Its Back to Work in Sacramento

By Mary O’KEEFE

The new year will see a large class of freshman legislature filling the seats in Sacramento. In the November election, the Democrats attained a two-thirds majority in both the senate and the assembly and Assemblymember Mike Gatto is ready to get back to the Sacramento.

“It will be really interesting,” he said of the new legislative make up.

Gatto added the legislature would be looking into the economy, which is foremost on everyone’s mind.
“The economy is starting to pick up, but we don’t want to make the same mistakes as the past,” he said.
During his campaign, Gatto said he would like to look into the tax code. He has yet to decide what legislation he would propose but said it has to be something bold.

“I don’t want it to be something halfway,” he said.

Gatto hopes the new freshman legislature will be able to work together in a bipartisan way. He added there is a deep gully between the two parties but he is “cautiously optimistic” that they can work together.

“I do see a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said concerning the economy.

But for the economy to become stronger, things do have to change.

“We do need to change the status quo,” he said.

Change is not easy for Sacramento, especially when looking at the tax code.

“People are hesitant to embrace a change,” Gatto said. “If we did something bold like get away from income tax in California and change to a tax code [that would be] more fee-based system.”

He pointed out that Texas and Nevada do not have state income tax. Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming are also without state income tax as well, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Gatto is not certain if California would ever be able to follow those states with their tax codes but said, “It would be intriguing.”

He also wants to look into other issues that are inspired by communities. The new Crescenta Valley Dog Park has made him question why other areas, like Glendale, do not have a dog park. He found that many times it comes down to an issue of insurance.

He also wants to look into proposing an insurance pool that would allow cities to work together.

New technology is another area Gatto feels is important to include not only in a new economy but also in taking advantage of technology that can help the state.

“There are balloons that have smoke sensors on them that spot forest fires instantly. I would like to do a pilot program in our district [on that],” said Gatto, whose district includes part of the Angeles National Forest.
This would be a modern day version of the fire lookout towers. The balloon would be a permanent fixture floating above the forest floor.

Education budgets and programs are other areas the legislation will have to be dealt with this year. Gatto said that budgets and programs like career technical schools at junior colleges would be a priority.

It is not unusual that California has a lot of issues that will have to be dealt with when legislators return to work after the holidays. Gatto said he is ready to face the challenges and encourages the community to contact his office with any concerns or suggestions.

Visit http://asmdc.org/members/a43 or call (818) 558-3043.

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You can read this article and more at the Crescenta Valley Weekly by clicking HERE

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   

California lawmakers hug, joke, put off acrimony for another day

By Jim Sanders and Torey Van Oot
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 - 9:55 am

For one glorious day, Capitol bickering gave way to bipartisan hugging, dreaming and back-patting Monday as 39 freshmen were sworn into office with the legislative class of 2013.

No California problem seemed too huge nor any deficit insurmountable on a day set aside for merrymaking as wives, children, aides and colleagues cheered for lawmakers' reciting their oath of office.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto reflected the lighthearted nature of the festivities by standing on the Assembly floor with a bib over his shoulder, gently rocking Evangelina, his 2-month-old daughter.

In the Senate, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg sang merrily while the Sacramento Children's Chorus performed "God Bless America."

In the Assembly, newly elected Democrat Phil Ting said from the dais that he has known openly gay Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez so long that "I can actually remember who his last girlfriend was."

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a joking manner, invited members to the front of the Senate chambers to take their oaths of office.

"Senators elect, please proceed to the bar – not the one up the street," Newsom quipped.

"That's tonight," responded Steinberg, lightheartedly.

Spectators Monday included Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Attorney General Kamala Harris, former Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton and various former legislators.

The Legislature this year has its largest class of freshmen since 1966, a Democratic supermajority in both houses, and it is implementing a voter-approved change permitting new legislators to serve up to 12 years in either house.

Monday also marked the first day that lawmakers could unveil new legislation.

Proposals include bills to repeal a new fire prevention fee, regulate the domestic use of drone aircraft, designate how funds from voter-passed Proposition 39 can be spent, and require public disclosure of chemicals used in fracking, a term for a process of extracting oil and natural gas.

Behind Monday's festivities on the Senate and Assembly floors, political tension lingered. When the Assembly took its first official roll call vote, on house rules for the new session, the measure passed on a nearly party-line vote: Democrats yes, Republicans no.

In a routine vote that typically amounts to unanimous acclimation, the incumbent speaker – Pérez – was re-elected to head the Assembly for another two years. Above the chorus of ayes, however, Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly and at least one other dissenter shouted no.


The Assembly Republican Caucus decided Monday to launch a recount challenging the last-minute Los Angeles County victory of Democrat Steve Fox over Republican Ron Smith, whose lead was overcome Friday, ending in a 145-vote defeat.

"Of course I'm disappointed, but more than that I'm shocked," Smith said Monday.

Fox said he's looking forward, adding, "I'm excited and anxious to get to work."

Steinberg openly discussed Democrats' supermajority Monday, while Pérez did not mention it, stressing bipartisanship instead.

Both legislative leaders pointed to coming challenges, from implementation of federal health care reform to improving public schools, making colleges more affordable and restoring key programs decimated by California's budget crisis.

"For those Republicans who are new to the Assembly, I want to state very clearly that your voice is welcome, your contributions are desired, and your active service is needed," Pérez said.

While Californians do not want Democrats to "burst out the gate" seeking a tax hike, Steinberg said he hopes to use Democrats' supermajority in other beneficial ways, such as by placing an overhaul of the initiative process on the 2014 ballot.

Voters don't want Democrats to "overreach," Steinberg said, but "there is an equally compelling danger. It is the danger of being so cautious, so worried about creating controversy that we fail to take advantage of unprecedented opportunities."

Chino Hills Assemblyman Curt Hagman, an Assembly GOP floor leader, adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

"At the beginning of the session, everyone is moderate, they're saying 'kumbaya, work together,' " he said. "It's not until we get into it that we'll find out if that's the case or not."

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/04/5028573/california-lawmakers-hug-joke.html#storylink=cpy

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto 

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Liu and Gatto look to supermajority

Democrats will have more sway in Sacramento after election, 

but neither incumbent expects absolute power

By Mark Kellam
November 9, 2012 | 6:46 p.m.

With Democrats securing a supermajority in both state houses, Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) and state Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) may find it easier to push their agendas through to the governor’s desk, but they both said they don’t think the party will use the rare power carte blanche to approve tax increases.

Still, it doesn’t mean the lawmakers won’t have an easier time in Sacramento, especially in terms of pushing their respective legislative agendas.

Jerry Brown “That doesn’t mean the governor will sign them,” Liu said. “He’s pretty independent about being a Democrat, so to speak.”

Even so, with a supermajority, Democratic lawmakers can override Gov. Jerry Brown’s vetoes — a power that comes with great responsibility and expectations, Gatto said.

“Expectations can very quickly turn into disappointments,” he said.

Both lawmakers said Democrats need to focus on key issues such as tax reform, job creation and education.

Liu also said legislators should review the initiative process, something Gatto has stressed in the past.

She pointed to several propositions on Tuesday’s ballot that were funded by individuals and groups with deep pockets, but didn’t necessarily have the public’s best interest at heart.

But for all the hubbub over achieving the supermajority, Gatto said it’s a thin one, which will still have a dampening effect.


“The difference between 52 and 54 [seats] is not that great,” he said, referring to the number of Democrats in the Assembly last session compared to how many there are now.

For starters, Gatto, who is the new chairman of the powerful Assembly Appropriations Committee, said he doesn’t think the two-thirds majority will necessarily translate into the same majority on the committee, which handles all legislation involving state funds.

And while lawmakers have clashed in the past when voting on a state budget, Liu said they didn’t squabble as much last year. That’s a trend she expects to continue with a supermajority.

“It’s much more fun for the news folks to bicker and show off,” she said. But “it’s less about show and more about product.”

The benefits of a two-thirds majority will likely come into play most often with procedural issues, Gatto said. For example, if a bill introduced by a Democratic legislator doesn’t meet a deadline as it winds through the Legislature, it may be waived through via the supermajority.

And both legislators reiterated pledges issued during the week among their Democratic colleagues that attempts at bipartisanship would not be abandoned — even if they hold the upper hand.

“[Republicans] still need to be brought in and be part of the solution,” Liu said.

“Within reason, there’s no monopoly on good ideas,” Gatto said. “Good ideas can come from any source.”

Sacramento Bee Analysis: Gatto 2nd Most Independent Democratic Member of Assembly

A thorough data analysis conducted by the Sacramento Bee has concluded that Assemblyman Mike Gatto is the second-most independent thinking democratic legislator in the entire California State Assembly.  Read the story below.

See most, least independent state legislators

By Phillip Reese
preese@sacbee.com

Published: Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 - 5:16 pm

Last Modified: Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 - 10:58 am

Given more than 3,000 chances, a dozen state legislators voted against the majority of their party fewer than 10 times during the 2011-2012 legislative session.

None of the state's 120 legislators voted against the majority of their party on the Senate or Assembly floor more than 10 percent of the time, according to a Bee review of state voting records.

Republicans broke party ranks more often than Democrats, though they had less to lose. Even if all Republicans stand against a bill, it will still pass if Democrats stand united, since Democrats are in the majority. If enough Democrats vote against party lines, on the other hand, a bill can fail, given significant Republican opposition.

These charts show the legislators, by party, who exercised the most party loyalty and independence during the last legislative session. 

For a complete list of Legislators and their party line votes, Click HERE

Read this article and more in the Sacramento Bee by clicking HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silver Lake.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.

Website of Assemblyman Mike Gatto: www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/26/4941626/see-most-least-independent-state.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#mi_rss=Capitol%20and%20California#storylink=cpy

KCET Praises Assemblyman Mike Gatto's efforts to strengthen voting requirements for Constitutional Amendments

California Constitution, Altered Over 500 Times; U.S. Constitution, Only 27

by Jessica Levinson - September 3, 2012 10:00 AM

Last week our state's lower legislative house rejected a bill that would have made it harder to qualify and approve of initiatives that change California's constitution. Assemblyman Mike Gatto, a Democrat from Los Angeles, sponsored the bill that would have made an enormous amount of sense. Let's hope it comes back again, successfully passes both legislative houses, and is signed by the Governor. Here's why.

It is distressingly easy to amend our state constitution through a disturbingly broken process -- the ballot initiative process. A constitution should be a basic governing document. It should be difficult to alter it. It should be altered only after an open, deep, and thorough debate. Ours is not; it has been amended well over 500 times. It is one of the most bloated constitutions in modern history. Compare our state constitution, in existence for 133 years, to our federal constitution, in existence for 223 years: It has been amended only 27 times.

The ballot initiative process simply makes it far too easy to propose, qualify, and pass citizen-initiated laws. Gatto's bill would have required more voter signatures to qualify initiatives. Further, his proposal would have required that constitutional amendments pass by a vote of 55 percent of voters taking part in the election in which the measure appeared on the ballot.

Gatto's proposal was quite rationale. Constitutional amendments should not pass by a simple majority of those who show up to the polls in any given election.

We live in a representative democracy. The ballot initiative process was designed as a safety valve for citizens when the legislative process failed to function properly. Now, because the initiative process is largely dominated by the same special interests we created the process to guard against, both the legislative and initiative processes are in need of serious reform.

Gatto's proposal would have been a step in the right direction.

Jessica Levinson writes about the intersection of law and government. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at Loyola Law School. 

Read this article and more at KCET HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silver Lake.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.

Website of Assemblyman Mike Gatto: www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

The Humane Society of the United States thanks Assembly Appropriations Chair Mike Gatto; Urges Assembly to Approve Legislation to Prohibit Bear and Bobcat Hounding



Submitted by The Humane Society on Aug 15, 2012

The Humane Society of the United States is urging its more than 1.2 million California supporters to contact their member of the California Assembly now that the Appropriations Committee has advanced Senate Bill 1221, authored by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, to the Assembly floor. SB 1221, which passed the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee last month on a vote of 8 to 4 and the California Senate by a vote of 22 to 15 in May, would prohibit the inhumane and unsporting practice of bear and bobcat hounding.

Hounding involves fitting dogs with high‐tech radio devices that allow bear and bobcat trophy hunters to monitor the dogs' movement remotely. Dogs are released to chase frightened wild animals often for miles, across all types of habitat, including forests, private property and into national parks. Dogs pursue their target until the exhausted animal climbs a tree to escape or turns to confront the dog pack. The trophy hunter then kills his cornered prey, often shooting the animal off a tree branch at point-blank range.

“Hounding of bears and bobcats is an archaic practice that belongs in California’s past, not its future,” said Sen. Lieu. “Eighty three percent of Californians oppose hounding, and I urge members of the Assembly to vote in favor of outlawing this inhumane and unnecessary activity.”

“Allowing packs of radio-collared dogs to chase bears and bobcats for miles, only for the terrified and exhausted animal to later be shot out of a tree, is unacceptable,” said Jennifer Fearing, California senior state director for the HSUS. “The Humane Society of the United States thanks Assembly Appropriations Chair Mike Gatto and calls on Californians to engage and urge their Assemblymember to ban this cruel and inhumane practice.”

Facts:

• Fourteen states – including Colorado, , Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington – allow bear hunting but prohibit hounding. Montana’s wildlife management officials consider prohibiting bear hounding a feature of the state’s “fair chase” principles.
• A statewide survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. in 2011 reveals that 83 percent of California voters oppose allowing packs of dogs to chase and kill bears – with 75 percent of voters saying they would support a statewide ballot measure to end this trophy hunting method that puts bears, dogs and other wildlife in jeopardy of serious harm, suffering and death.
• SB 1221 would make California the 15th state to prohibit the hounding of bears and the 14th state to ban the hounding of bobcats.
• Dogs can be struck by vehicles, die from dehydration or as a result of violent confrontations with wildlife, and many are abandoned, which puts a strain on local animal shelters.
• SB 1221 is co-authored by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, Sens. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco and Leland Yee, D-South San Francisco and Assemblymembers Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, Bob Blumenfield, D-Van Nuys, Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park, Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada-Flintridge, Jose Solorio, D-Anaheim and Das Williams, D-Santa Barbara.
• Thousands of Californians including wildlife advocates, ranchers, hunters and landowners have written or called in support of SB 1221, as have dozens of animal protection, wildlife rehabilitation and animal sheltering organizations including The HSUS, Sierra Club California, ASPCA, State Humane Association of California, the Bear League and Wildcare.
• Editorial boards for the Los Angeles Times, the Ventura County Star, the Riverside Press-Enterprise, and the San Jose Mercury News have all called for enactment of SB 1221. The Marin County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles City Council have also passed supportive resolutions.
• The HSUS conducted an analysis of California Department of Fish and Game law enforcement reports from 2007-2012 and found more than 500 incidents related to illegal hounding activities and bear and bobcat poaching. The poaching incidents included houndsmen killing bears to illegally sell parts of the animals on the black market, houndsmen trespassing, poaching bear cubs, hounds attacking livestock and cruelty to hounds. Many of the poaching incidents were also associated with narcotics charges and other illegal activity by houndsmen with prior felony convictions. 

You can read this article and more at the Opposing Views blog by clicking HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and portions of Atwater Village along with the cities of Burbank and Glendale.  His web site is asm.ca.gov/gatto or  e-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call him at (818) 558-3043.

Gatto appointed to Appropriations Committee

The committee sees 80% of all California's new legislation.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake)will have a significant

say in California funding decisions with his new post.

(Photo courtesy of Mike Gatto / August 10, 2012)

By Mark Kellam, mark.kellam@latimes.com

August 11, 2012 | 4:00 p.m.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) was appointed this week as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, where he will have significant sway over funding decisions, including those that could benefit the 43rd district.

House Speaker John Perez made the appointment because Gatto is a “talented legislator” who can gather support from both parties, said Perez' press secretary, John Vigna.

“It's a position that requires someone who is thoughtful, deliberative and has the respect of the members,” Vigna said.

Gatto was first elected to the Legislature in 2010 and is running for re-election in November against Glendale Unified School District Board member Greg Krikorian. The 43rd District has been realigned and now includes La Cañada Flintridge as well as Glendale and Burbank.

Vigna said Perez also wanted someone who could handle difficult situations that can arise during the long committee hearings, which can last 10 to 12 hours and spark intense debate.

Gatto, who serves as Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore in the current session and already sits on the Appropriations Committee, said he's proud to be selected to take the committee's reins and will bring “fiscal-mindedness” to his new post.

“I want to make sure that the fiscal consequences of any action are always understood and taken into consideration,” he said.

The first hearing Gatto will chair will take place Thursday, when the committee will hear 30 bills that have been placed in the “suspense file,” the parking spot for any bill with an annual cost of more than $150,000.

Gatto estimated that around 80% of all bills go through the Appropriations Committee. He said he wants to make sure he treats lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fairly

“There's no monopoly on good ideas,” he said.

You can read this article and more in the Glendale News Press by clicking HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and portions of Atwater Village along with the cities of Burbank and Glendale and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, North Hollywood, and Van Nuys.  His web site is asm.ca.gov/gatto or  e-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call him at (818) 558-3043.