Vote effort targets Asian American groups

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center has launched a campaign aimed at increasing  voter turnout among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in the Los Angeles area.

"Your Vote Matters! 2012" includes 13 community-based organizations and five youth groups representing nine Asian ethnicities in Southern California, the center announced Tuesday.

The campaign includes a special push for Prop. 30, the governor-backed tax measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Center Executive Director Stewart Kwoh noted that the Asian American population in California had grown by more than 33% in the last decade--the highest percentage of any group--according to U.S. Census data.

"But even though we made up over 15% of the state's population and are voting in greater numbers than we ever have before," Kwoh said in a statement, "our voices have yet to be fully heard at the ballot box."

The center hopes to change that by "providing our communities with personal encouragement to vote and key information about what's at stake in this election," Kwoh said.

The center also plans to again monitor polling sites to ensure Asian Americans can carry out their right to vote, especially those needing help with translations and other language assistance.

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--Jean Merl

Photo: Asian Pacific American Legal Center logo. Credit: APALC

 

 

 

 

Democrats Berman, Sherman step up fight over GOP supporters

If the spectacle of two career Democrats going at it over bragging rights to Republican support seems odd to you, blame it on California’s new elections system, which sent some candidates from the same party to  duke it out in the fall. 

Those candidates, needing to reach beyond their traditional bases, are scrambling for voters outside their own party. And the competition for opposite-party support has reached ferocious proportions in the high-spending, nationally watched clash between seasoned Democratic Reps. Brad Sherman and Howard Berman. 

The onetime allies have been battling over the same San Fernando Valley congressional seat since new political maps put their homes into the same district.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district 48% to 26%, with  21% of voters unaffiliated with any party. Both candidates have stepped up their wooing of voters not traditionally prone to supporting   Democrats when they had an alternative.

Earlier this week, Berman, who finished 10 points behind top vote-getter Sherman in the seven-candidate primary, trotted out endorsements from nationally prominent Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The senators said they liked Berman because he could garner bipartisan support to get things done.

 Sherman said it was because Berman had gone along with the their hawkish stance on Iraq. And on Wednesday Sherman unveiled a list of area Republican officeholders who are backing him because of what he has done to help Valley constituents. He cited Assemblyman Cameron Smyth of Santa Clarita and L.A. City Councilman Mitch Englander, among others.

Alleging in a written statement that the senators had applauded Berman’s “early efforts” to give President Bush “the full authority to invade Iraq,” Sherman said he was “proud to have the endorsement of every Republican elected official who lives in or near the San Fernando Valley.”

Not three hours later, the Berman campaign released its own -- longer -- list of area GOP officeholder supporters, including Reps. Ed Royce of Fullerton and Elton Gallegly of Simi Valley and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. The Berman campaign also pointed out that Sherman too had voted to go to war with Iraq.

“Democrats and Republicans are supporting Howard because he is the Valley’s workhorse,” Berman campaign strategist Brandon Hall said in a statement released with the GOP supporters list. He called Berman “a leader who always delivers for his community and country.”

And just so unaffiliated voters won't feel left out, each candidate also produced an "independent" elected official -- Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman for Berman and L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine for Sherman.

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-- Jean Merl

Photo: Reps. Brad Sherman, left, and Howard Berman at a candidates forum earlier this year. Credit: Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times

 

 

 

 

 

Democrat Sherman gets backing from local Republican lawmakers

Rep. Brad Sherman, hoping to counter his fellow Democrat rival's backing from nationally prominent Republicans, on Wednesday touted endorsements from local GOP lawmakers.

Claiming to be endorsed "by every Republican official who lives in or near the San Fernando Valley,"  Sherman engaged in some oneupmanship with Rep. Howard Berman, who is competing with him this fall for the same San Fernando Valley congressional district seat.

Sherman backers include Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander, and his predecessor, Greig Smith, plus Burbank City Councilman Gary Bric and Assemblyman Cameron Smyth of Santa Clarita. That's a short list because much of the L.A. area, like the 30th Congressional District that Sherman and Berman are battling over, is strongly Democratic.

But Berman and Sherman have been courting GOP and non-affiliated voters since redrawn political maps put their homes in the same district and the state's new elections system allowed members of the same party to advance to the general election.

Earlier this week, Berman won backing from Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. 

Berman also got the endorsement of Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, a former Democrat who turned independent. Sherman had a counter for that one too--L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine, who is registered as declining to state a party affiliation.

The Sherman campaign dismissed Berman's endorsers as stemming from his "early efforts to give George W. Bush the full authority to invade Iraq" and said local support is more important.

"These officials--unlike Berman's GOP supporters--are not focused on foreign policy," Sherman said in a statement announcing his endorsements. "Instead, they back me because of my record of delivering for the Valley and fighting for fiscal responsibility."

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-- Jean Merl

Photo: Reps. Howard Berman, left, and Brad Sherman at a candidates forum early this year. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

California Rep. Laura Richardson on watchdog's 'most corrupt' list

A Washington government watchdog group has named Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Long Beach) to its list of "most corrupt members of Congress," while two other California lawmakers earned "dishonorable mention."

In naming Richardson to its annual list of 12 "most corrupt," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) cited her recent House reprimand and fine for illegally requiring her congressional staff to work on her reelection campaign at taxpayer expense.

Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) were among eight House members awarded dishonorable mention by CREW.  

Issa was cited for disclosing material from a sealed wiretap application during his "politically motivated" questioning of Atty. Gen. H. Eric Holder Jr. in hearings about the bungled Operation Fast and Furious program, CREW said. McKeon earned his place on the list for receiving a "sweetheart mortgage deal" from discredited subprime lender Countrywide Financial.

A spokeswoman for McKeon said the designation was based on false allegations over matters that McKeon has been open and transparent about, calling CREW a biased organization trying to stir up drama before the election.

Neither Richardson nor Issa could not be reached for immediate comment Wednesday.

All three are seeking reelection this fall. Richardson is in a particularly tough race with fellow Democratic Rep. Janice Hahn of San Pedro.

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-- Jean Merl

Photo: Rep. Laura Richardson earlier this year. Credit: Associated Press

Jerry Brown signs law protecting Sikhs, Muslims, from workplace bias

California employers face new restrictions against shunting Sikh and Muslim workers to backroom jobs out of public view based on their wearing of turbans, beards and hijabs, under a law signed Saturday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

"This bill, AB 1964, makes it very clear that wearing any type of religious clothing or hairstyle, particularly such as Sikhs do, that that  is protected by law and nobody can discriminate against you because of that," Brown told some 400 Sikhs and supporters at a rally of the North American Punjabi Assn. on the steps of the Capitol.

Brown also signed SB 1540, which requires the state Board of Education to consider a new history framework for schools that the governor said will include "the role and contributions of the Sikh community in California."

A series of court cases have muddied the water on what employers must do to accommodate the religious practices of workers, and the new state law clarifies the requirements, said Rajdeep Singh, director of law and policy for the Sikh Coalition. The new law does not guarantee a positive outcome  for workers but requires employers to meet a higher standard of objectively showing how religious accommodation would be a significant hardship,  Singh said.

"It’s needed because Sikhs and other religious minorities continue to experience job discrimination on account of their religion," Singh said.

The new law restricts employers from segregating an employee from customers and the public as a means of accommodating the employee’s religious beliefs. It clarifies that employers must accommodate a worker’s religious practices unless it creates "significant difficulty or expense" for the employer. It also specifies that religious dress and grooming qualify as protected religious observances, according to Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada (D-Davis), who wrote the bill.

“This to me is like the Rosa Parks issue of the 21st century,” Yamada added.  “An employee should not have to work in the back of the store in order to observe his or her faith.”

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-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Photo: Kirpajot Singh, 6, of Westlake Village gets help last month with his turban from Taranjot Singh, 16, before the start of services at the Khalsa Care Foundation, a Sikh temple in Pacoima. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

 

San Diego's largest newspaper to offer pointers to GOP candidates

 

Since taking over the former San Diego Union-Tribune in 2011, developer Douglas Manchester has been clear about his political views.

The New York Times recently described the publisher of the paper, which has since been renamed to the U-T San Diego, as “anti-big government, anti-tax and anti-gay marriage. And he’s in favor of a remade San Diego centered around a new downtown waterfront stadium and arena.”

Now, the paper’s top brass is hosting a media training for Republican candidates, giving them pointers on “how to get noticed by the press, how to craft a press release” and tips on how to pick up the paper’s endorsement.

The Republican Party of San Diego County sent out the invite to the event, which will be held on Tuesday night at the paper’s headquarters (business attire requested). County GOP chairman Tony Krvaric will also be on hand for the festivities.

The invite promises a tour of the paper’s newsroom and television studio, a chance to meet the  company’s chief executive and the paper’s editor and a chance to learn more about the paper, which is referred to as “a one-stop shop for candidates.”

Calls to Chief Executive John Lynch’s office were not immediately returned.

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Brown signs bills on tenant rights, electronic records, fan safety

California landlords will no longer be able to require rent to be paid online, drivers will be able to show police their proof of insurance on their smartphone and sports fans will be given a little more protection at football and baseball stadiums under bills signed into law Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

With hundreds of pieces of legislation on his desk, Brown signed 59 bills Friday, including a measure by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) that prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to make rental payments electronically.

Lieu said many tenants do not have access or knowledge about computers, so they should be allowed to pay by paper check or money order.

“The elderly, disabled and poor -- or someone who simply wants to keep their options open, can now be assured paying rent online is but one option open to them," Lieu said after the signing of his SB 1055. That bill and others signed Friday take effect Jan. 1, 2013.  

Brown also signed a measure allowing motorists who are pulled over by the police to show their proof of insurance on an electronic device, such as an iPhone. Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) introduced the measure, saying it provided convenience for motorists in an increasingly paperless society. Idaho and Arizona already have laws similar to Gattto’s AB 1708.

The governor also put his signature to a measure requiring professional sports arenas and stadiums to post notices visible from seating and parking areas providing contact information to summon security. Gatto introduced AB 2464 after a series of violent incidents, including the serious injury of a Giants fan in a beating at Dodger Stadium.

Another bill signed by Brown requires parents to get a doctor’s permission before an infant 1 month old or younger can get a work permit to be featured in a television show or other entertainment. An Assembly committee drafted AB 2396.

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-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Dispute helped sideline California sanctuary bill for illegal immigrants

A difference of opinion in the immigrant-rights community appears to have contributed to the demise of  state legislation that would have provided a safe haven in California for those who came to the country illegally but have otherwise obeyed the law.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar) introduced a bill that would have provided a sanctuary in the state for many immigrants who came to California illegally before 2008.

SB 901 was supported by immigrant rights groups including the Central American Resource Center and Hermandad Mexicana, but it never received a final vote as the Legislature ended its session Aug. 31. The bill ran into concerns by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), which worried about a requirement for undocumented immigrants to register with the state Department of Justice, officials said.

"We met with MALDEF several times about SB 901 where they expressed concerns over privacy issues related to the legislation," said Ben Golombek, a spokesman for Fuentes. He said legislators asked the group to provide amendments to address their concerns.

"Unfortunately we never received anything from them," Golombek said. "It’s disappointing that instead of taking an opportunity to constructively participate in the process and address their concerns, they chose to lobby against the bill." 

Thomas A. Saenz, the president and general counsel for MALDEF, said his group was neutral on the bill, but that he told Fuentes’ office that there were constitutional problems in having the state register, track and do background checks on immigrants. "That is a federal responsibility," Saenz said. The attorney said he told Fuentes’ staff that the problem could be fixed by taking out the requirement that immigrants register with the state Justice Department.

But there appears to have been another complication as well. The Legislature had approved a separate bill known as the Trust Act, that would prohibit local authorities from complying with federal detention requests against suspected illegal immigrants except when a suspect has been charged with a serious or violent crime.

Saenz said the Trust Act was his group’s priority because, unlike SB 901, it did not require the "politically dicey" act of getting the federal government to agree to a new scheme.

One source in the middle of the talks said there was concern by some in the immigrant community that if Gov. Jerry Brown also received SB 901, he might have signed that one and vetoed the Trust Act as less far-reaching. In the end, SB 901 never reached the Senate floor.

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-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Photo: A group of men who were deported from the U.S. last year wait outside a government office in Mexicali, Mexico. Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

 

Advocates don't want to mix tax dollars with movie smoking

There are plenty of people arguing that the Hollywood tax credits approved by lawmakers last week won't help California's economy. But there's also another reason some people oppose the bill.

The American Lung Assn. in California says the bill shouldn't become law until it prevents the state from subsidizing movies that showcase smoking.

"We believe that continuing the practice of using state dollars to subsidize movies that depict harmful levels of smoking is contrary to California's body of law and policies aimed at reducing smoking and the negative health and economic impacts on the state," wrote Kimberly Weich Reusche, a vice president at the association, in a letter to lawmakers in May.

The letter said lawmakers should “align public film subsidies with public health evidence and goals.”

The association's argument didn't sink the bill in the Legislature, and it's unclear if it will have an impact on Gov. Jerry Brown, who will sign or veto the measure.

Evan Halper wrote about the Hollywood tax credits in Thursday's Los Angeles Times. Supporters say the credits will help prevent movie industry jobs from leaving California, but opponents say it's a poor use of tax money.

"The state is using money it then can't use for other things, like education, transportation and healthcare, which also create jobs and economic growth," said Nicholas Johnson, vice president for state fiscal activity at the Center for Budget Policy and Priorities, a liberal think tank in Washington, D.C.

ALSO:

A conservative assemblyman gets in his right jabs

As Gov. Jerry Brown considers bills, campaign cash pours in

Watchdog agency approves $49,000 in fines against Proposition 8 campaign

-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento
twitter.com/chrismegerian

Photo: A woman smokes a cigarette in a park in 2009. Credit: Mario Tama / Getty Images

Teachers union gives another $6.9 million to Prop. 32 fight

California's largest teachers union is literally doubling down to fight Proposition 32, the November ballot measure that promises to eliminate special-interest money in politics.

On Wednesday, the California Teachers Assn. contributed $6,950,000 to the labor-backed opposition campaign, bringing the grand total of its donations to more than $16 million, according to records filed with the secretary of state's office. In all, unions have raised more than $35.7 million to defeat Proposition 32.

The measure would prohibit both unions and corporations from contributing directly to candidates. The initiative would also ban the practice of political contribution by payroll deduction, a provision that labor leaders say would disproportionately harm unions since that is the primary method labor organizations use to raise political cash.

Good government groups, including the  League of Women Voters of California and Common Cause, also oppose the measure.

The “Yes on 32” campaign counters that the payroll provision is a way to “empower employees” and union members while curtailing the influence of special interests. Supporters say that if the measure passes, employees would still be able to make political contributions to their employer or union as long as the money is not automatically deducted but given with written consent.

In all, the "Yes on 32" campaign has raised more than $3.1 million, records show. More than half of that came from GOP rainmaker Charles Munger Jr., television tycoon A. Jerrold Perenchio and Thomas Siebel, the founder of C3 and Siebel Systems.

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Unions raise nearly $10 million to fight Prop. 32

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Bid to curb union spending gets big Democratic backer

-- Michael J. Mishak in Sacramento

Twitter.com/mjmishak