Gretchen Hoffman
For the past year, state Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-La Canada
Flintridge) has made Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson a regular stop on
her rounds to talk to fellow legislators on Capitol Hill.
Her persistent lobbying paid off -- Wesson has named Liu to the
Assembly Budget Education Subcommittee.
For Liu, who will return as the chairwoman of the Assembly's
Higher Education Committee, being a part of the education-funding
decision-making process is more important than ever as the state
battles a $35-billion budget deficit.
"For me, it just makes sense to be part of the budget committee
since the budget is what drives a lot of legislation," she said
Monday. "As far as I'm concerned it should be driven by policy, but
the two are interconnected."
"It's a good time for us to look at how we are doing things since
there isn't enough money in the budget," she added. "The education
part is certainly my priority and I sit on the committee on
transportation, which is a very important issue in my district."
Some changes are in store for Assemblyman Dario Frommer
(D-Glendale) who was replaced on the Budget Committee by
Assemblywoman Lori Hancock (D-Berkeley). Frommer was added to the
Committee on Governmental Organization, which will be charged during
this lean financial stretch with reorganizing operations. The
committee is also tasked with tobacco legislation.
Frommer will continue as the chairman of the Committee on Health,
which he calls "the policy committee with the single biggest
workload."
"It's more about time management, doing your job and still
representing your constituents," he said Monday. "These are both
heavy workload committees. I wanted to focus on the health-care
issues. I'd like to do both, but I have to be realistic in terms of
time."
Assemblyman Keith Richman (R-La Crescenta), who will serve as the
vice chairman of the Committee on Utilities and Commerce, has said he
intends to reintroduce several workers compensation bills that
stalled last session.
Richman's district includes 6% of Glendale and 7% of
unincorporated La Crescenta and Montrose; the remainder of the
unincorporated areas will be served by 59th District Assemblyman
Dennis Mountjoy (R-La Crescenta). Mountjoy will serve as the vice
chairman of the Committee on Housing and Community Development.
