Center stage: peeved at the leadership vacuum in Sacramento, moderate GOP Assemblyman Keith Richman watches the budget impasse drag on. (People).WITHIN hours of taking office in December 2000, State Assemblyman Keith Richman Dr. Keith S. Richman is a California, United States, Republican politician. From 2001 to 2007, he served in the California State Assembly representing the 38th Assembly District based in Northwest Los Angeles County. , R-Northridge, put forward a health reform bill that would have ensured coverage for the working pool: It failed, but Richman, a practicing physician, hasn't slowed down yet. One of the few outspoken moderate Republicans left, Richman received the coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. "Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. city had the secession measure succeeded. Earlier this year, he approached moderate Democrat Joe Canciamilla of Martinez, and together they tried to forge a compromise proposal to bridge the state's $38 billion budget gap. Under pressure from Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte Jim Brulte (born April 13, 1956) is a Republican U.S. politician, who served as a California State Senator representing the 31st district, from 1996 to 2004. He also served as the Senate Republican leader from 2000 to 2004. , support for the effort dissolved, In the next statewide ballot, voters will decide on a Richman-authored constitutional amendment that would require up to 3 percent of the state's general fund to be set aside for infrastructure projects. Question: What have the last few weeks been like in the Legislature? Answer: The Legislature is dysfunctional. There is partisan gridlock Gridlock A government, business or institution's inability to function at a normal level due either to complex or conflicting procedures within the administrative framework or to impending change in the business. over the budget and not many other issues are getting dealt with. The hours I work are no more grueling than last year -- I get in to work at about 7 am. and get back to my apartment around 10 p.m. after evening meetings. It's just that not much is getting done. Q: What prompted you to join forces with Joe Canciamilla to develop a compromise budget? A: I was extremely frustrated with the lack of progress. So I went to Joe and asked him to join a bipartisan group that would look for a solution. One of the very early principles that group agreed upon Adj. 1. agreed upon - constituted or contracted by stipulation or agreement; "stipulatory obligations" stipulatory noncontroversial, uncontroversial - not likely to arouse controversy was the importance of producing a budget by June 15. That was critical for local governments and school districts to adequately plan their own. Also, Wall Street needed to see that California's government was exercising leadership. Obviously, that hasn't happened. Q: At first it looked promising, right? A: Yes. Our meetings were a place where people could speak directly and honestly and not in political slogans The following is a partial list of 19th and 20th-century political slogans in the English language. U.S. presidential campaign slogans (listed alphabetically)
Q: So what happened? A: The bipartisan group ended up being a reflection of the Legislature as a whole. The Democrats were unwilling to make more spending reductions, while the Republicans were unwilling to go for any tax increase, even a temporary one for paying off debt. Q: What was your reaction when Senate Republican Leader Brulte said he would campaign against any Republican supporting a tax increase? A: Mr. Brulte was not only sending a message to Republicans, but also Democrats. I promised myself that in Sacramento, I would do what I thought was right. I put out a compromise budget last week that speaks for itself with regard to the tax issue. It's important that we put in a fiscally sound budget that not only is balanced but also one that resolves the structural deficit. Q: What now? A: I see three alternatives: a prolonged stalemate, a solution similar to the one we proposed or a "get-out-of-town alive" budget that rolls over the debt till next year. I'm pessimistic about a quick resolution. The debate in Sacramento is being driven by the political extremes of both parties. It's the result of short term-limits and redistricting redistricting: see legislative apportionment. . Legislators know that their key race is going to be the primary. If you're a Democrat, you don't want to be flanked on the left; if you're a Republican, you don't want to be flanked on the right. That makes it really hard to get a solution. Q: So what's it going to take to break the logjam log·jam n. 1. An immovable mass of floating logs crowded together. 2. A deadlock, as in negotiations; an impasse. Noun 1. ? A: I really don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. . The state borrowed $11 billion just a couple weeks ago, but that will run out at the end of August. Then the state will be completely out of cash. And Wall Street is telling us that if we don't pass a fiscally responsible budget, they won't continue to lend us money. We could run out of cash with no ability to borrow. I've never seen anything like it. Q: How does it make you feel? A: It's very frustrating. Nobody likes being part of an organization that's not doing its job, especially me. In the past session, I found being in the Legislature very interesting. But this prolonged budget gridlock is very frustrating. Q: Are you concerned that Brulte will follow through on his pledge and mount a campaign against you? A: I obviously weighed those concerns when I put out the budget with Mr. Canciamilla We put forward a fiscally responsible budget. I consider that more important than thinking about my political future. As for the campaign part' I'll deal with that as the time draws nearer. Q: Where do you stand on the recall of Gov. Davis? A: I do support puffing a measure on the ballot to recall Gov. Davis. But that's really up to others. I'm spending time "Spending Time" is the first single released by Christian artist Stellar Kart. The lyrics describe the band members desire to spend "more time with God". "Sometimes it’s a real struggle to spend time with God. on accomplishing things in the Legislature. Q: What did you learn from the San Fernando Valley secession contest? A: I learned that it's hard to run in a campaign where people are scared of retribution from the current establishment in the City of Los Angeles
Q: What about the effort to change the voting rules to require that only Valley residents would vote on cityhood? A: I looked into that, but legislative counsel advised me that the current law requiring a citywide vote is constitutional. I felt that introducing a Valley-only vote measure would be viewed largely as sour grapes and so I chose not to pursue that. Q: Another huge issue right now is fixing the workers' compensation workers' compensation, payment by employers for some part of the cost of injuries, or in some cases of occupational diseases, received by employees in the course of their work. system. A: No question, skyrocketing workers' compensation costs are the number one concern of business in California. Local governments and non-profits are also feeling the sting. We need to control the medical costs, reduce litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. , base the determination of permanent disability on objective criteria and weed out fraud in the system. Q: What is the status of the workers' compensation reform bill you have introduced? A: I have a bill moving forward on the issue of determining permanent disability on objective criteria. It would be a major change in California and would move the state in line with what other states have done. But it's very unlikely to be supported by trial lawyers or labor. And any of these bills can be amended. Q: What other bills are you carrying this session? A: I have a number of energy bills. The most important of them is AB 428, which puts in place a stable hybrid market for electricity. It would set up a market in which residential customers and small businesses would continue to get electricity from PUC-regulated utilities. But large companies would have permission to shop around. Another bill, AB 30, would set up a voluntary program for small businesses that employ low-income workers with no children to access federal dollars in the Healthy Families program. Q: Tell us about the infrastructure funding initiative you authored that will appear on the next statewide ballot. A: The initiative dedicates a portion of the state's general fund for infrastructure investment. If approved by voters, it would start in 2006 with I percent of the general fund going to infrastructure projects -- roads, water projects, wastewater treatment plants, park maintenance and the like. Then, for each of the next six years, the amount dedicated to infrastructure would increase by 0.3 percent, until it maxes out at 3 percent. Q: But critics say that all this does is place further restrictions on the general fund. A: This does not contribute to the structural deficit. This would dedicate up to 3 percent of the general fund to infrastructure Look, back in the 1960s, the state invested 15 percent of the general fund in infrastructure projects. Over the last 14 years, that has shrunk to 0.2 percent. That's why our roads are congested con·gest·ed adj. Affected with or characterized by congestion. congested ENT adjective Referring to a boggy blood-filled tissue. See Nasal congestion. and falling apart. That's why we have chronic shortages of water, parks and open space. RELATED ARTICLE: INTERVIEW Keith Richman Title: Assemblyman, 38th District, Northridge Organization: California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members to the Assembly, representing a relatively equal amount of constituencies, with each district having a population of at least 420,000 citizens. Party Affiliation: Republican Born: New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , 1953 Education: Undergraduate work at University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis, commonly known as UC Davis, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, and was established as the University Farm in 1905. ; M.D. and master's in public health from UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX Most Admired Person: Father, Dr. Monroe Richman, a physician who also served on the Los Angeles Community College Board Career Turning Point: Offering expert testimony Testimony about a scientific, technical, or professional issue given by a person qualified to testify because of familiarity with the subject or special training in the field. before Congress in 1994 and 1995, which made him realize he could make a difference in politics Hobbies: Reading, working out Personal: Married, two daughters |
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