Liu

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) and Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) received honors recently. Portantino was named Legislator of the Year by the Junior Leagues of California, recognizing his introduction of several bills during the past several years in areas of health, education and violence prevention. Liu was named Senator of the Year by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and Chancellor's Office for being a longtime advocate for community colleges.

State lawmakers representing Glendale and Burbank said Gov. Jerry Brown's inaugural speech on Jan. 4 set the tone for what will prove an austere year in the state capitol. State Sen. Carol Liu (D- La Cañada Flintridge) said Brown is better able than his predecessor to lead California out of the depths of what is now estimated to be a $28-billion budget deficit. "I thought it was very refreshing to have somebody just speak the truth and make a plea that we Californians need to solve these issues," Liu said.

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) - faced with being termed out of office next year - is seeking the endorsements of two local Democratic organizations for a run at state Sen. Carol Liu's seat in a newly redrawn district. Portantino's move into the state Senate race for the 25th District - which includes Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena - is a marked shift from his stance in June, when he said he planned to run in Rep. David Dreier's San Gabriel Valley district.

State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) introduced legislation Tuesday to increase cooperation between the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Angeles National Forest. Liu's bill, SB 238, would allow the superintendent of the Angeles National Forest to vote as a conservancy board member on projects located in or adjacent to the forest and projects that would substantially affect the forest. Currently, forest superintendent Thomas Contreras is a non-voting board member of the conservancy.

Christopher McWhorter is one face of the state budget crisis, as state Sen. Carol Liu (D-Glendale) learned Thursday. McWhorter, 37, is bedridden because of muscular dystrophy. Sixteen hours a week, workers paid through the California Department of Health Services provide care and monitor the oxygen tanks and IV drip by his bed. But the company that provides McWhorter's aides hasn't been paid since mid-August. The owner said her business is in jeopardy because of what has become a nearly three-month budget stalemate between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature.

State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) has been named to three important education-related committees on Capitol Hill, putting her in a prime position as she prepares to guide legislation down winding paths where allies are needed at every curve. A former public school teacher and administrator, Liu was already chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee before the latest round of committee assignments last week. While Dan Schnur, director of USC's Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, said the appointments wouldn't directly impact the senator's ability to get education legislation passed, they couldn't hurt.

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. “That doesn't mean the governor will sign them,” Liu said.

With thousands of students unable to get the classes they need, state Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) on Monday touted legislation that would force those entering the community college system to have an education plan - and stick with it. Speaking at Glendale Community College, Liu said the legislation she c-authored - and which is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature - would support students at the front-end of their education by making...

State lawmakers said this week that despite complaints from local officials, they are willing to help cities stymied by the end of redevelopment through the dissolution process - if they ask. During a City Hall meeting last week, city and Los Angeles County officials charged with overseeing the end of local redevelopment criticized Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) and Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) for not doing enough to help Glendale through a confusing and frustrating dissolution process.

State Sen. Carol Liu could do little to assuage fears about funding cuts during a recent address to local education officials, describing them as “heartbreaking.” She also warned of competing November ballot tax initiatives that could end up doing more harm to public school funding. The California Legislature has adopted budgets during the last three years that have resulted in $26 billion in cuts to public services, Liu said during the Glendale Unified school board meeting Tuesday.

“Twenty-four percent of the California Legislature are women. It's a hard job. No one wants to go to Sacramento,” said Senator Carol Liu. “But it's a place where power sits and policy is made. It's a place where you can make a difference.” Liu's remarks opened a reception honoring the 2013 Women of the Year in honor of Women's History Month. On Friday Liu's gracious La Cañada garden was the late-afternoon setting for the recognition of the honorees from the 25th Senate District, which Liu represents.

State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) has been named to three important education-related committees on Capitol Hill, putting her in a prime position as she prepares to guide legislation down winding paths where allies are needed at every curve. A former public school teacher and administrator, Liu was already chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee before the latest round of committee assignments last week. While Dan Schnur, director of USC's Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, said the appointments wouldn't directly impact the senator's ability to get education legislation passed, they couldn't hurt.

State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) has been named to three important education-related committees on Capitol Hill, putting her in a prime position as she prepares to guide legislation down winding paths where allies are needed at every curve. A former public school teacher and administrator, Liu was already chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee before the latest round of committee assignments last week. While Dan Schnur, director of USC's Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, said the appointments wouldn't directly impact the senator's ability to get education legislation passed, they couldn't hurt.

State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) introduced legislation Tuesday to increase cooperation between the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Angeles National Forest. Liu's bill, SB 238, would allow the superintendent of the Angeles National Forest to vote as a conservancy board member on projects located in or adjacent to the forest and projects that would substantially affect the forest. Currently, forest superintendent Thomas Contreras is a non-voting board member of the conservancy.

State lawmakers said this week that despite complaints from local officials, they are willing to help cities stymied by the end of redevelopment through the dissolution process - if they ask. During a City Hall meeting last week, city and Los Angeles County officials charged with overseeing the end of local redevelopment criticized Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) and Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) for not doing enough to help Glendale through a confusing and frustrating dissolution process.

State Sen. Carol Liu teamed up with 10-year-old Gerry Orz on Wednesday to talk about the bullying that plagues local schools. As a third-grader in the San Gabriel Unified School District last year, Gerry was bullied for having two moms and for being too tall, among other things. “Kids would kick him to the ground. His pants were torn up,” his mother, Kate Orz, said. But Gerry didn't say a word on Wednesday because he had taken a daylong vow of silence to honor those who suffered from bullying this year.

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. “That doesn't mean the governor will sign them,” Liu said.

Local Democratic incumbents for state offices and the U.S. House easily cleared challenges from their Republican opponents Tuesday. Even in the hotly contested race for the 43rd Assembly District, incumbent Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) never lost a comfortable lead over Republican challenger Greg Krikorian, a Glendale school board member, as the election returns -- hampered by fog and air transit delays -- trickled in well past midnight. With all precincts reporting, Gatto won the district with 60.5% of the electorate, or 72,797 votes to Kirkorian's 47,615, according to the California Secretary of State.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) is maintaining his lead over Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian, with the incumbent garnering 15,340 votes to his Republican challenger's 13,209. But with just one precinct reporting, the vote tallies could still take a wild swing, according to the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder. With eight precincts reporting in the 25th District for state Senate, Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) is holding on to her lead, 37,884 votes to the 29,687 garnered by her Republican challenger Gilbert Gonzales, according to the California Secretary of State.

Incumbent Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) leads his Republican challenger, Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian, in the first round of election returns -- 14,871 votes to 13,145. The race for the 43rd Assembly District is expected to be most hotly contested tonight, with the region's other incumbents also polling well ahead of their challengers. State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) has 36,366 of the votes, compared to 28,182 for her Republican challenger, Gilbert Gonzales, according to the California Secretary of State.