Politics & Government

Legislative Wrap-Up: What Elected Officials Were Doing This Week

Here's some of what elected leaders in this part of the East Bay were doing during this past week.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) joined two dozen other congressional representatives to protest the $20 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program proposed in the 2014 Farm Bill. As part of their protest, the legislators are living on the daily $4.50 food budget that SNAP recipients receive.

State Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) announced she will hold a press conference on Monday to highlight two victories for veterans organizations in the governor's proposed budget for next fiscal year. Skinner said both programs will reduce the backlog in veterans' claims.

A bill by State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord) on medical research was approved this week by the state Senate Health Committee. The bill, AB 926, removes the prohibition on compensation for women participating in egg donation for medical research.

Another bill by Bonilla was approved by the state Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. AB 908 would provide more tools to the California Department of Motor Vehicles to prevent crimes associated with identity theft, counterfeiting and consumer fraud.

State Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) recognized Colleen and John McCormick, the owners of Lamorinda Music, as the 16th Assembly District's Small Business of the Year. The store, located at 81 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette, sells musical instruments and also offers lessons. It opened in 2009.


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