Sign up for our eNewsletterThe past couple of months have been incredibly busy in the state Capitol as I’ve transitioned from rank-and-file member of the Senate to the 48th Senate President pro tempore — a fancy mouthful of a title that simply means “leader.”
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni Before I entered public service in the 1990s as an aide to Christine Kehoe — who was then a member of the San Diego City Council — I served as director of clinic services at Womancare Health Center. During that time, I saw firsthand how important it is […]
California’s economy continues to be strong, and that’s reflected in the 2018-19 state budget that Governor Jerry Brown proposed on Jan. 10. The governor’s finance team estimates that the budget will benefit from a surplus of $6.1 billion this year.
By Toni G. Atkins
The Legislature returned to the Capitol on Jan. 3 to start a new session. In addition to the normal business, the Senate is scheduled to hold a vote to elect a new leader, the president pro tem.
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni As we get ready to flip the page to a new calendar year, December is a good time to pause — whenever we can between the hustle and the bustle of the holiday season — and reflect on the year behind us and think ahead to the one […]
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni
Our San Diego River is a jewel — a 52-mile rural and urban waterway running from Julian to Ocean Beach — and for many local residents, it remains undiscovered. I want to do everything I can to help enhance access to the river and continue to protect its entire 440-square-mile watershed.
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni
As this column, derived from my newsletter “Toni Times,” was being prepared, my top-priority bill, SB 2, was still under consideration in the Assembly — the deadline for Senate bills to pass “the other house” is Sept. 15.
SB 2 — the Building Homes and Jobs Act — is part of a package of bills aimed at addressing California’s severe housing crisis. Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, all pledged to make the package a priority during this year’s session’s home stretch.
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni There was reason for celebration on July 17 when the Senate and Assembly worked with Gov. Jerry Brown to pass a package of bills that will extend California’s Cap and Trade program, clean up the air in our communities and continue our leadership role in the fight against […]
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni Friday, March 24, was a good day for California. U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan informed the president that he didn’t have the votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with something that would have been terrible for our state, and the bill was effectively […]
By Toni G. Atkins | Notes from Toni Wow. What an incredible six years this has been. When I was elected to the state Assembly in 2010, I had aspirations to represent the constituents of my district in San Diego the best way I knew how, and to help create more affordable housing, alleviate poverty, expand […]