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Silver anniversary marks golden opportunity for neglected children
by Carol R. Thomas
TEMECULA, Calif. —Twenty-five years ago Randy and Donna Denham began a ministry to serve abused and neglected children. The couple opened their doors to six girls and named the new agency Thessalonika Family Services, building on Paul’s charge to the Thessalonians to care for widows and orphans. Since then, Thessalonika has expanded to a three-pronged, Christ-centered ministry. Although the original home is no longer in operation, the agency purchased 12 acres in Temecula’s wine country. The facility, named Rancho Damacitas, is home to the agency’s main campus and houses 36 children in six cottages. In addition, Rancho Jireh provides foster homes for 32 children throughout southwestern Riverside and northern San Diego counties. The Thessalonika Transitional Living Facility completes the picture by filling the gap between emancipation at age 18 and adulthood.
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| California Legislative News |
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OPINION
The Legislature: a year marred with failure
by Everett Rice
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Since the August end of the legislative session—the two-year cycle in which the California State Legislature conducts its legislative business—the Legislature, as well as the state, has been focused on the budget impasse.
The constitutional deadline to enact the California state budget is July 1 of every year. As the end of session approached, even with the budget already two months overdue, no sense of urgency was evident. Legislators were resigned to blame the other party and the governor for their own failure to act.
On the final day of the 2007-2008 legislative cycle, bipartisan leaders of both houses thanked and congratulated their caucuses for the fine work they had done. In the midst of all the backslapping and pleasantries, the reality of a failed year could not be hidden. For the first time in California history, the official legislative session ended, without a spending plan in place.
Granted, previous legislators had not faced a $15.2 billion deficit with very few options (the result of excessive borrowing and bond indebtedness, caused by previous governors and legislators).
However, the inability of our elected officials to work together for the betterment of all Californians is the actual cause of this year’s failure.
Once again, as the budget deadline was approaching, very little movement toward a commonsense compromise was forthcoming. While there were serious differences between the majority (Democrats) party and the minority (Republicans) party and the governor, those differences do not excuse their lack of action. While Democrats desire to address the deficit through tax increases, Republicans through borrowing and cuts to spending, and the governor through granting him more executive power, each preferred attempts to pressure one another rather than finding a workable solution.
Finally, on Sept. 23—85 days past its mandated deadline—Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a compromise budget. In the meantime, while the Legislature and the governor continued their wrangling over the budget, many important issues that impact California were placed by the wayside. At a time when the state should be re-examining its spending practices, there has been no discussion regarding curtailing funding for abortion services, nor for non-academic programs.
Despite their protracted battle over a fiscally prudent spending plan and an inability to examine spending policies on controversial issues, the Legislature was, nonetheless, adept at passing thousands of bills.
Though the governor vowed not to sign any bill into law until the budget impasse is resolved, the following are several bills that have worked their way through the Legislature and are waiting to be sent to the governor’s desk:
Assembly Bill 2070 by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, provides an opportunity for parents who may be incarcerated or institutionalized to have additional time to meet specified substance-abuse treatment before losing their parental rights.
Assembly Bill 2567, authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would proclaim May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day and encourage recognition of Harvey Milk commemorative exercises in our schools.
Assembly Bill 2747, authored by Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, would require specified end-of-care options to be provided to a patient who may be considered terminal and within a year of his or her diagnosis. These care options would include alternatives that increase or hasten death.
Senate Bill 60, authored by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue drivers’ licenses and identification cards to illegal immigrants as long as they are in compliance with certain requirements of the federal Real ID Act.
Senate Bill 1187, authored by Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert, would require the Department of Justice to publish the names, aliases, photographs, physical descriptions, criminal histories, and addresses of persons convicted of specified sexual offenses via an internet Web site.
When citizens look back at 2007-2008 legislative session, they will declare that, despite the revisionist attempts, the year was a failure.
Rice is the legislative coordinator for the California Family Council.
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