SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In an unusual show of bipartisanship, key Democratic and Republican California state senators gathered Monday to announce a package of 14 bills that aims to address the state’s fentanyl crisis and rise in retail crime.
Introduced by Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, the series of bills includes nine fentanyl-related measures and five bills on theft. At the press event, the Santa Rosa Democrat said that lawmakers were “setting aside politics” and coming together for “data-driven” solutions.
- McGuire: “We’re going to be working together… to get solutions across the finish line…. There are too many lives at stake. Together, Democrats and Republicans, we’re going to build a safer California.”
But while Senate GOP leader Brian Jones of San Diego gave a few words at the press conference — saying that “for years, Senate Republicans have been calling for action” — the only Republican carrying legislation is Redlands Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, who authored two of the package’s fentanyl bills.
- Jones: “Over the next few months, Senate Republicans are eager to collaborate with our Democratic colleagues and make sure these bills are effective and meaningful and continue to work in a bipartisan manner to fix California and make California safer.”
A couple of the bills propose to increase punishment, such as the ones from Democratic Sens. Josh Newman of Fullerton and Dave Min of Irvine that would enhance penalties for “large-scale resale schemes” and for criminals who start fires to steal, respectively.
Most, however, address the issues either through expanding treatment for those who are addicted to fentanyl or enhancing law enforcement tools for theft. Groups on the political left, including Californians for Safety and Justice and the Prosecutors Alliance of California, praised the package.
And despite the thank yous and calls for partnership exchanged by the Senate party leaders at Monday’s event, signs of disagreement still trickled through. Specifically on Proposition 47, the measure approved by voters in 2014 that Republican lawmakers and some Democrats say has made it more difficult to hold criminals accountable for retail theft.
When discussing the rise of retail theft, Jones said California has seen a “steep increase… since the passage of Prop. 47.” But a few moments later, while answering questions from the press, McGuire said he did not believe the state “needs to touch Prop. 47 to be able to help make our communities safer — full stop.”
CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
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