SENATOR MAKES “WHISTLE STOP”* [Revised by the Senator’s office staff]
On Thursday, February 29, Republican Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh hosted her 39th Town Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mentone’s Senior Center and Library, which was attended by some 40-50 people, most from outside of Mentone. Running for reelection, the Senator stated her positions on various items, beginning with upcoming redistricting: every 10 years every seat/district is redrawn, she said. Further elaborating, she said that odd numbered districts such as hers – the 23rd – run for reelection one year and two years later the even-numbered districts run for reelection. Now she will have 35 cities and communities, comprising 1.2 million people. She lamented the fact that of 40 senators, only 8 are Republican, but that she attempts to work across the aisle where possible.
In 2022 she didn’t like the bills that were proposed; she learned that communities did not know about such bills until they were made law, and special interest groups only give their own information, so she decided to have Town Halls to educate her constituents. The Inland Empire is the fastest growing region in the state, and 5th fastest in the nation, she stated, and the people have the power to change Sacramento, by knowing what’s going on and putting pressure on legislators. We need change by the people and with people, she continued. She said our voices, cumulatively, are powerful and encouraged parents to bring their kids to Town Halls, and that some legislators don’t believe in what they are doing but their constituents demand those actions. She also stated that her policy consultants look at bills including those regarding the Senate’s budget: senators can submit up to 40 bills in two years and, given the number of senators and assemblymembers, that can add up to 5,600 bills in that amount of time. She mentioned sending her “look ahead” E-blast for bills and policies in her e-mails to interested parties.
As a teacher, her focus area in the Senate is education. In the past, she had also addressed housing, human resources and public safety, stating that many issues are interrelated. She is pursuing two bills and attempting to fix two bills. California revamped the high school math curriculum, lowering the standards because students weren’t passing and graduating; “they moved the goal posts” in order to accommodate Black and Brown students so they could graduate. Now they can’t make it in college, which requires more training, she continued, because California is “dumbing down” its math curriculum. As a result, U.S. companies are importing workers because the U.S.’s standards of knowledge are too low. One of her bills seeks to add higher professors and parity between K-12 books with non-invested publishers on the board that decides the curriculum. “Race is not an issue,” the 51-year-old daughter of impoverished Mexican immigrants said, and she continued that she was thankful for adversity and that opportunity makes a refined spirit and soul.
“If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear,” was one of her more memorable statements.
In the Q&A period, an audience member attempted to discuss a problem in Bloomington. They were asked to remain after the meeting. Another, a 5th-generation local general farmer lamented
the Asian fruit fly invasion and resulting quarantine and asked for financial assistance. The Senator responded that she is working on obtaining grants to help, and is asking for $45 million in a bill for farmers, particularly for small-scale farmers, and the farmer stated that the quarantine is for all crops, not just citrus.
Another audience member asked about Measure W [Ed.’s Note: the gentleman was referred to this paper’s previous article]; the Senator said that wasn’t a State issue. The Senator also stated that she doesn’t support legislation against all guns because most who use them in crimes are not law-abiding citizens.
Another in the audience lamented that those who buy bullion in order to hedge against inflation under a certain amount have to pay sales tax which other states don’t charge. One member brought up illegal immigration: the Senator stated that California is very generous but we lack money for our own. As to subsidized health care, she stated, there has been no raise in reimbursement in 20 years. Thus, medical personnel and hospitals are unable to afford to care for citizens and three hospitals have closed, leaving a deficit in trained health care workers; we should have 50 per 100,000 residents but at present we only have 35/100,000. She mentioned $125 million in loans for needy hospitals, some of which out-of-state hospitals are subsidizing as part of their network but if there is no network the hospital closes. The Senate passed a bill to increase aid to hospitals but the Governor wouldn’t sign it. Hospitals have been asked to reinforce seismic according to standards, she mentioned, and an incentive would be offering to pay student loans for graduates who work in communities in the Inland Empire as California is one of the highest-taxed States. Schools also aren’t fully funded. “We must take care of our own first; we can’t take care of [illegal] immigrants,” she further stated
Another audience member inquired about how to deal with street people, who can be increased with elderly people who can’t afford the high cost of living expenses. The Senator mentioned converting empty warehouses to shelters. The State spent $23 Billion addressing homelessness and audited it to see which programs worked. The Democrats wanted to house people first and then give other help; they offered vouchers with no commitment from the persons helped. The Republicans, she stated, wanted to compel the unhoused to get treatment, not addressing opioids and behavioral health. The San Francisco Mayor suggested housing and requiring a commitment to get help.
Addressing why housing is so expensive, she said development policies increase the cost of living: solar panels and all-electric housing. Additionally, she stated that CEQA is too convoluted and controls development; it needs revising. Another factor was the project labor agreements, which require skilled labor, when unskilled labor exists and apprenticeships could be offered in high schools. “Everyone has a right to work,” she stated. Part of that policy is that contractors have to pay into retirement systems. Things are not going to change unless people get informed and involved.
Another audience member lamented that the election system fails to protect the sovereign vote, mentioning HAVA procedures.