Political Landscape:Good marks in getting bills passed

Scott had 18 of 21 bills that he introduced this session pass through the Senate. Krekorian, who introduced 24 bills this session, had 16 bills move on. Five of Krekorian's remaining bills are two-year bills, which will continue to be debated into the next legislative session. Portantino, now halfway through his first session in the Assembly, had passed eight of 12 bills he introduced as of Thursday afternoon.

Republicans, the minority party, however, saw more of their bills either killed or held in committee. State Sen. Bob Margett, whose district includes La Crescenta, had 10 of 20 bills introduced this session get passed. Assemblyman Anthony Adams, whose district includes La Crescenta, had six of 13 bills introduced this session pass. And Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, whose district includes a portion of Glendale, introduced 13 one-year bills, five of which were passed.

The legislative halfway point is important because it marks the last opportunity for bills to get out of their house of origin. Bills that don't get approval by today will be held.

Bill to combat runaway production

A bill that aims to keep film production from fleeing California, jointly written by Assemblymen Paul Krekorian and Anthony Portantino, whose districts span Glendale, Burbank and a portion of Montrose, and Assemblywoman Karen Bass, passed in the Assembly on Thursday. The bill was cosponsored by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, whose district includes a portion of Glendale.

Specifically, AB 1696 would create a financial assistance program to be administered by the California Film Commission for the production of qualified motion pictures in California. The bill would also require the commission to report annually to the Legislature on the diversity of the workforce employed by qualified motion pictures.

The bill is now headed for the state Senate.

"I am under no illusion that it's going to be an easy fight in the Senate, but it's certainly gratifying to be able to get it out of the Assembly and with bipartisan support from representatives of all areas of California," Krekorian said. "It goes to show that it's not a Los Angeles bill. It's legislation that dramatically affects the economy of the state of California."

The bill aims to keep production projects in California that would otherwise flee to other states and countries that have enacted monetary incentives to lure film and television production to their local economies.