Tony Strickland; and Ron Plotkin, founder of Monster.com.
August 4 - Senator Tony Strickland co-hosted the United Blood Services Drive in Thousand Oaks along with host Keith Sinclair.
August 4 - Senator Tony Strickland spoke at the Montecito Rotary Club attended by over 35 people. The topic of discussion centered on the budget and creating jobs.
August 7 - Senator Tony Strickland along with his wife Assemblywoman Audra Strickland attending this years 2009 Ventura County Fair Parade.
August 12 - Senator Tony Strickland toured Cal State Channel Islands University along with community leaders and a representative from the university. From left to right: Michael Lavenant, Chair-Elect of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce; Sandra Walker, Director of Operations, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce; Senator Tony Strickland; Celina Zacarias, Director of Government Relations CSU Channel Islands; Gary Cushing, Chair of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce; and Randy Churchill, Community Activist.
Here is the prison related email:
Artificially high parole violation rates cost over $500 million in extra annual prison operating costs. Past well-meaning efforts to reduce violation rates by tinkering with violation procedures have ended in failure due to political attacks charging that it is "soft on crime". There is a proven, simple way to both rein-in costs and remove the issue from political manipulation - a community corrections program (CCP). Under a CCP, the State contracts with counties to provide parole supervision. Parole violations are handled by criminal courts. Oregon and Minnesota have operated successful CCPs since the 1970s.
CCP contracts would be a financial life-line to budget starved county probation departments. It would be a win-win option but would require lawmakers to resist the incredible influence of the correctional employee unions. I doubt that they will be able to do it.
Rich McKone, Parole Agent III, Retired, DC&R, Former Criminal Justice Planner, California Council on Criminal Justice & California Youth Authority
Lincoln, CA
We tax payers and the politicians we elect should welcome any reasonable ideas for CORRECTING CORRECTIONS in California, the state of "higher incarceration". Thank you for yours.
Returning people to prison for victimless, minor parole rule infractions at $49,000 a year, along with unreasonably long sentences, unjust and unnecessary parole denials for serious offenders who are not, or no longer are, dangerous, and replacing mental hospitals with prison time is bankrupting us.
Dear Tony,
How much did your grandstanding cost the State taxpayers after your successful suit to stop California from entering into a long term power contract?
Instead of securing the lowest rates in the Nation, through 2022, CA now pays the highest rates for power...twice as high as we could have.
Not only does that cost us directly in terms of dollars but it also launched an exodus of businesses, jobs and tax revenues.
My wild guess is that CA's lost about $43B in revenues due to your short-sighted lawsuit. What's your guess?
Tony Strickland - Classic right wing nutjob.
Perhaps we should take another look at 3 strikes and think about giving judges back to power to judge. I think we all remember the story of the guy who stoled a slice of pizza and was put in jail for life due to the 3rd strike. Yes he deserved punishment, but by paying millions of dollars to keep him in prison for life perhaps we are punishing ourselves more than him. Personally I don't care for Mr. Strickland and his wife as their actions have never appeared ethical to me.
Admit it Brian, you're starting to like Tony.
If term limits worked, Tony wouldn't be holding political office now.....it was an insult to everyone when Tony ran his wife for office...typical polititians with overflowing obnoxious egos
TAKE POWER AWAY FROM CIVIL JUDGE KENT KELLEGREW VENTURA COUNTY JUDGE HE WILL CALL YOU NAMES IN CIVIL COURT THANKS FOR EARLY RETIREMENT @ 47 JUDGE NOW I AM COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY
What did he call you?
spineless,liar,recalcitrant,obstinate,obstreperous,deceitful human being. this started when my jewish sister in law signed my mothers name for $20.00 & another for $ 2000.00 they told simi pd he signed the checks however when on the witness stand my brother told the court his wife signed the check he had to re read statements from the police report case # p080434 have all transcripts having strickland write in my be half to judicial commission, they have a demenor code in ca judicial performance handbook& also i am hearing this judge has been removed from the simi valley family court by some attorneys , now he has decisions to make for old people in probate . since younger peoplle know he makes no sense. thanks to all who pay into social security it makes my house payment & some! to seniors do not have your case heard in front of judge kellegrew if u do its called redistribution of wealth i have 24 yrs at a major telcom industry
No judge wants to be in family court. All family court/ probate judges are judges that got in trouble in criminal court or somewhere else.
I had jury duty and I was listening to the radio while driving to the courthouse. On the radio was a judge from Ventura Coutny talking about a case he was handling. It turned out to be the case I was being picked for jury service for. That's one example of judge misconduct I experienced.
Another case is when the Ventura County Star's lawyer (Ron Bamieh) was with the district attorney's office. I was attacked by a police officer in Thousand Oaks. I was arrested for defending myself. Ron Bamieh really wanted to find me guilty because the cops brother was San Francisco's district attorney at the time.
I did a pitches motion so I could look into the police officers employment history and it turned out he attacked atleast two other people walking to their car from restaurants. The same thing that happend to me. The officer was also punished for it in the past.
Judge Steele decided there would be no way the prosecution could win if the defense used that information in court so the judge Steele said I couldn't use it.
I ended up winning anyway and the cop now rides a bicycle instead of in a squad car and his brother is no longer D.A. of San Francisco. It was also discovered that the police were using their friends as ride alongs to make overtime money for other police officers.
Remember that Ron?
Oh yeah another thing:
Judge Steele said he forgot to turn the tape machine on so there was no record of what happend in court that day. That's how bad I beat them. The judge destroyed the court transcripts because it looked so bad.
also he also cost ca state disability over $40,000 for his tirade of name calling thanks again judge kent kellegrew probate judge in ventura ca
shop simi 1st! why does simi contract to a company with out of state plates from tennessee republic electric & terex i spoke to one of their employees at a gas station he said cheeper to register the trucks in tennesee city needs to practice what they preach big ticket items go to thousand oaks for my family sorry called city some civic code for interstate commerce dmv employees getting furloughed