I don't follow the California state legislature as closely as I should. My excuse is that I'm too busy watching Congress and don't have the time. Luckily, here in California we have the Courage Campaign doing to job for us. This week they released their latest assessment of how the individual members of the state legislature are doing. When they sent it out yesterday, they noted that "Throughout their time in office, legislators are faced with so many issues that directly affect the well-being of all California communities: from criminal justice to workplace safety to the environment and more. As your representative, it’s their job to vote in line with your interests on issues to make our state a safe and happy home for everyone. Especially with a elected Democratic, veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature and a Governor who ran on a bold, progressive agenda, we must lead the nation forward and show that progressive policies work for all of us. We'll never address the challenges Californians face-- including skyrocketing housing costs, a health care system that puts profits over patients, gross overspending in our broken mass incarceration system, and a deeply underfunded education system-- unless elected officials are truly held accountable to the people in the nation's most progressive state."Let's look at the Assembly first. There are only 18 Republicans left. One is too new to be rated and the other 17 have all been scored with "F." Among the Democrats six have A+ scores-- Ash Kalra (eastern San Jose), David Chiu (eastern San Francisco), Kevin McCarty (Sacramento), Mark Stone (Santa Cruz, Monterey), Reggie Jones-Sawyer (South L.A.), Rob Bonta (Oakland, Alameda, San Leandro) and Wendy Carrillo (Highland Park, East L.A.). Those are the best members of the Assembly. How about the worst ones-- the ones who are, in all but name, Republicans? 15 Democrats-- the so-called "mod squad"-- have the same "F" grades as the Republicans do, generally a corrupt bunch of worthless conservatives who take money from big oil, charter schools and other special interests (bolden names are in the Hall of Shame, the legislators who are the biggest bribe-takers in Sacramento):
• Tom Daly- Anaheim, Santa Ana• Tim Grayson- Vallejo, Concord, Martinez• Sharon Quirk-Silva- Fullerton, Buena Park, Cypress• Sabrina Cervantes- Jurupa Valley, Norco, Corona, El Cerrito• Rudy Salas- Hanford, Wasco, Bakersfield• Patrick O'Donnell- Long Beach• Melissa Melendez- Lake Elsinore, Marieta, Wildomar• Ken Cooley- Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Carmichael• Joaquin Arambula- Fresno• Jim Frazier- Vacaville, Antioch• Jim Cooper- Elk Grove, Lodi• Freddie Rodriguez- Ontario, Pomona, Chino• Brian Maienschien- Rancho Santa Fe, Poway, Carmel Valley• Al Muratsuchi- Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach• Adam Gray- Modesto, Merced, Los Banos
Now the state Senate, where there are only 11 Republicans still standing. Two are too new to be rated and the other 9 have "F." Among the Democrats four have A+ scores-- Bill Monning (San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Paso Robles), Hanna-Beth Jackson (Santa Barbara), Holly Mitchell (Culver City, Madera Height, DTLA, South L.A.), Mike McGuire (Arcata, Eureka, Fort Bragg, Santa Rosa, Marin County) and Toni Atkins (San Diego, La Jolla, Solano Beach)-- the best members of the Senate. And now the worst, the bribe-taking DINOs-- if fact Steve Glazer is generally considered the overall worst and most corrupt member of the state legislature:Steve Glazer (feh!)
• Steve Glazer- Concord, Walnut Creek, Livermore• Richard Roth- Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona• Cathleen Galgiani- Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, Manteca• Anna Caballero- Merced, Madera, Los Banos, Salinas, Coalinga
Something good to keep in mind if any of your legislators happen to be among the very best or the very worst.