Could you live on a $20 food stamp budget for a week?

SACRAMENTO, CA — In an effort to help raise hunger awareness in the face of a state budget crisis, Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) is taking on the “Food Stamp Challenge” for the 3rd year in a row – her second as a state legislator.  The Challenge asks participants to live for one week on the nation's average weekly food stamp benefit of $4 per day or $1.33 per meal.  Yamada will also blog about her experiences while taking the Challenge.

Women, children and students are the primary recipients of services the governor proposes to cut or eliminate.  And, since the majority of workers providing these services are women, hundreds of thousands of women stand to lose their jobs under the governor’s budget proposals.

The governor has proposed:

SACRAMENTO, CA —Democratic women legislators rallied with impacted women and grassroots supporters at the State Capitol today, calling on the governor to stop targeting women, children, and students with the pain of cuts to balance the budget.  They also urged the governor to postpone his trip to China and stay in the state until a fair and responsible budget is enacted.

The Legislative Women’s Caucus mourns the passing of Jenny Oropeza; she was a champion for women’s issues and she will be deeply missed.  Her advocacy on behalf of women and children set her apart from so many legislators because she fought for families with such passion.  Her vigilance in ensuring equal rights for women and girls in athletics should be noted, she consistently carried legislation to make sure women and girls had equal opportunity to play sports.  Jenny’s efforts to make sure all women receive appropriate mammograms have probably saved many lives.  She wa

In meetings with both Senate President Pro Tem Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Pérez, Women’s Caucus members discussed policy priorities, including the budget, women in the workplace, paid family leave, military families, aging women, and women in the media. 

The Centennial celebration of Women’s Suffrage in California on March 7, 2011 was a great success.  The event included an exhibition in the Capitol’s second floor rotunda.  An estimated 100 guests joined LWC Members at a reception honoring the following recipients of “Women of Distinction” awards:  California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, Adjutant General Mary Kight, Board of Equalization Members Betty Yee and Miche

Members of the Legislature came together on April 27, 2011, wearing their “dungarees” as Assemblyman Tom Amniano called them, to support sexual assault awareness month.  Each year since 1999 the Legislative Women’s Caucus has commemorated Denim Day in April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Why Denim?

Assemblymembers Halderman and Lowenthal and Senator Fuller co-authored Assembly Bill 15 (Swanson) - The Abolition of Child Commerce, Exploitation, and Sexual Slavery (ACCESS) Act of 2011.  This measure increases the fine against an adult convicted for paying for the sexual services of a minor from $5,000 to $25,000. Those funds would be directed to provide sexually exploited minors access to education, counseling and shelter.  This measure was signed by the Governor on July 12, 2011

The Conversation: The fingerprint fraud - Regs run amok: An occasional series

From the very start, the sales pitch promised too much.