Archives: People

Sen. Janet Nguyen is the first Vietnamese-American state senator in the nation — an achievement for which she deserves praise. That said, Sen. Nguyen boasts a voting record woefully out of step with the values of her district. Eighteen Senators hail from districts less progressive than Nguyen’s, and yet, for the second year in a … Continued

Asm. Rocky Chávez serves a middle-of-the-road district, but votes like a conservative Republican. On so many fronts, he falls short of the support for progressive initiatives his district expresses when voting on statewide ballot initiatives. He has thoroughly earned his Courage Score of 0. Let’s start with criminal justice reform. The voters of Chávez’s district, … Continued

Asm. Marc Steinorth is a conservative Republican. OK, nobody’s perfect. But Steinorth has managed to accumulate a voting record that represents the 4th most regressive in the entire Assembly while serving a district that has shown support for progressive ballot initiatives. Steinorth’s embarrassing voting record includes strikes against necessary consumer protections, economic justice, criminal justice … Continued

Asm. Jim Cooper is the third least progressive Democrat in the entire assembly. How? Think it has something to do with the wine and dine treatment he receives from corporate interests? Last year, the Sacramento Bee reported that Cooper accepted the most gifts from lobbyists of any legislator, allowing fat cats to shower him with … Continued

With a Courage Score of 25, Asm. Cheryl Brown has the EIGHTH WORST progressive voting record among Democrats in the Assembly, despite her district’s clear support for more progressive policies. Asm. Brown abstained on SB 443 — a bill that would curb an unjust, racist policy called Civil Asset Forfeiture that allows police to seize … Continued

Asm. Jim Frazier returns to the Hall of Shame for the second straight year, having compiled a track record of “no” votes and abstentions that represent a rejection of nearly every Democratic value. In the past year, Frazier voted against workers’ rights, economic justice, environmental regulation, criminal justice reform, racial equality, voting rights, and consumer … Continued

Asm. Tom Daly has returned to the Hall of Shame and, this time, he is the second least progressive Democrat in the Assembly. Despite hailing from a district (AD69) that is more progressive than half those in California, Daly’s Courage Score is just 22 out of 100. Sad! How can Daly in good conscience claim … Continued

In the California legislature, there is no fundamental difference between casting a ‘no’ ballot and abstaining — refusing to even choose a side. Both have the same impact on a bill’s chances of passage. Why do we mention this? Because Asm. Patrick O’Donnell is addicted to abstention. Once again in 2016, Asm. O’Donnell displayed his … Continued

Asm. Alejo abstained from voting on two critical environmental bills in 2015 (SB 32 and AB 356) that would have dramatically curbed climate pollution and increased groundwater protections around oil projects. To add insult to injury, these two bills would have particularly benefited many in the low-income and Latino communities he represents. This is despite … Continued

With a Courage Score of 10, Assemblymember Catharine Baker has made the Hall of Shame for the second time. Despite representing a district (AD16) that ranks in the top third on support for progressive ballot measures, she fails her constituents with a voting record that ranks in the bottom third. On issue after issue, AD16 … Continued

Main